driving is a privilege
Well I was in court yesterday ready and armed with all the facts that I should have not been singled out to be cited for speeding and failure to turn my signal when lane changing.(Being lunch time and freeway was empty, everyone was speeding over the speed limit but I passed a semi just to stay away from him as he was doing 80 on a 70).
So I said to myself: "I'm expert on this, I will show up with my professional and respectful demeanor and tell the judge and as usual get dismissed. But that's in California, my residence of 35 years. This time it's my first ticket in the Mid West and of course it's going to be the same.
Well not. Procedures are different but just the same, they just want your money and holy mackerel at least in Cali, you'll get the honor to be heard and state your case. Here you don't get to do all that, they just declare you have to pay and the amount is higher because you're ticketed for two. I said: "Where's the judge and the accuser?" ( officer who pulled me over)
The clerk said: "They're not here and we're making it easier for you". I said: No you're not making it easier for me, I demand the right to be heard and no, first of all I don't want to go to record or my insurance will be exorbitant. After negotiation, he finally realized I am bent to prove my innocence and be dismissed, he dismissed the case, not going to court and stand face to face with the highway patrol in front of a judge.
I said to myself, hmmmnn, a lot easier than in California where you have to sit in court for whole day listening to silly and inane stories trying to make the fine reduced.
But the truth is: This is not really enforcing the law, making the roads safe rather IT IS AN ENORMOUS AND PROFITABLE REVENUE GENERATING TOOL for the nation.
In my driving style (no accident) being a fast driver I'm sure I've paid a fortune to my state. And as soon as my daughter learned about it she said: "Some things don't change, just be careful mom, the snow is treacherous", and I said: "I will, honey".
But as they say it's a privilege, and so be it.
Please read below, copied from Google.
What do speed traps, parking tickets, toll roads, speed cameras and red light cameras all have in common? They are all major revenue sources for state and local governments. All over America today there are state and local governments that are drowning in debt. Many have chosen to use “traffic enforcement” as a way to raise desperately needed revenue. According to the National Motorist Association, issuing speeding tickets raises somewhere between 4.5 billion and 6 billion dollars in the United States each year. And the average price of a speeding ticket just keeps going up.
Comments (55)
I think everywhere just same P.. that only money can beat officer..
and yes we've been steal by state legally
what a wonderful world
here in Florida drivers getting by mail tickets
from tolls they never been
vehicles on the roads than thirty years ago. I have not had a
speeding ticket in twenty years. They are still making autos
with more than 500hp. You will still get to your destination
just as quick with a 90hp Hyundai. I let everyone else drive
around in a manic rush to get somewhere. I use cruise control
at the speed limit, put the rear view mirror on night, and listen to classical music and just relax. It's just not worth
the stress modern day driving invokes. Good on you for fighting
though.
But here all traffic laws are different.
If caught doing 50kmph over: $10,000 fine, vehicle impounded,
immediate loss of lic for five years.
It is a way of ripping off people, but they only catch you if you actually do drive too fast.
I think I see it from a totally different perspective. My friend was stopped for speeding in her Lexus. She told me that it's not her fault because she's a fast driver and the car won't go slow.
I think these comments come from bad and irresponsible drivers. We all know that Authorities benefit from our motoring fines but rules are also there to protect the public and vulnerable people near schools, built up areas and hospitals for example.
I think that our 'speed cameras' should not be visible because accidents are caused when people suddenly apply their brakes etc. If we all followed the rules traffic wouldn't build up and obviously less accidents would happen.
I don't know why you always get off lindsyjones but it proves that you haven't learnt any lessons. What will it take?
My daughter was a fast driver until the police had her sit through a video showing the consequences of such driving. She has children of her own and now has a totally different attitude to driving.
arrested for how long?
it is not a felony, i guess, but a dismeanour.
There's a big difference of careless and irresponsible driver.
I don't cut nor even let people know I'm passing. I only do it when it's safe.
Our cars today are built with unbelievable safety measures. Even blind can drive now.
to accommodate a Truck that is speeding? Even here they have
their own lane on major Highways, a wise driver stays out of that lane. If one is tailgating you, just alternate your speed,
they will soon pass. It is just their physical presence that
unnerves some.
can anticipate a ball rolling down a Driveway will have a child
chasing after it, or a Dog running across a property to intercept, my brain tells me to cut speed. No blind driver or
any computer system on a car can react to that. It is not hard
to drive fast, one just applies pressure to an accelerator,
a Chimpanzee can do that. Speeding up to get away from an already speeding HGV is not the right thing to do. imo.
if u see people with big, expensive cars and u urself on a bicycle or moped,
then driving is a privilege
for those
who have it all.
it is so awful what happens on the roads
that u may feel like a saint
if u do not participate
in this common madness.
it is like following a demon somehow.
hammering the brakes from 140kmph. In crowded traffic conditions, these are stupid speeds to drive at, I even see those
speeds in the rain. "I'm a fast driver" really does not say anything, anyone can push down on a pedal. The thread is about
Lindsy speeding, and it seems doing an improper lane change.
Those are against Highway traffic act, she disputed it, and the
case was dismissed. Was she still guilty? Yes.
I tried to get into that line of business(speed fine reduction in a private capacity) about 10 years ago and was forced out by the heavy-weights with money. Its a huge cash revenue business.
I didn't claim I don't respect nor have the law applied to me. Your sarcasm doesn't get us anywhere but that is why there is a law and violation is expected and go to court to settle disputes.
First of all do you know why 55 and 65 is the speed limit that was posted 40 years ago? They determined that the roads and the capabilities of cars were the crucial reasons why. So I ask you this, are they still the same roads and the same cars? No. So to me per my observation, the law should be changed. In Germany where I happened to drive in the Autobahn with my friend, there is no accidents due to the consistency of the drivers speed on certain lanes. Not like here in the country where the drivers are mixed with 55, 65, 75 85. You would be hypocrite if you don't admit there are more drivers disrespecting and not following the speed limit than those like you (grnating you always drive as posted).
Now laws apply to all. You voted for or not it must be applicable to all, so your question goes deeper than how you ask it. Yes it applies to me, Sir.
All I am saying is there are circumstances when you are heard and you are dismissed. Reasons for dismissal, you should read it or go to the court systems to know it.
Now my point is that not like it is not good. But the fact remains that there are more speeders who don't give hoot at the limit. Besides, then as a revenue generator, the Nation would then lose a lot of funds should there be no speeders on the road..MHO.
that we deal with here in major urban areas. So driving at 160kmph is not even possible, as well as stupid. For driving
in the countryside, have you ever hit a Deer?, not pleasant
for all involved.
I have watched clips though where people have been killed due to driving too fast... Horrific!
I do agree that some of the limits may seem ridiculous but then we are not the ones dealing with the accidents caused by it. In my opinion it is better to be safe than sorry.
Of course, I am not saying every one should obey the law of speeding even if the vehicles are built to drive over hundred miles an hour and roads are so safe? And why there's less accident in a limitless speed driving in the autobahn, than here in our country?
better drivers, they drive better cars, the Highways are better
constructed, and despite being more congested than North American Highways, the laws are more relaxed.
and one of the widest. According to 2008 survey(more now), more
than 500,000 Automobiles use it every day. Try driving in that
at 100mph.
And I didn't change lane improperly. I didn't say that. I didn't need to turn my signal as the are no other driver around me. I do turn them signal lights when there are other drivers.
And I didn't change lane improperly. I didn't say that. I didn't need to turn my signal as the are no other driver around me. I do turn them signal lights when there are other drivers.