Tourists Driving In U.S. Ought To Beware of Tres Cher "Ticket Mills"

Caveat lecter: This are my experiences and opinions: As they say,
"been there, done that."

The traffic police seem to have enormous discretion, so be courteous
and subservient if they flash their light for you to pull over on the
side or shoulder.

The speed laws are enforced arbitrarily: Few cars actually seem to me
to to go as slow as 55 mph, but that's seemingly the "default"
highway speed limit of many places. (I'm not kidding.)

The speed limits vary from approximately 25 mph to 70 miles per
hour.

There is a minimum speed of approx 45 mph on the interstate highways.

The law apparently is: if a police car is on the side or shoulder, try
to go by it in the inside lane, though of course look first in mirrors
et cetera and make sure another vehicle is not "hiding" in the "blind
spot."

Since I've been to Italy, I hereaby concede some nations do need
damneable strict laws.


http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/18/hig...xes=popstories

On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:58:51 -0800 (PST), Robert Cohen
wrote:

Caveat lecter: This are my experiences and opinions: As they say,
"been there, done that."

The traffic police seem to have enormous discretion, so be courteous
and subservient if they flash their light for you to pull over on the
side or shoulder.

The speed laws are enforced arbitrarily: Few cars actually seem to me
to to go as slow as 55 mph, but that's seemingly the "default"
highway speed limit of many places. (I'm not kidding.)

There aren't many open, rural highways with only a 55 mph speed
limit these days. Urban or suburban highways are a different
story.

The speed limits vary from approximately 25 mph to 70 miles per
hour.

They vary from 15 mph in school zones to 75 mph on Arizona
freeways. I was under the impression one of the states had an 80
mph limit, but I could be wrong.

In many states the police are more interested in a a smooth flow
of traffic rather than an absolute speed limit. I see no other
way to explain what seems to be an average 85 mph cruise speed on
I-5 in California's San Joauquin Valley.

There is a minimum speed of approx 45 mph on the interstate highways.

Minimum speeds, like maximum speeds, vary from state to state.

The law apparently is: if a police car is on the side or shoulder, try
to go by it in the inside lane, though of course look first in mirrors
et cetera and make sure another vehicle is not "hiding" in the "blind
spot."

Huh?

--
************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:03:00 -0700, Hatunen wrote:


In many states the police are more interested in a a smooth flow
of traffic rather than an absolute speed limit. I see no other
way to explain what seems to be an average 85 mph cruise speed on
I-5 in California's San Joauquin Valley.


This is to compensate for the average 5 mph you get to go on I-5 in
the LA area, creating an average speed overall of 25 mph.

On Dec 29, 3:03*pm, Hatunen wrote:
On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:58:51 -0800 (PST), Robert Cohen

wrote:
Caveat lecter: This are my experiences and opinions: As they say,
"been there, done that."

The traffic police seem to have enormous discretion, so be courteous
and *subservient if they flash their light for you to pull over on the
side or shoulder.

The speed laws are enforced arbitrarily: Few cars actually seem to me
to to go as slow as *55 mph, but that's seemingly the "default"
highway speed limit of many places. (I'm not kidding.)

There aren't many open, rural highways with only a 55 mph speed
limit these days. Urban or suburban highways are a different
story.

The speed limits *vary from approximately 25 mph *to 70 miles per
hour.

They vary from 15 mph in school zones to 75 mph on Arizona
freeways. I was under the impression one of the states had an 80
mph limit, but I could be wrong.

In many states the police are more interested in a a smooth flow
of traffic rather than an absolute speed limit. I see no other
way to explain what seems to be an average 85 mph cruise speed on
I-5 in California's San Joauquin Valley.

There is a minimum speed of approx 45 mph on the interstate highways.

Minimum speeds, like maximum speeds, vary from state to state.

The law apparently is: if a police car is on the side or shoulder, try
to go by it in the inside lane, though of course look first in mirrors
et cetera and make sure another vehicle is not "hiding" in the "blind
spot."

Huh?

--
* ************** DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* ** * * * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * * * * *
* ** My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

my daughter actually got a ticket/fine of a couple hundred (georgia)
for passing in the outside lane a police car that was stopped on the
shoulder (presumably ticketing another one)

she went to court, and the sob judge wasn't listening to "i didn't
know"

"Robert Cohen" wrote in message
...
On Dec 29, 3:03 pm, Hatunen wrote:
On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:58:51 -0800 (PST), Robert Cohen

wrote:
Caveat lecter: This are my experiences and opinions: As they say,
"been there, done that."

