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)
change can only be done after a signal of intent. A Truck beside
you is not a danger, that is your own fear. They are Professional drivers after all. As I said, ease off and let the
Truck get ahead if you want, not speed up as you will run into
the same situation again. There will always be another Truck though. It's a crowded Highway so maintain the speed limit, and
let everyone else dodge about you.
the tags right away, no fines. The vehicle must pass a safety check to get back on the road.
Take care and ease off the gas, okay?
If caught doing 50kmph over: $10,000 fine, vehicle impounded,
immediate loss of lic for five years.
I am not sure about the equation Pedal but I don't think there is anyone here ticketed over 30 miles over the speed or it will be reckless driving and equivalent to felony. I am not sure..
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.
I am not always getting off Rain but there are reasons why you get off through their scrutiny.
I do agree with you, fatalities are caused by reckless, drunk, and irresponsible drivers. Speeding is not quite the same. But like I said, the roads, the cars and good driving abilities are good deterrent to those accidents..
I don't drink, never had, I only pass when safe and speed only as I see it safe.
Although I know what you all are thinking and I am not going to change that. Law is a law and it has to be applied.
can anticipate a ball rolling down a Driveway will have a child
Yes Pedal. The technology is already used in some selected parts of the world. Google it and you will find that cars are now equipped with all the sensors that determine the middle of the road, the moving parts around it and synchronized with satellites and GPS and a car is driving by itself.
Amazing.
I am sorry for your not being able to drive. But London has so many buses and when I was there, finding a parking lot is so difficult. I used to drive from the country to the outskirts of the city and then take the bus around town.
Thanks for your advise my dear lady.
Yes Luke, what a lucrative revenue for the whole nation..
fines faced here. People do not stick to their lanes, and with
the popular use of pads and phones, drivers are more distracted
than they ever have been. I have been hearing of wonders of
the German roads for more than 40 years, and read A. Speers
book(who designed them). I did take a high speed driving course
when I was in the Auto business for twenty years, so I do have
at least a basic understanding of it. It's simple, if don't like
stress, don't drive fast. Even the difference between 60mph,
and 50mph is noticeable, because your senses deal with less.
none of this tech WILL anticipate, it only reacts when sensed.
The only thing truly revolutionary in an Auto is automatic
transmission and power steering. Think of it, it meant that ladies could drive.