Speeding Tickets...

[Mr. Bloom]

OK, so today Silver, DS, and I spend six hours in the car to see our daughter in a competition near Indy. Half way there, I'm pulled over for speeding.

So, the polite officer steps up and asks why I'm going so fast. My response is: "we really need to get to Danville (period, end of statement). So, while he's back in the police car, Silver says: "why didn't you say that we've got to get to our daughter's competition and really need to get there!"

Well, to my viewpoint, I'm thinking: "I know the rules, I got busted, I pay the price..." However, I know that Silver has often talked herself out of tickets...

I'm wondering: :confused: :confused: Is it the type of car I drive - a Lexus? Is it that male officers will give male drivers a ticket more readily, but may cut some slack for a woman?

This is a sincere curiousity. I've driven for 23 years and never had a ticket until the last 1.5 years...and this one is my third! :(

What experiences have you had with getting pulled over?

[crazycanuck]

Mr Silver...

I don't think it would have made a difference had Silver been driving the car.

As a female driver, I don't think i'm treated any differently than say when Ian (my dear) drives. (I am on a provisional licence until May as i obtained my licence just before coming to Australia.)

You're lucky you don't live in Western Australia & get caught on a long weekend. Double demerit points, double the fine. :) No if's and's or but's. :)

Can I ask you the following q-Do you think the speed limit is just a suggestion? I sometimes wonder if i'm the only one driving the speed limit.:eek:

Ps-I've only been stopped once but that was Ian's fault and he'll never live it down. For any Kiwis out there-He made me drive over the harbour bridge in Auckland BUT i'd only been driving a very very short time..:o :( They pulled me over as i was going a bit slow & there were reports of a drunk driver!!! :o

[Wahine]

I have been able to talk my way out of every speeding ticket except one. You just have to bat the eyelashes the right way and you're off the hook. Oh, the one that I didn't get off of... it was a male cop with a female partner looking over his shoulder and once she headed back to the cruiser he started in on the small talk etc. I'm sure I could've gotten out of that ticket too if the female partner wasn't in the picture.

Yes, I use my feminine whiles to get me out of fixes, to get me free stuff and generally make life a little easier. I say, if the boys are willing to fall for it...

My DH even takes advantage of it. If he has a sporting goods part that needs replacing or some work, he sends me in to do it because he knows that there's a better chance that it will get done for free. He just sits in the car and waits.

Yes, I am shameless when it comes to these things.

[East Hill]

My DH even takes advantage of it. If he has a sporting goods part that needs replacing or some work, he sends me in to do it because he knows that there's a better chance that it will get done for free. He just sits in the car and waits.

Yes, I am shameless when it comes to these things.

I hope he doesn't send you in when it comes to getting repairs on cars done. It's pretty well known that women get ripped off big time by repair shops.

Mr. Silver, I've never gotten a ticket in my life. On the other hand, I don't take the speed limit as a suggestion. If anything, I drive under the speed limit (because I want to save fuel). I don't imagine being female has anything to do with following the speed limit. Or perhaps it does?

At any rate, I can't really give you much of an answer :p .

East Hill

[Mr. Bloom]

Yes, I use my feminine whiles to get me out of fixes, to get me free stuff and generally make life a little easier. I say, if the boys are willing to fall for it...

Yes, I am shameless when it comes to these things.

This is precisely what Silver successfully admits doing and she's been pulled over many more times than I have...plus she has a southern accent to boot!

I don't begrudge using the "feminine whiles"...I'm frankly surprised that the cops are influenced by it...

On a sidenote, in 1985 we bought a new car. It totally disarmed the salesman when Silver was under the hood talking about "rack and pinion" this and that...and I was in the car playing with the stereo. Silver negotiated a deal that we couldn't refuse on price...how do I know? Well, at one point, the sales manager said to her :D :D :D "don't I need to be talking to your husband?" :D :D :D With the value of the trade-in, I'm absolutely convinced that they lost money on the deal, simply because the guy didn't know how to deal with a woman!

[Aggie_Ama]

Well I have not had the luck my husband has had. Most of the time he has been pulled over for inspection being out of date, but he got a written warning for 9 months overdue!

I have gotten my fair share of warnings (ummm, I have a lead foot). I also got two tickets. One was only 7 miles over on a lonely stretch of highway. I was getting back to my university after driving 2 hours to have a dress fitted for my brother's wedding. :rolleyes:

The other I very rightly deserved, 18 over in Oklahoma. Of course I didn't have a chance with Texas plates and a Texas A&M sticker in NORMAN, OK (home of OU).

I did get a warning for 15 miles over next to a school (not a school zone time, but school was in). I bawled because I was late to high school, got off.

Of course, I never talk my way out. I cry when I can't control the situation so I am usually bawling.