The traffic police seem to have enormous discretion, so be courteous
and subservient if they flash their light for you to pull over on the
side or shoulder.

The speed laws are enforced arbitrarily: Few cars actually seem to me
to to go as slow as 55 mph, but that's seemingly the "default"
highway speed limit of many places. (I'm not kidding.)

There aren't many open, rural highways with only a 55 mph speed
limit these days. Urban or suburban highways are a different
story.

The speed limits vary from approximately 25 mph to 70 miles per
hour.

They vary from 15 mph in school zones to 75 mph on Arizona
freeways. I was under the impression one of the states had an 80
mph limit, but I could be wrong.

In many states the police are more interested in a a smooth flow
of traffic rather than an absolute speed limit. I see no other
way to explain what seems to be an average 85 mph cruise speed on
I-5 in California's San Joauquin Valley.

There is a minimum speed of approx 45 mph on the interstate highways.

Minimum speeds, like maximum speeds, vary from state to state.

The law apparently is: if a police car is on the side or shoulder, try
to go by it in the inside lane, though of course look first in mirrors
et cetera and make sure another vehicle is not "hiding" in the "blind
spot."

Huh?

--
************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

my daughter actually got a ticket/fine of a couple hundred (georgia)
for passing in the outside lane a police car that was stopped on the
shoulder (presumably ticketing another one)

she went to court, and the sob judge wasn't listening to "i didn't
know"

Many states have a "move over" law in effect now with many more to come. In
some states it is not only to clear the lane next to the police vehicle but
for any emergency vehicle, including fire and ambulance vehicles. If you
can't move over safely, most of the laws require you to slow down while
passing the emergency vehicle.

Move-Over-Law: Georgia Code, Title 40-6-16
Move over in Florida "When an authorized emergency vehicle making use of any
visual signals is parked or a wrecker displaying" Title XXIII, Chapter
316.126
South Dakota Codified Laws 32-31-6.1
Tennessee T.C.A. 55-8-132
North Carolina G.S. 20-157 (f).

For more see he
http://people.smu.edu/acambre/move_over_laws.asp

Hatunen wrote:
On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:58:51 -0800 (PST), Robert Cohen
wrote:
snip
The law apparently is: if a police car is on the side or shoulder, try
to go by it in the inside lane, though of course look first in mirrors
et cetera and make sure another vehicle is not "hiding" in the "blind
spot."

Huh?


For most of my 40 years or so of driving, I've been blissfully unaware
of this law. I find it counter-intuitive, since, as Robert says,
changing lanes has its own hazards. Almost anyone approaching an
emergency vehicle will stay alert and observe the speed limit, and if
you move the safe drivers out of the right lane, you're leaving the lane
open for those without a clue. Some states require drivers who don't
have room to change lanes to slow way down, which can lead to an
accident if someone else is following too closely.

But it's the law in enough states so that it probably makes sense to
assume it's the law everywhere and drive accordingly.

Louis

Hatunen wrote:



The law apparently is: if a police car is on the side or shoulder, try
to go by it in the inside lane, though of course look first in mirrors
et cetera and make sure another vehicle is not "hiding" in the "blind
spot."


Huh?


Some states have laws that state you are supposed to move into a lane
away from the shoulder if there is a emergency vehicle on the shoulder.

John Kulp wrote:

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:03:00 -0700, Hatunen wrote:



In many states the police are more interested in a a smooth flow
of traffic rather than an absolute speed limit. I see no other
way to explain what seems to be an average 85 mph cruise speed on
I-5 in California's San Joauquin Valley.



This is to compensate for the average 5 mph you get to go on I-5 in
the LA area, creating an average speed overall of 25 mph.

That story I've heard before
I used to drive up I-5 a lot, usually early in the morning.
On one trip, I wanted to see if I could cover a mile in 30 seconds or
less. I was a bit younger and driving an American muscle car.
After several attempts abated due to traffic, I finally got one in.
It should be noted that I did not complete this task until I had both
lanes clear. I would not attempt to pass an American driver doing 120
MPH. That, , would be foolish.

Robert Cohen wrote:


my daughter actually got a ticket/fine of a couple hundred (georgia)
for passing in the outside lane a police car that was stopped on the
shoulder (presumably ticketing another one)

she went to court, and the sob judge wasn't listening to "i didn't
know"

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. How does this make the judge an SOB?

Are they police suppose to give warning tickets to everyone who claimsn
not to know the law?

Hatunen wrote:


Radar jammers are illegal.

http://www.laserveil.com/radar/jammers/


Chilly claims to use one in France, and the article quoted doesn't seem
to deal with France.