Speeding ticket

[C.Ann]

I respectfully disagree that speeding tickets are given solely for revenue enhancement. Local jurisdictions receive very, very little money from speeding tickets. My son, who has just finished his second year on the street, will tell you that he has handled murders, gunshots to the face, suicides and stabbings, but nothing compares to what he has seen happen to the human body in a car crash. The higher the speed, the worse the injuries and the mess.

Don't want a ticket? Don't speed. The life you save may be your own

Couldn't agree more..

 

[SandrA9810]

How long do points stay on your record in Florida??? I've probably gotten more than I should have. But the last ticket was stupid.

We drove to Ft Lauderdale for the day, and needed to go to wal-mart. So we went to the one at Sawgrass, grabbed something to eat. And I headed towards one of the exits. I saw no signs what-so ever or anything telling me I couldn't make a left turn, and it was late at night. Apparently like two days prior there was a nasty accident and some kid got killed from the father making a left turn there. So they decided to make it a no left turn. They could've at least put cones up in the middle of the intersection or in the left lane to make it more obvious.. how was i supposed to know it was all over the news?? I was only down there for a day.
The previous ticket was on disney property... just got off the i-4 doing 65 and didn't reduce to 50. I was trying to get kari to work on time since it was her first week working. The cop was nice and reduced to going 5-9miles over.

But I seriously think that Orange County cops stake out Disney for the sole purpose of nabbing cast members. Disney has also fired CM's if the offense is strong enough. But they only hang out more towards the last 5 days of each month, and any one working there can tell you their "favorite" places to hang out.

 

[jlima]

Here in Clark County traffic enforcement is a money-making operation. DS15's high school moved to a new building 3 years ago, and somehow the speed limit on the street the school fronts was LOWERED from 35 mph to 25 mph after the building opened. And why not? There were 1200 more families driving through the neighborhood - what a revenue opportunity! DOZENS of people got tickets every day. The night we went for Freshman orientation there were three traffic enforcement officers on their motorbikes sitting on a side street half a mile from the school. They knew the nights when there were after hours activities and they made sure there were extra officers so they could write more tickets. Halfway through his freshman year they raised the limit back to 35 mph. No idea who influenced who to put it back the way it was, but I'm sure the people who lived there first didn't appreciate it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you for the information bumbershoot (Mississippi, no such point system exists.) I'm going to call in the morning to find out more. Thanks again.

You're welcome. Do verify it with official people, though, please.

I only know about points b/c I have so many friends from back east! If I'd lived only in CA (where I only drove for a year and never heard of points, even though I see they do use them) and WA, without the SC and VA time, I would have absolutely no clue about it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It will probably be about $200.
Geesh i always thought 65 was a suggestion not a rule LOL

I know you're joking, but just for future information... white speed limit signs are the rule; orange speed limit signs are suggestions; and all bets are off in work areas (i.e. doesn't matter what color the sign is - don't exceed the posted limit; fines are doubled).

 

[kaytieeldr]

Here in Clark County traffic enforcement is a money-making operation. DS15's high school moved to a new building 3 years ago, and somehow the speed limit on the street the school fronts was LOWERED from 35 mph to 25 mph after the building opened.

Just so you know - 25 MPH is the standard speed limit in a school zone when students are present. Of course, traffic enforcement officers in the area aren't so standard...

 

[Sparx]

Here in Clark County traffic enforcement is a money-making operation. DS15's high school moved to a new building 3 years ago, and somehow the speed limit on the street the school fronts was LOWERED from 35 mph to 25 mph after the building opened. And why not? There were 1200 more families driving through the neighborhood - what a revenue opportunity! DOZENS of people got tickets every day. The night we went for Freshman orientation there were three traffic enforcement officers on their motorbikes sitting on a side street half a mile from the school. They knew the nights when there were after hours activities and they made sure there were extra officers so they could write more tickets. Halfway through his freshman year they raised the limit back to 35 mph. No idea who influenced who to put it back the way it was, but I'm sure the people who lived there first didn't appreciate it.