[Triskeliongirl]

What I think is interesting, is the different way men and women handle these situations. Sure, there are situations where women use their sexuality to advantage if a male cop so chooses to go there, BUT, I agree with silver, why didn't you tell him you were in a rush to see your daughter's performance. What astounds me is that you didn't even try to get out of the ticket. My husband is the same way if he is pulled over, he doesn't say anything and accepts the ticket. I would at least try to argue, explain why I was in a rush, beg forgiveness (oh please officer, I am very sorry, I needed to pick up my daughter at school, I won't do it again if you could please just five me a warning this time....). In this case I don't think I am using my sexuality, but I am playing into the male power thing, I recognize that he has the power in this situation to issue a citation or not, so I swallow my pride and bow to that power to avoid the fine. Sometimes it seems all they want is for you to *talk* to them. Are men just unwilling to do that?

[Veronica]

What astounds me is that you didn't even try to get out of the ticket. My husband is the same way if he is pulled over, he doesn't say anything and accepts the ticket. I would at least try to argue, explain why I was in a rush, beg forgiveness (oh please officer, I am very sorry, I needed to pick up my daughter at school, I won't do it again if you could please just five me a warning this time....).


Maybe they realize they WERE BREAKING THE LAW.

It's all part of taking responsibility for your choices.

V.

[mimitabby]

Mr Silver, were you driving that RED sports car in your avatar? Cops see a red flag when cars like this go by. Certain persons I know who tend to get speeding tickets notice that they get less of them when they are not in showy red cars.

Advice; break down and start crying.
No, actually, with Silver IN the car with you the best thing that could
have happened was for her to start telling you off loudly in front of the cop.
I know a man who got off when that happened. The cop said to him
"buddy, you have enough troubles already" and gave him a warning.

my DH has been close to getting his license suspended more than once in our marriage because of speeding tickets. Sometimes the officer is hot already and there is nothing you can do. Sometimes, just being contrite makes a difference.
One of Dh's best recent stories was:
the police officer pulled him over and huffed up to the window 'Do you know how fast you were driving?"
"yes, 45 mph" DH responded.
"You were driving 45 mph!" then he looks at DH, surprised, blinks, and says "do we have an attitude??"
Dh replies, "uh, no, I didn't have an attitude, but if you keep wasting my time with these questions, I'm going to GET an attitude"
He knew at this point he was going to get a ticket anyway... which he did.

[mudmucker]

I will never ever ever use my feminine wiles when I get pulled over. I refuse to use such tactics as I feel I would insult my own personal integrity. Over the last 10 years I must have gotten pulled over either for speeding or "rolling" through suburban or rural stop signs about 12 times. Ahem, yes that is alot. (There is an ongoing joke here in MA, that Massachusetts drivers drive like Ma**holes.) I'm guilty. Only once during these years have I been issued a ticket and that is when there was an actual highway speed trap set during a morning commute and several others were caught as well. My approach to getting pulled over is to remain quiet and matter of fact, and make no excuses.

As for being pulled over; I'm not sure it's always a car thing. I have a green Subaru Outback with a roof rack. However in my cases, yes, I was speeding.

My thinking is that these guys have heard every excuse in the book and don't feel like hearing it again. When they ask "do you know why you were pulled over" I say, "I think I have a pretty good idea". I don't bat the proverbial eyelash because of the integrity thing but also that they would certainly see through it and not fall for it and/or get angry for trying to do so. As it is their job to be stern, they are pretty curt, pissy, and with attitude when they approach the car so why aggravate it. However, my result is that they give me a warning, I thank them as I take back my license and reg, and drive off.

I end up getting free stuff sometimes. It usually happens when I just create a dialog making sure I don't come off like a "know it all". I get a free stuff from my bike shop alot. I do know some things that might be considered more male. For example I got some free stuff at a flyfishing shop after I was talking fly tying with the proprietor. I get reduced prices at my local construction home supply place, and at my local car mechanic. Now I would expect that male comradery would play here more. In the above cases I believe it is more a "you are local and supporting your local farmer" comradery. In the flyfishing case I suspect it might have been because I was female.

[Wahine]

I will never ever ever use my feminine wiles when I get pulled over. I refuse to use such tactics as I feel I would insult my own personal integrity.

My approach to getting pulled over is to remain quiet and matter of fact, and make no excuses.

My thinking is that these guys have heard every excuse in the book and don't feel like hearing it again. When they ask "do you know why you were pulled over" I say, "I think I have a pretty good idea". I don't bat the proverbial eyelash because of the integrity thing but also that they would certainly see through it and not fall for it and/or get angry for trying to do so. As it is their job to be stern, they are pretty curt, pissy, and with attitude when they approach the car so why aggravate it. However, my result is that they give me a warning, I thank them as I take back my license and reg, and drive off.

