10-13-2013, 08:55 AM
"It's all a bunch of talk and we are all responsible for for keeping track of our own speed, but it is also relevant when my story matches another driver's so closely. I'm not saying we didn't deserve tickets, instead I am challenging what I perceive to be the attitude that "that won't happen to me"."
I agree for the most part, with caveat. For the others who think I'm making a silly point, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. The 80 and above law, which kicks in all kinds of other onerous legal conditions, was designed to deter habitual speeders (as in deliberate), racing, and so on, not people who momentarily hit 80 because they drive a car designed to go 150. The cop could very easily wrote the ticket for 79, instead he made it 80 specifically to cause grief. Others will howl, but I call that irresponsible. Realizing that, which finally took a lawyer, is what eventually convinced a judge, but it starts with ego driven cops.
Let me give you another perfect example, this one from CA a few years ago. I was stopped at a 7-11 frequented by cops to drink coffee, etc. This guy and his friends drive up and park in a handicap spot that had a sign obscured by shadows at night. Cop walks over to the guy as he's entering the store and hands him a $275 ticket for parking in a handicap zone. Sure the guy could probably take pictures and get the ticket dismissed in court. What I'm saying is that responsible application of law enforcement starts with the cop.
This has nothing to do with my situation and others described here. In fact, last night I tested the difference between 35 and 50, and yikes, yeah, there really is a huge qualitative difference. You feel much less able to respond quickly. Yes, the same argument could be applied to 80 and open road, but that's kind of the point of "open road." It means you have visibility for hundreds of feet in front of you. Ever since the 70's and imposition of the 55 limit, people have either forgotten, or been raise in the era of low speed limits. They fail to realize that limits of 75 and 80 were not uncommon highway speed limits (but probably not on BI). On a straight, open road, modern cars can easily go 100. In the mid 2000's I drove a Lexus SUV in Utah and got it to 110 and barely thought I was going over 40. The only real indication that I was flying was when I looked to the side and saw cacti going by awfully fast.
I agree for the most part, with caveat. For the others who think I'm making a silly point, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. The 80 and above law, which kicks in all kinds of other onerous legal conditions, was designed to deter habitual speeders (as in deliberate), racing, and so on, not people who momentarily hit 80 because they drive a car designed to go 150. The cop could very easily wrote the ticket for 79, instead he made it 80 specifically to cause grief. Others will howl, but I call that irresponsible. Realizing that, which finally took a lawyer, is what eventually convinced a judge, but it starts with ego driven cops.
Let me give you another perfect example, this one from CA a few years ago. I was stopped at a 7-11 frequented by cops to drink coffee, etc. This guy and his friends drive up and park in a handicap spot that had a sign obscured by shadows at night. Cop walks over to the guy as he's entering the store and hands him a $275 ticket for parking in a handicap zone. Sure the guy could probably take pictures and get the ticket dismissed in court. What I'm saying is that responsible application of law enforcement starts with the cop.
This has nothing to do with my situation and others described here. In fact, last night I tested the difference between 35 and 50, and yikes, yeah, there really is a huge qualitative difference. You feel much less able to respond quickly. Yes, the same argument could be applied to 80 and open road, but that's kind of the point of "open road." It means you have visibility for hundreds of feet in front of you. Ever since the 70's and imposition of the 55 limit, people have either forgotten, or been raise in the era of low speed limits. They fail to realize that limits of 75 and 80 were not uncommon highway speed limits (but probably not on BI). On a straight, open road, modern cars can easily go 100. In the mid 2000's I drove a Lexus SUV in Utah and got it to 110 and barely thought I was going over 40. The only real indication that I was flying was when I looked to the side and saw cacti going by awfully fast.