Finally a reason to buy a radar detector...

[luvtoride]

Did you see that BS about NC ticketing anyone doing as little as 1 mph over the speed limit? How stupid! Can you say "obvious revenue generator". BIG TIME! & not a thing can be done about it.

 

[BkerChuck]

I can't understand how that is possibly going to work. Between manufacturing tolerances, vehicle speedometers are not calibrated, and other factors I find it hard to believe they'd be able to make these tickets stick if you fought them. I've yet to own ANY vehicle, car, truck, or motorcycle speedometer that could be absolutely sure of a 100% accurate from day one. Even factors like tire wear and changing to replacement tires that may measure just slightly different could affect accuracy.

 

[Burnspot]

The discussion around here is that most of the courts would likely scoff at tickets written like that, but that is indeed the big news of the week here. I figure this'll be an item for a week or two, then it'll slowly peter out...it starts today, so I'll have to mind my P's & Q's on the way home I guess.

 

[garyahouse]

Prolly soes they can write up some extra tickets on the Dragon...

Gary

darksider #44

 

[luvtoride]

friggin idiotic is what I see. I agree with you BkerChuck. I'm assuming that there are a LOT of people who will not go to court over something so idiotic. There, the coffers will be enriched. I certainly hope this peters out, Scott.

 

[El Toro Joe]

Easy fix...ride WV, SEOH, KY and TN...that news even makes riding VA a lot more appealing

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

If you DO get a ticket for 1 or 2 miles over, fight it. It will clog up the already clogged-up courts so fast, that they'll have to stop writing idiotic tickets. I know this (at least in Minnesota) because an attorney friend of mine was in a courtroom awaiting his client's case, and the case before his was some guy there to fight a ticket written for something like 58 in a 55. The judge scolded the law enforcement person that wrote the ticket, threw out the citation, and told the LEO to quit bringing in petty **** and clogging up the system.

On a side note, if speed enforcement is really about safety, and not revenue generation, (I'm not talking about reckless, dangerous driving) then shouldn't law enforcement vehicles be painted safety yellow or orange, and make themselves conspicuous to the public to remind us to slow down? Not hiding behind a sign or bush in an unmarked, nondescript, bland-colored vehicle. Just a thought.

 

[Madmudder]

If you DO get a ticket for 1 or 2 miles over, fight it. It will clog up the already clogged-up courts so fast, that they'll have to stop writing idiotic tickets. I know this (at least in Minnesota) because an attorney friend of mine was in a courtroom awaiting his client's case, and the case before his was some guy there to fight a ticket written for something like 58 in a 55. The judge scolded the law enforcement person that wrote the ticket, threw out the citation, and told the LEO to quit bringing in petty **** and clogging up the system.
On a side note, if speed enforcement is really about safety, and not revenue generation, (I'm not talking about reckless, dangerous driving) then shouldn't law enforcement vehicles be painted safety yellow or orange, and make themselves conspicuous to the public to remind us to slow down? Not hiding behind a sign or bush in an unmarked, nondescript, bland-colored vehicle. Just a thought.

+1

 

[Bugnatr]

Well heck, if they are going to write you up then make it worth their while....30-50mph over posted ought to do it!

 

[JamesW]

I believe when radar first came out it was to be used to verify an leo's observations not mainly for trolling or trapping. I do run an escort Redline and the darn thing is almost to sensitive. I am not a flagrant go faster, but it is nice knowing they are out and about.

 

[AlleyCat]

On a side note, if speed enforcement is really about safety, and not revenue generation, (I'm not talking about reckless, dangerous driving) then shouldn't law enforcement vehicles be painted safety yellow or orange, and make themselves conspicuous to the public to remind us to slow down? Not hiding behind a sign or bush in an unmarked, nondescript, bland-colored vehicle. Just a thought.

The best way to get the general population to respect the law is to instill the impression that they are likely to get caught. If people don't feel like they are likely to get caught, they are more probable to commit the infraction. By making law enforcement less obvious, people tend to be a bit more careful because they don't want to get caught. It's another school of thought.....