I don't actually bat my eyelashes or anything else, like show clevage. I do exactly what you are saying. But I think that playing into the male power thing, telling them they are right and how sorry I am, is using my feminine whiles. Also, I'm not a showboat by any means, but I have a clean cut girl next door kind of look that doesn't hurt.

I have a lot of pride and I would never do anything to degrade myself. Hey, I don't even even wear make-up. So it's not a being made up and showing things off issue. It's how I communicate with the officer.

DH on the other hand, always argues and gets defensive and he always get a ticket.

[Mr. Bloom]

DH on the other hand, always argues and gets defensive and he always get a ticket.

My tendency is to argue...but I don't in a situation like this. I could rationalize...there was no one on the road...I wasn't being 'unsafe' (however that's defined)...and frankly, I think the cop deserves respect for doing the job they're paid to do...a dangerous one at that.

[mimitabby]

So were you driving the RED CAR?

[Veronica]

The red car is a Mercedes. He said it was in a Lexus - therefore not in THAT red car.

V.

[snapdragen]

I haven't been pulled over since I was 17 or 18 years old. One speeding ticket, one check to be sure I wasn't casing some apartments that had been hit by burglers a few times (I was dropping a friend off).

Never got a ticket in my red car, sorry mimi! I don't believe the red cars are cop magnets. I was ticketed in my mothers bomb of a buick :o .

[Triskeliongirl]

Maybe they realize they WERE BREAKING THE LAW.

It's all part of taking responsibility for your choices.

V.

I can appreciate your viewpoint, however the last two times I was pulled over, I didn't think they were fair applications of the law, I feel they were cops out to ticket cyclists. One was as we were a few blocks from the parking lot for a rural ride, the speed limit suddenly changes from 30 to 20 for a single block with no apparent reason (other than that it is a block from the parking lot cyclists use to begin their ride). I genuinely didn't see the sign indicating the speed limit change, so I have 2 choices, I can yell at the cop that its a speed trap and take the ticket, or I can suck up and hope I get off. The other recent incident is a cop starts following us on the way to another rural ride (sees the 2 bikes on the rack) and as we pull into the lot, pulls up next to us, and tell us we are in violation from having too many inspection stickers displayed (we had the current one, but neglected to remove the expired ones). Again, I could have fumed that I was feeling like a harasssed cyclist, but I politely apologized and told him I wasn't aware that it was against the law to display expired stickers as long as I had a valid current one (which is the truth), promised to remove the expired ones when I got home, and in the end he didn't ticket me. BTW I got off the second time (and I'm still not sure I believe it was ever really a violation) but not the first. I accept responsiblity for my actions and pay the fines when levied, but I don't see what is wrong with trying to talk the cop out of issuing a ticket from a purely practical standpoint. However, I respect others that feel it demeans them to play up to the cops power trip.

[whippetgirl]

I think it is a matter of time...if you drive a lot you will probably get a ticket. Here in California where there are lots of drivers I notice the cops in distinct places waiting to nab a driver passing by. Some of these places are legit: near a school, near a residential area, etc. etc. So maybe you were passing through one of those zones.
Agree with the red car thing.
And I can't resist this....anyone see "Little Miss Sunshine"?

[Thistle]

I agree with cc... i dont think police downunder discriminate. I got pulled over when i was 19, doing 81 in what i thought was an 80 zone... turns out it was 60 :( My fault... the policeman asked me if i had a reason, and i didnt - other than ignorance, so i didnt try to talk my way out of it.

Given i was young they made me go to a "driver information night" instead of fining me. Excellent idea ... i learnt a lot. I didnt get stopped for speeding again until i was 42.... again, i thought i was in a 60 zone but they reduced it to 40 cos of roadworks. I was also particularly upset at the time and probably shouldnt have been driving.

The lesson for me is to note the speed signs, given that I always drive at (what i think is) the speed limit or less. That early "information night" made a massive impact on me. I think they should do more of them.

Personally i'm grateful to the police for stopping me and others for speeding... way too many people die on our roads, and if it takes a ticket to reign me in cos i'm not driving properly, then i've just got to cop it on the chin.

DH has been driving 35 years and has never had a ticket - not even a parking ticket! It was so embarrassing to fess up just before xmas that i got a parking ticket (havent had one of those since the year dot either :p )

Guess we're just cautious in this household :o So, Mr Silver, I'd just take it as a remainder that we need you here, and dont want you (and Silver and the rest of the family) written off in a car accident :D

And my thanks to the police, who stop us from doing stupid stuff and usually dont get any thanks from us for doing so ;)

[Veronica]

I didn't think they were fair applications of the law

That's different. When you're knowingly speeding - 75 in a 65 or whatever, when you blow the stop sign - you deserve the ticket.

