NoContest

Just to make myself feel better I've got some Things on my mind I'd like to get out about speed limits.

I got a ticket a couple of months ago (Escort failure) and now I'm trying to keep my speed down to no more than 5-7 MPH above the speed limit. A few things I'm pissed about:

1. Too many roads around here (Baltimore County area) have a ridiculously low speed limit for what they are. These roads are usually straight for miles, with limited access (driveways etc) and may include a major downhill (which makes even more fun to keep around the speed limit). According to Baltimore county these are 30 MPH roads.

2. By going "only" 5-7 miles above the speed limit I've been tailgated, yelled at, honked etc by people who I guess are in a great hurry. I'm waiting for the next. This is always on single lane country roads and many times even when there's an equally slow or slower car ahead of me . I guess I'm supposed to change the laws of physics somehow and go through him.
Has anyone ever seen a ticket being given for tailgating (got to be almost if not more dangerous than speeding).

3. IMHO the way troopers hide to get speeders is just not the best way to keep speeds down or roads safer. What about a moving presence on the roads to slow more people down more efficiently. Wouldn't that be safer and more efficient?

Just wanted to vent.

Sabre

I got a ticket just a week and a half ago for following too close.

$297. Class B traffic offense with a max fine of $300 (figures)

Gonna be fighting that one.

It is safer and more efficient for rolling prescence (the entire set of traffic is "stuck" keeping speed with the cop), but not very cost effective (i.e not as many fines are given out, so the city/county/state makes less)


Back to your first point, tickets on artificially low speeds can be fought on the basis that the county has not performed speed surveys on the road in question within a certain length of time (last two years for instance), or if the general rule for a rural two lane road according to the dept of transportation in that county is, say, 45mph, and that stretch is 30mph, there needs to be studies as to WHY it is artificially low.

Not an easy win, but doable.

NoContest

Oregon must be a little different than MD. I've never seen that here. How close were you?

00CivicSi

This statement assumes that the role of troopers is to keep roads safer by keeping speeds down rather than generate revenue by issuing tickets. Since we all know their role is to issue tickets, it's more efficient to keeps speed limits low and have troopers hiding in the bushes.




But yes, I do agree with you that if it were truly the role of troopers to keep us safe, we as a society go about it in a completely different manner.


Oh yeah, and I've tried the only do the speed limit thing a couple times on my 20-mile commute home. I would NOT go even 1 mile over the speed limit (according to my speedometer). I would set cruise wherever I could to keep my speed constant and on aim. I was THE slowest person on most every road I used.

rob-2

I speed, 70-80mph in a 65. What I find the biggest problem is that people in california stay in the fast lane while doing 65.

I've actually found the right most lane is often free.

My problem with 'speed' is that people are stupid, no matter how fast or slow they drive.

I wish there was just a road for me to drive on and all the losers could drive on another. People bug me.

NoContest

We should be giving tickets out for driving under the influence of ignorance (stupidity both?)

2Kaputnik

Try the southern Virginia way of speeding. Texting or cell phoning in one hand, cigarette in the other.

Sabre

Probably one car length. The guy had just passed me on the left going quite fast. I was doing 50 in a 45 (guy had to be doing 55-60). I changed lanes behind the dude. Motorcycle cop got behind us as I was starting to back off the guy and he continued to pull away. Cop pulls me over.

This is the one he cited me for:
https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/811.485

It's very vague, so it makes it very hard to defend against because its up to the cop's judgement and the judge's as well.
Oregon driver's manual states that RECOMMENDED following distance is 2-4 seconds, give or take based on conditions. No where in the manual or the ORS does it state a required minimum.

travanx

This is generally not true. At least the Counties out here in Southern California have a blanket statement saying that the speeds of all roads have been checked and surveyed properly and that is what the speed limit is. In my Traffic Engineering classes we learned you could fight this, but I don't think so with these blanket statements.

I guess everywhere would differ, but you probably have to be a registered engineer or have one with you to win this, since a normal citizen wouldn't be able to do the traffic study themselves.

justind

you could just drive the speed limit and not get tickets