I have to agree. There is a speed trap town about ten minutes from where I live. A 65 mph high way goes through it on both sides, but inside the town the limit drops to 20. dozens of people get tickets every day (commuters are funneled through it)

I also got pulled over in that town for "touching the fog line." which is not illegal, fyi. but the cop slammed into the back of my car and I didn't get a ticket. go figure.

 

[iheartdolewhips]

My husband got a ticket on our wedding day! We had an afternoon wedding and reception and left after that to go to Orlando. We were spending the night at Caribbean Beach Resort before leaving on a cruise the next day. We were on I-75 in Macon, Georgia and my husband was going about 65 in a 55 (which everyone was doing). And yet he pulled us over - car decked out with "JUST MARRIED!!" stuff and all. That $175 ticket was a nice wedding gift.

It set a bad precident for us too - we got married in August (2008), he got another speeding ticket in September, and I got my first speeding ticket on Halloween. We just kept getting caught in speed traps! Thankfully that streak has been broken for a while now ...

 

[JCJRSmith]

In 1987 I was a student at Naval Technical Training Center - Corry Station in Pensacola. Some friends and I made the trip one weekend to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We were driving back late on Saturday night thru Mobile, Alabama when I got pulled over by an Alabama State Trooper for doing 72 in a 55 zone. He made me get out of my car and walk back to his car to process me.

Now, we had been in New Orleans all day and somewhere along the way I got a Mardi Gras hat, Mardi Gras t-shirt, lots of beads and my face was painted a bunch of riotous colors.

The Trooper's first words to me where, "You been Mardi Gras'n, Boy?"

Madi Gras'n - its an adverb in Mobile

 

[John VN]

Just so you know - 25 MPH is the standard speed limit in a school zone when students are present. Of course, traffic enforcement officers in the area aren't so standard...

15mph is the posted limit in our school zones.

 

[agnes!]

My DH got pulled over on the VA border, he was heading to GA and right along the VA/NC border got pulled over. Also was consider reckless driving and was told he had to go to court, couldn't just pay the fine. He received mailings from several lawyers wanting to help him in court. Normally we wouldn't go that route but since we live in MD, he hired a lawyer. The lawyer handled everything and didn't really help my DH out at all. We were out the fine for the ticket (about 200+ dollars), the lawyer cost (another 500 dollars) and he still had to do a online class, and also received pts. The only thing the lawyer helped with was my DH didn't have to take the day to go to court. Lawyer didn't help him one bit, just took our money. I remind him all the time now not to speed in VA. He has a radal detector but they are against the law to use in VA.

As long as we are discussing the Commonwealth of Virginia regarding speeding and radar detectors, heads up on radar-detector possession in the state...

While the days of the Virginia State Police sniffing out your FuzzBuster (tm) radar detector and seizing it are gone,

Yeah, I KNOW they used to do this, it was in the Washington-area news several years ago. Some folks were going into a park and the detector was in the trunk and it was confiscated...not sure the cops will do that any more. Was reading a bit and apparently in Arlington County the cops will come up behind you and turn *their* radar on...if you tap your brakes, the pull you over for probably cause.

it is still illegal to use radar detection devices in Virginia. Contrary to the state statute, some local government web sites such as the City of Fairfax advise that drivers may possess a detector even in a vehicle if the device has no power source and no one in the vehicle can access it. The actual statue, however, still prohibits possession in a motor vehicle, even if disconnected and not in actual operation.

§ 46.2-1079. Radar detectors
"Except as provided in subsection B of this section, the presence of any such prohibited device or mechanism in or on a motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth shall constitute prima facie evidence of the violation of this section. The Commonwealth need not prove that the device or mechanism in question was in an operative condition or being operated."
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtlaws_jul04.html

agnes!