After reading this thread I wondered how many kids have seen or heard their parents try to talk their way out of some wrong thing they did. And then the kid tries the same thing, because they learn by example.

V.

[Triskeliongirl]

That's different. When you're knowingly speeding - 75 in a 65 or whatever, when you blow the stop sign - you deserve the ticket.

After reading this thread I wondered how many kids have seen or heard their parents try to talk their way out of some wrong thing they did. And then the kid tries the same thing, because they learn by example.

V.

I totally agree. My rant concerns what I really believe to be the unfair application of the law towards cyclists where I live. Those of us who live in the city drive out to the country to ride where it is safer. Not only do they target us with their speed traps and traffic violations, they have tried to ban us from cycling in their communities, ban us from parking in their public lots, and force us to wear ridiculous triangles on our bikes, in hopes of discouraging us from riding on 'their' roads. Hey 'my' tax dollars support 'their' roads too, we are all in this together.

But I realize I was wrong in my initial reaction that men and women handle these situations differently. Its also clear we are not all describing the same situation.

[Bluetree]

I've never tried to get out of a traffic ticket if I know I was breaking the law. And the 'feminine wiles' thing is anathema to me... if I broke the law, I should pay. If men have to, so should women. That said, I bought a Volvo a couple of years ago after years of driving a sports car. Once you get behind the wheel of a Volvo you actually find yourself driving slower... and slower... and slower. Speed limits have become almost meaningless! :p

I do occasionally roll past stopsigns (slowly) while I'm on a bike, and I've made left turns at a red light when my bike didn't trip the light sensor, but I always make sure I'm safe. My area has tons of roadies and I've never seen anyone ticketed. Still, I asked some local policemen if they will ticket cyclists for it. None of them said they would, unless it is a blatant disregard of the law and/or safety. Other than one notorious group of roadies who are known to take up the entire roadway, they pretty much leave cyclists alone.

[KnottedYet]

I've worked with a few police officers who've been injured on duty and come to our clinic. Every single one of them has told me that traffic stops (pulling over a car) are the most dangerous part of their job. You never know what that driver is going to do or what is happening in that car.

These men and women are great fun to treat and nice people. It has really made me think of the attitude and manner they have to "put on" when they are working, if only to protect themselves from (and pre-empt) the people they encounter. It must be like putting on part of their uniform.

[mimitabby]

I've worked with a few police officers who've been injured on duty and come to our clinic. Every single one of them has told me that traffic stops (pulling over a car) are the most dangerous part of their job. You never know what that driver is going to do or what is happening in that car.

These men and women are great fun to treat and nice people. It has really made me think of the attitude and manner they have to "put on" when they are working, if only to protect themselves from (and pre-empt) the people they encounter. It must be like putting on part of their uniform.

You're right! we were driving somewhere near Mt Rainier one night in our PU truck. A cop stopped us (I don't remember why) but what strikes me about that night was the pure look of fear in HIS eyes as he approached our car. He was relieved to see a middle aged couple driving the car.
Sad, isnt' it?

[Teddyparker]

[QUOTE=KnottedYet;166363] Every single one of them has told me that traffic stops (pulling over a car) are the most dangerous part of their job. You never know what that driver is going to do or what is happening in that car.[QUOTE]

It is very scary. Many years ago, the dad of a child in the kindergarten class I taught was shot and killed in a routine traffic stop. My nephew is a police officer and I worry every night he works.

[wannaduacentury]

I hope he doesn't send you in when it comes to getting repairs on cars done. It's pretty well known that women get ripped off big time by repair shops.

Mr. Silver, I've never gotten a ticket in my life. On the other hand, I don't take the speed limit as a suggestion. If anything, I drive under the speed limit (because I want to save fuel). I don't imagine being female has anything to do with following the speed limit. Or perhaps it does?

At any rate, I can't really give you much of an answer :p .

East Hill

I make dh negotiate all the auto stuff or have it ready when I walk in, I get treated better that way. I also know a little about cars b/c I used to work in auto parts, so I have a legup there, but no I'm not an expert. I drive a 13 yr old Volvo and when I go in assertive and know what I'm talking about, I get treated w/ respect. I think that is true for any car. Know your car

As for the ticket, I only got one too and I deserved it. I had to go to the orthodontist to have a repair done and I was going 77 in a 55. Fortunately I got it in a cheap rural county and didn't have to pay much, although my dad wasn't happy( I was 20 at the time)

:eek:

[Mr. Bloom]

So were you driving the RED CAR?

I wish it were my red mercedes...since it was due last weekend to be ransomed from a 14 week visit to the mechanic for 'winter restoration'...

Instead, it was my old, boring, green Lexus.

[Delta7]

Funny, I agree with your wife ;) I've been pulled over a few times. Once I got pulled over for speeding across the Bay Bridge. The officer asked where I was going in such a hurry, I told him I was on my way to meet my mother and he let me go!

