Speeding Tickets...

[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 )

Guess we're just cautious in this household 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

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!

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 .

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)

[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.

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...