 

[jpmandan]

Ok, I called today and drum roll please...
My fine is going to be $192.50. I thought it was going to be between $180 and $200. I have a CDL so by MS law I don't have to attend a driving school. I hope thats good. We talked about the price of my fine at work and we think that because I have a CDL I paid more. I have to call back in 2 weeks and talk to someone else. Why, I don't know. I did not call my Insurance company, I just hope they don't find out. Thanks again for all the replys, looks like I've started something.
Oh, and by the way I had saved about $145.00 for gas money to WDW "NOT ANYMORE".

 

[agnes!]

Was reading up and there is a Federal statute that nationwide prohibits radar detectors in (freight/long-haul/interstate/etc) trucks.

agnes!

 

[jpmandan]

My husband got a ticket on our wedding day! - car decked out with "JUST MARRIED!!" stuff and all.

If I was an officer of the law I wouldn't have pulled Y'all over if you were going 100mph.

 

[minkydog]

In 1987 I was a student at Naval Technical Training Center - Corry Station in Pensacola. Some friends and I made the trip one weekend to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We were driving back late on Saturday night thru Mobile, Alabama when I got pulled over by an Alabama State Trooper for doing 72 in a 55 zone. He made me get out of my car and walk back to his car to process me.

Now, we had been in New Orleans all day and somewhere along the way I got a Mardi Gras hat, Mardi Gras t-shirt, lots of beads and my face was painted a bunch of riotous colors.

The Trooper's first words to me where, "You been Mardi Gras'n, Boy?"

Madi Gras'n - its an adverb in Mobile

No, son, in Mobile Mahdi Graw is a verb!

 

[Shutterbug]

Just so you know - 25 MPH is the standard speed limit in a school zone when students are present. Of course, traffic enforcement officers in the area aren't so standard...

actually its 20 mph when lights are flashing but the rest of the time its 35mph so yeah sounds like the only reason they lowered it was as a speed trap.

 

[bumbershoot]

Just so you know - 25 MPH is the standard speed limit in a school zone when students are present. Of course, traffic enforcement officers in the area aren't so standard...

There are whole areas that are 20 around here, not just when school is in session.

actually its 20 mph when lights are flashing but the rest of the time its 35mph so yeah sounds like the only reason they lowered it was as a speed trap.

Or, because it was a new school, they had it lowered as drivers got used to scads of kids going wild before and after school, so as to avoid tragedy.



For honeymooners...better a speeding ticket than a funeral, IMO.



In my town, there's an area that has a street marking the line between Tacoma and another town called University Place. The street is 2 lanes going either way. One side is on the Tacoma side, and the speed limit is 40. The other side is U Place, and it's 30.

It is well well well known for cops sitting there (in the parking lot of the Adventist? church), and all I gotta say is...if someone who has lived there more than a day gets pulled over, it's solely their fault. The cops could not be more obvious if you've just driven by once!

 

[jlima]

Just so you know - 25 MPH is the standard speed limit in a school zone when students are present. Of course, traffic enforcement officers in the area aren't so standard...

They just made the street immediately around the campus a school zone maybe a month ago. The part that they lowered to 25 was almost a mile away from the school in both directions. Cheap money grab.

 

[disfan07]

where I grew up it was 25 MPH within a mile around the school. That was considered the school zone.

Its probably different in each state.

 

[DawnCt1]

I'm not fighting it. I did think it was a 65mph zone, they change the speed limit on this High way all over from 65 to 55 (speed trap) and this little part I never travel, I just wanted to go another way. Wish I had gone the old way.

The problem with speeding tickets, is that they are the gift that keeps on giving. It isn't just the initial fine but any surcharges or increases that your insurance company imposes. Something similar happened to DH last fall. The speed limit suddenly changed although the appearance of the road or the density didn't and he got a speeding ticket. He contested it, went to court,presented the scenario and the judge asked him, "Do you usually drive like that?" DH said, no, and he dismissed it.