Another time, I got pulled over, my mother was in the passenger seat (she just happened to be reading her bible...probably praying for me to slow down). Anyway, the cop came up to the window, my mom asked the officer if there was anything wrong and basically he said "No" and off we went !

Mother is not with us anymore, but she sure knew how to get out of a ticket.

[silver]

Hang on a second.....I never said I used feminine wiles (is that the word?)

I'm just nice, and apologetic. I admit what I was doing, speeding...and give a reason and say I know better and won't do it anymore.

I know that you've got to say whatever you say before they go back, cause when they get back they will have decided.

And I've only been pulled over ....let's see...1,2,3,4,5,6....6 times total in my 25 years of driving and the first two I got tickets and the last 4 warnings. However the last 3 pull overs were in the last two years.

However, I don't drive as fast and as aggressive as Mr. He knows this. :rolleyes:

All the times that I've been pulled over it's been by a man. the first time was for expired license plates once in college when my dad hadn't yet sent them to me. All the others were for speeding.

I did mention to Mr. that the last 3 were after I got my ...ahem....boob job. And I wondered if it made a difference. However, they were, as always completed concealed.

Finally, I want to say that it's my intention not to speed and to drive in a most responsible manner and I need to do a better job of this. There's no better wake up call for this than to see a fellow cyclist killed because of one second of inattention by a driver.

[crazycanuck]

I don't know about you but the " The Faster You Go, The Bigger The Mess" commercials in NZ frightened me out of speeding.

I can imagine that the anti-speeding, ant-drink driving, road safety commercials & posters they have here in Australia & NZ would never be played in the US or Canada. They get thier point accross very well!

If i can find some, i'll post a link.

What do you think "down under" ladies?

c-

[kelownagirl]

I usually drive just under 10 km over the speed limit but that's about it. I have been pulled over once in the last 25 years and I got a warning, but then I wasn't going all that fast that time.

If I got a speeding ticket, I'd accept it because I believe the laws are there for a reason. I would not like to think people are able to talk their way out of other "crimes", so why should I accept that they can get out of a speeding ticket. Speed kills.

Now parking tickets - that's another thing altogether... :)

[LBTC]

Kelownagirl, it's interesting. I think the 10km over concept is purely Canadian.

Friends were up from Washington state one time and asked "what do those numbers on the signs mean?" He was trying to point out that he didn't see *anyone* doing the speed limit or under, at least outside of any city, once he got into BC. I do think it's cultural to whatever location you are driving in, so it's a good idea if you travel to find out what the highway speed enforcement is like in the area.

I set the cruise to 10km over and have not been stopped for speeding. Truth be told, in my old hometown, there were several locations in town where I would be passed by the police when I was doing 10km over....and they were not going to an emergency.

All that said, whenever possible, I let DH drive. I get way to stressed out when I'm driving.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Mr. Bloom]

Kelownagirl, it's interesting. I think the 10km over concept is purely Canadian.
In the US, it's common for folks to set a limit that is 8mph to 10mph over the posted speed on the highways...the rationale is that police don't care.

I will never drive to a point of feeling unsafe...but I will commonly exploit the 10mph practice in a rural area. When I go through towns, I meticulously check my speed.


Hang on a second.....I never said I used feminine wiles (is that the word?)

Silver is a very careful driver...which makes it more ironic that she's been pulled over more than me.

:eek: :eek: For the record (and domestic tranquility), I never said that Silver used "feminine whiles"...;) ;)

[lph]

In Norway almost everybody drives 10-15 km over the speed limit.

I'm taking my drivers license now and just learning to drive (no exciting reason, just never got around to it before and didn't have a car), and I try to stay about 5 km above the limit. Fast enough to keep up with traffic, slow enough that if I'm stopped the police won't make a huge fuss. Driving AT the speed limit is downright dangerous, as everybody tries to pass you and you cause huge queues.

[East Hill]

I don't know if it makes any difference to anyone, but the speed at which roads are travelled can be influenced by a couple of factors. The first of course, is the spped for which it was engineered to be travelled.

But scarily, in certain states (California for one), if the average speed on a road creeps up over time, the state (or county, I forget which), will adjust the speed upward when approximately 85% of the motorists are exceeding the speed limit.

So, if you started off with a road that was posted at 30 mph, but 85% of the motorists drive at 45 mph, the posted limit will be revised to reflect a higher posted limit (if the engineering of the road permits). I would imagine it can set off a vicious cycle, only stopping when the engineered conditions no longer allow for a higher limit.

That probably doesn't help get anyone over their fear of travelling on the road because drivers already go too fast, eh?