 

[luvtoride]

I guess... but a mile over the speed limit is just ludicrous. I sure hope that they're over it pretty damn soon. I plan to speed just like I do here in VA every friggin day. I speed respectfully most times.

 

[SLK50]

I think something like 30 states have "absolute" speed limits.

While enforcement may be slightly tolerant, the law is the law.

NC is not an exception.

Why are motorcyclists so bent on speeding and so affronted

when they get caught?

If you're not gonna dance, don't wear the shoes.

But if you're gonna dance, sometimes you gotta pay the band.

 

[Ignacio]

Another jurisdiction that's going to futz with the 85th percentile principle and forum thread digital masturbation over state-to-state variations on traffic laws. Good luck with that.

 

[infrared]

Let's hear from the Aussie riders, on this issue.

I hear they got this particular headache, a little while back . . .

(which would be after their government had collected up most of their guns).

Now I don't think those two items can be related, of course.

 

[ionbeam]

I do like these (most of the time).

The speed signs let me check when my radar detector goes off and then how close I get to the sign before it can detect my motorcycle and post the speed. It gives me an idea of how my bike will perform with police radar. My radar detector goes off at the same distance, car or bike, but on the bike I can get twice as close to the sign before the radar return signal is strong enough for the sign's radar to read. Well, except for the car I have now, it has almost the same stealth factor as the bike. My car is low and has a very rounded front profile. Unfortunately, the sign quite readily and willingly will post the speed of the car/truck way behind me until I get close.

There is always a but... The local town of Plaistow NH hides a cruiser with a radar gun out of sight from the road but where they can read the speed sign. A unlucky SOB wildly dangerous miscreant drives past the sign at some important amount over the posted speed limit and the sign posts his speed; the cop reads the sign and then shoots you with his radar gun for a positive kill. Your radar detector can't help you like this, even with arrows on the detector.

An unrealistic speed threshold like 1 mph doesn't change a thing. Any LEO that has a reason to want to stop you can pull you over anyway at 1 mph, or pull you over because your tire touched the yellow line or any other marginal violation. There are some states where the courts will charge you for contesting a ticket, under the pretense of paying the court costs. In this case the 1 mph could be misused. Massachusetts:

I got a traffic ticket and want to challenge it. What do I do? If the “criminal complaint application” or “arrest” box is checked, then you have been charged with a crime. Your case will go before a judge or magistrate as a criminal matter. If you are also charged with civil infractions, they will be covered during the criminal hearing. You cannot challenge them separately.

Send the citation and a $25 filing fee to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) at the address listed on the back of the citation. Mail the citation within 20 days of the date you were cited. Pay the fee by check or money order.

 

[luvtoride]

I think something like 30 states have "absolute" speed limits.While enforcement may be slightly tolerant, the law is the law.

NC is not an exception.

really? 30 states? I actually didn't know this. & there are a LOT of folks that complain about VA driving laws. I speed everywhere I go. Guess I've just been lucky.

 

[El Toro]

Connecticut used to have a reputation for pulling you in for any violation of the speed "LIMIT."

It affected the way people drove on the turnpike, 84, Merritt Pkwy, etc.

I honestly would like to see some enforcement here. The left lane of I-40 is often running at 85+, and there are a LOT of trucks. 85+ is fine if traffic isn't too heavy, but in heavy traffic, and especially in heavy truck traffic, it really cuts your margin for error. And more importantly, it cuts the other guy's margin for error too. I am generally unhappy boxed in by trucks at 85 mph. And if the density is such that you can't get away from them, running at 90+ for a while is no solution. You'll just get to the next batch of trucks.

FWIW our governor and his family are oil distributors, and there will never be enforcement during this administration because enforcement would take money out of their pockets due to decreased fuel sales.

 

[garyahouse]

On the topic of speeding, but a little unrelated: was talking to my insurance agent recently. She offered me a discount on my car insurance if I allowed them to do a little "electronic" looking over my shoulder through some device I put in my car. I asked where they draw the line on speeding. She said, "from what I know about these devices, 40 means 40."

So much for saving a couple nickels

Gary

darksider #44