East Hill

[Brandi]

My Dh swears all cops are after him. if they are they have only gone after him three times in the 20 years I have known him. And two of those times he was breaking the speed limit. The third time which was a few years ago we got pulled over with two other cars. And in a double fine zone. My dh was going to fight that one. But the judge let him do traffic school (which he did on line). Well we got a radar detector after that $450 . traffic ticket. In california they are not illegal. He actually drives better now. And every time it beeps we slow down and play find the cop. It makes long drives a little funner. But some times it beeps and we don't know why.
Knock on wood but I have never even got a parking ticket!

[silver]

Brandi, Mr. was using a radar detector last Saturday. It's a good one, I think. It hadn't made a peep, until the policeman zapped him with instant on. The policeman was actually traveling in the same direction as us, ahead of us and we'd just come into his sight and vice versa. He pulled over and when we passed flashed his lights, but we knew when he pulled over.

I also wonder if the fact that Mr. has the radar detector on the windshield makes him more likely to get a ticket rather than a warning.

[Brandi]

Yea I know what you mean about that. i am a little worried when a cop drives by me and see's it in the window if he would pull me over. I never have it plugged in though.

[Tuckervill]

I got stopped a lot when I drove my red Beetle. Only got a ticket when I happened to be going 80 in a 55 (I had just passed someone on a two-lane and hadn't slowed down, yet). They can't let that kind of speeding go.

The other times I got warnings only. This is what I do: I make it easy for the officer to see inside the car, and I don't make him ask me for my license or insurance card.

If it's night time, I turn on all the interior lights, turn off the car, and if it's not cold, I roll down all the windows. After I do that, I keep one hand on the steering wheel and throw my purse up on the dash so they can see what I'm doing as they approach. I hope to have my license out and in my hand out the window before he gets there (I've never been stopped by a female officer). When gets there, if I haven't gotten it yet, I ask if I can get my insurance card out of the glove box.

By then, they're usually so disarmed and not feeling threatened, that they laugh and joke with me, and usually end up giving me a warning.

I got stopped in OK last summer, while driving dh's pick-up (red). I had the cruise set on 80 and I was in a 70. I didn't see him until it was too late, and I never slowed down. He finally caught up with me, and his first question was "How many speeding tickets have you had in the last 3 years?"

I looked him in the eye and said, "None." Pointed at my husband and said, "He has lots!" Laughing, the officer said, "Are you sure? Because even I'VE had ELEVEN in my life!"

"Nope, none, " I said. "OK." Then he went to his car with my cards. In the meantime, our son asked, "how many tickets can you get before they take you to jail?" We thought about it a while, and I said, "Apparently you can have ELEVEN and still be a state trooper!"

When the cop got back with my *warning*, I related the question and the answer to him, and we all had a good laugh.

I think it's important not to be nervous, and to talk to the guy like he's a human, and make his life easier. And never lie to a police officer.

Karen

[Mr. Bloom]

I don't know if it makes any difference to anyone, but the speed at which roads are travelled can be influenced by a couple of factors. The first of course, is the spped for which it was engineered to be travelled.

But scarily, in certain states (California for one), if the average speed on a road creeps up over time, the state (or county, I forget which), will adjust the speed upward when approximately 85% of the motorists are exceeding the speed limit.

So, if you started off with a road that was posted at 30 mph, but 85% of the motorists drive at 45 mph, the posted limit will be revised to reflect a higher posted limit (if the engineering of the road permits). I would imagine it can set off a vicious cycle, only stopping when the engineered conditions no longer allow for a higher limit.

That probably doesn't help get anyone over their fear of travelling on the road because drivers already go too fast, eh?

East Hill

East Hill, I see what you're saying...but what about Europe? I've driven the autobahn at 2-3X the speed as US roads and felt much safer than doing 55 on a US Interstate. I think this supports speeds approaching the engineering limits, not the arbitrary speed limits.

Of course, the standards to get a license in Europe are much stricter and the traffic laws are meticulously obeyed (at least in Germany where I've driven)

[lph]

I hope to have my license out and in my hand out the window before he gets there (I've never been stopped by a female officer).

Thread hijack for an appropriate joke (told to me by one of my blonde girlfriends who excel in blonde jokes):

A blonde woman is pulled over for speeding, and when the police officer approaches she sees that she's blonde too. The blonde cop asks for her driver's license.

The blonde driver asks, "What does a driver's license look like?" as she searches through her purse.

The blonde cop says, "It's a little thing with your picture on it."

The driver pulls out her powder compact, opens it, looks in the mirror and hands it to the officer.

The blonde cop looks in the mirror, hands it back to the blonde driver and says, "Why didn't you tell me you were a police officer too? We could have avoided all this!"

(btw, excellent post, Karen :) )

[silver]

When i'm pulled over, I keep both hands on the steering wheel so that the policeman can see them. I keep my windows rolled up until I can see the policeman and see that he has appropriate badge and appears to be authentic. I once lived in an area that had someone impersonating an officer and apprehending women. Only then do I roll down the window and get the info that he wants. I don't want them to think that I'm looking around for a gun or trying to dispose of drugs or something.

Twice I've had trouble finding my license. The first time, I had tried to find it for something else and couldn't so I picked up my wallet thinking that it wouldn't be there and thinking I would have to say...."Oh, dear....I can't find it"....but then I found it.......

The second time, I had a bunch of junk in the car and couldn't find my wallet. I got a bit frazzled and stopped looking to try to calm myself. And then just went right to it. Someone's looking out for me. :)

[East Hill]

East Hill, I see what you're saying...but what about Europe? I've driven the autobahn at 2-3X the speed as US roads and felt much safer than doing 55 on a US Interstate. I think this supports speeds approaching the engineering limits, not the arbitrary speed limits.

Of course, the standards to get a license in Europe are much stricter and the traffic laws are meticulously obeyed (at least in Germany where I've driven)


Yes, that actually accords with what I've said! The autobahn are engineered for those speeds. They also don't allow bikes!

Sometimes the arbitrary speeds aren't so arbitrary, if you know why they're there. I remember growing up where one of the speed limit signs was posted for 17? mph on a curve. It had something to do with the fact that drivers noticed it because it was an odd number, and would slow down. Apparently a lot of people had had bad accidents at that curve, and yes, it was an arbitrary speed, but for a reason. Same with your side streets--how fast can you go and then stop on a dime when a child runs out in front of you? You don't want to go so fast that you can't stop in time. Even though the streets could be engineered for much faster speeds, would you want to go faster?

Sometimes I think that the last question is purely rhetorical. Obviously a lot of people do want to go faster, even if it's possible to kill or injure a child by doing so.

East Hill

[Deanna]

I work for a company that made radar detectors. Thankfully we're getting out of the business --I could tell you some horror stories about drivers out there. I don't know if cops are more likely to ticket you if you have one--they generally have picked you out for speeding way before you are close enough for them to see if you have one and only use the radar/laser to get a speed reading without having to pace you.

Regarding 8-10 mph over posted speed limits, that may have been safe before the days of cell phones. Too many drivers are driving distracted to be speeding at the same time. We very recently had an accident on the freeway near my office where a driver was doing 70 mph (only 5mph over the 65 speed limit) who was "distracted" and didn't see the stopped traffic ahead in time to hit his breaks. He slammed into a car, killing 4 of the 5 passengers when their car went up in flames and sending a 4 year old boy to the hospital with severe burns. If that doesn't make you think twice about speeding, I don't know what will.

[Blueberry]

Regarding 8-10 mph over posted speed limits, that may have been safe before the days of cell phones. Too many drivers are driving distracted to be speeding at the same time. We very recently had an accident on the freeway near my office where a driver was doing 70 mph (only 5mph over the 65 speed limit) who was "distracted" and didn't see the stopped traffic ahead in time to hit his breaks. He slammed into a car, killing 4 of the 5 passengers when their car went up in flames and sending a 4 year old boy to the hospital with severe burns. If that doesn't make you think twice about speeding, I don't know what will.

Sad to say, but I wonder if the result would have been different had he not been speeding. I seriously doubt it. It's more a problem of distracted drivers and less a problem of speed, I think. We have some roads here where the speed limit is 70. So, he would not have been speeding. I agree it's a tragedy - I'm just not sure the 5mph speeding was to blame.

On some roads I drive, my choice is speed or be rear ended. I'll choose speeding. I choose not to drive with a cell without a hands free device (not regulated here). I don't drive if I'm extremely tired (again, my choice). And yes, I almost get run into by 10 bad drivers each day. Dunno how we fix the "bad driver" problem.

lph - the joke is hilarious!

[chickwhorips]

that is scary deanna. when i went back to phoenix to visit, i was terrified of driving anywhere, specially on the freeway. you have to keep up with the speed of traffic or get run off the road. sadly, i use to be one of those drivers weaving in and out of traffic going the speed of.... well whatever.

i've been pulled over twice for speeding.
once when i was 18 i was going out the beeline highway in mesa, az just going for a ride to get away from my parents because we were fighting. i had the cruise set and all of a sudden there was an officer behind me. he was very nice to me, specially since as soon as i rolled down my window i busted out crying because i was afraid my dad was going to kill me. i think the poor guy didn't know what to do.
next time i was 19. i was going 85 in a 55. oops. the officers pulled me over intent on charging me with criminal speeding. again terrified by the thought of my dad, i started to cry, and they let me go to driving school for it. which actually i highly recommend. i learned lots of legal things i could do that i never knew about!

since then, i've done better (or haven't had an officer around). now living up here there are no speed limits, fastest i go is 35 mph, and that's fast. when i get into the city its scary. there are speed limits, people, stop lights, traffic and your occational moose. :eek:

[GLC1968]

I wonder if there are any studies to suggest the difference in 'pull over' rates vs tickets by area of the country?

I've been driving for 20 years now. Admittedly, I've pretty much always considered the posted speed limit a 'suggestion'. :o I learned to drive in Boston, so I drive fast and fairly agressive. I also drive an extremely 'nimble' car. I haven't been pulled over for speeding in 8 years. (I did get pulled over for an expired plate, but only by a day and my renewal sticker was still in my glove box!) So, I drive fast, I drive a fast car (and have for the past 10 years) and I've lived in 5 states since I got my licence. In summary: I got pulled over in ME twice, in MA, too many times to count on two hands, in PA once (not for speeding and not my fault), in FL, once but it was entrapment, and in NC, zero times. Personally, I think that the northeast has the corner market on a$$hole cops and astronomical speeding fines. And for the record...I've NEVER been able to talk my way out of a single ticket.

A couple of examples...TWICE I was pulled over and asked immediately in a condescending tone "So, is this daddy's car?" (and for the record, it was mine and I was in my mid-20's). One was in MA and the other in NH. My father also got pulled over in MA for passing a cop on the highway (at 55 mph - the speed limit). We were all on the way to my first day at college (whole family, packed car) and we all heard the cop tell him he pulled him over for "blatent disrespect". Nice.

And lastly, about 5 years ago, I was in MA for an internship and my roommate and I were driving to a mall. She was driving (with IL plates) and was coming up on a cop on a 4 lane highway (2 lanes going either direction). I told her to pull behind him and not pass, but she said I'm only going 50, what can he do (speed limit was 55)? I warned her again, but she did it anyway. Sure enough, he pulled her over and gave her a ticket for 'driving to endanger'. He also flat out yelled at her because her dealer plate frame obscured the state name on the tag and he couldn't read it. She was stunned (and pissed) and when we got to work the next day and mentioned it, every single person said "you didn't pass him, did you?" before she'd finished the story!

[emily_in_nc]

GLC, you may be onto something. I've lived in NC most of my driving years and have never gotten pulled for any reason. And I do speed -- not terribly much, but I'll go 9-10 mph over the speed limit often. And I commute 30 miles each way to work, so I do have to drive quite a bit. Worst thing that's ever happen is an unmarked cop flashing his blue lights at me ever so briefly just as a warning. I had just gotten out of being stuck behind two cars (one in each lane), each going about 10 mph under the limit, and I sped out just to get around them. The cop flashed at me, I slowed down, and he didn't pull me. Lucky!

My DH speeds more than I do and has never gotten pulled in the nearly 23 years I've known him - in NC.

So, perhaps NC is a "low pull" state?

Emily

[Blueberry]

Emily-

Except for parts of Greensboro, I think you're right (got pulled the day after Christmas a couple of years ago and should not have gotten the ticket - speed limit had just reduced, and the cop pulled in so close behind me I couldn't have braked or he woulda hit me)! My commute is 35 miles and I regularly go 9-10 or even 15 over. Of course, I'm (barely) keeping up with traffic on the freeway. I am, however, very well behaved on all secondary roads (anywhere cyclists aren't banned, and there might be kids, etc).

CA

[GLC1968]

Ooh, something else my DH and I immediately noticed when we moved here to NC? The speed limits are fairly well suited to the roads. In other words, I speed, but only if I feel safe due to the nature of the road (and the congestion). In every other state I've lived in, the speed that felt comfortable to me was a solid 20 mph higher than most posted limits (no joke). In NC, it's MUCH closer (0 - 5mph) for most roads. Weird, huh?

Another oddity: Since I got my Mini, I've started driving faster (even more so when I lived in FL) and I've still not been pulled over (knock on wood). It's been 3 years now and I've had many 'close calls' where I've sped past a cop and should, by all rights, have been pulled over. I'm not 100% convinced that BMW didn't install cloaking devices in the Mini's. ;)

[Blueberry]

I'm not 100% convinced that BMW didn't install cloaking devices in the Mini's. ;)

Plus they're just so darned cute:D :D (of course a bike is cuter but....)

[Mr. Bloom]

I learned to drive in Boston, so I drive fast and fairly agressive.

My cousin in Boston advise that you should never turn your head to look...they say no one will ever let you merge if they know you see them and they can see the whites of your eyes!

That's how I learned to handle traffic circles...with my eyes closed!:p :p

[GLC1968]

My cousin in Boston advise that you should never turn your head to look...they say no one will ever let you merge if they know you see them and they can see the whites of your eyes!


Very true! The theory is, if you don't see them, they aren't there. ;)