language warning:
Having Fun with the cops…
Two points…when people admit to getting just a couple of speeding tickets, it has nothing to do with the actual number of times they were speeding. Secondly, chances of getting a ticket is more in line with how far over the limit you were driving…which is the way it should be.
The last time I got a speeding ticket the officer came to my window, asked for my license & registration, took them and just started walking back to his car. As he walked away without having said a word I asked if he could please tell me why he pulled me over. He said “you were speeding and I’m going to write you a ticket.” that was the entire conversation except for the part where he told me how to either pay it or go to court.
I find it funny that VDC Driver talks about admitting when you are at fault - and how that says something about character - and the very next post is from chuckyazian who admits to being pulled over twice in a short period of time and can’t see that maybe there’s a problem.
Even though police won’t admit…many towns have Quota’s. In many towns budgets here in MA and NH…the amount of money collected each year through traffic violations are actually written in the budget. They police are expected to write enough tickets to cover this item in the budget. If they don’t collect enough money…then there may be town layoffs…and the cops are the FIRST to go.
Because what’s the one kind of municipal employee we can do without? Police officers, of course!
Sure do enjoy your stories, Mike!
I know several police officers and the they all say if if you get pulled over, never, EVER admit you were wrong as this will be used against you if you decide to take it to court, They all tell you to be as polite as possible and say as little as possible…PERIOD. If you do get a ticket, fight it in court - not when you get pulled over. But never, never, never admit you were wrong (speeding, etc). Police officers use notes in court and if you admit that you were wrong, you’ve got a much harder time (if at all any) of getting off when you take it to court.
What I gather from this , speed6, is that you must be the single officer in the country who will actually engage in conversation.
No one I’ve ever met would allow a single second of discussion to even learn the opinions and demeanor of the driver.
Sounds like you could teach a thing or two to our locals.
I pulled up to a construction area with two possible directions to turn. A “do not enter” sign was dead smack in the middle between the two choices. So I picked one, then found myself directed towards some oncoming traffic.
Somehow a cop was sitting right there where I turned and escorted me back down the correct direction and proceeds to write me a ticket. I tried to explain that I was sorry I could not tell which of the two directions the sign was for (LIKE I DID THIS ON PURPOSE) and I kid you not another person got out of their car and walked over and asked him which way they were supposed to turn because they couldn’t tell by the sign while he was writing me the ticket.
So I said “You see officer, it is difficult to determine which direction to turn.”
His response: “You can tell it to the judge.”
I have a like/dislike relationship with cops. I think love/hate is too strong to accurately define this. Cops are necessary in our society of course. Some cops are heroes. A lot are professional and generally good guys/gals. I had a cop as a neighbor and he was a great guy that would probably have given the shirt off his back if asked. I’ve also been treated like it was my fault when a home I owned was broken into and met my share of belligerent a*holes that I struggle to imagine how they became a cop, as I doubt they could pass an aptitude test for a minimum wage job. I’ve been followed through small towns just because I was a fish in shark-infested waters apparently. I know it’s a high stress job and people do get jaded. I get that way myself at my job and without people trying to injure or kill me.
The thing I hate about the profession is that it seems to draw immature, cocky people that want the shiny badge and to wield a little power without any semblance of wisdom or compassion. Maybe a little cockiness is necessary to survive in this profession, but I would not pick most cops I’ve met as friends. I considered becoming a cop at one time. What stopped me? Mostly the thought that I’d have to deal with other members of the profession.
I do routinely go 10 or so faster than the speed limit on controlled access highways. I do not consider this to be unsafe. If I get pulled over, I am apologetic and polite. Not because I have any remorse or intention of changing my ways, but because I know it may get me a warning instead of a ticket. I consider myself an honest person with some integrity, just not too honest for my own good.
“I routinely go 10 or so faster than the speed limit…I do not consider this unsafe”
You are not in the minority, especially in Massachusetts. I get why you may have more frequent contact with police.
I’m sure that this traveling speed may be considered “immature and cocky” by drivers who keep their speed in check. I get why you guys do this, my kids sometimes do as well, and I make no judgement, but. You guys who routinely travel at 10 plus over, unfortunately perhaps for you, get rewarded.
Let me tell you a little known secret. Sometimes, not always, it’s the “hotdog immature” cops who are the most willing to chase the " hot dog immature" speeder. Often, it seems that way as after a chase, the adrenalin is pumping and they may react just as the speeding driver does…cocky and immature. I don’t think honesty is the problem, it seldom is…speeding is. Cops have to drive much faster then the speeder often and it takes it’s toll on “maturity” in the language they may use. Speeders, deal with it. Take their badge number and complain…or slow down and avoid as much contact with the police.
Actually…some times of the day…if you are UNDER 10mph more then the speed limit in MA…it’s DANGEROUS.
I believe that the note about 10mph over the speed limit was about limited access highways - not everyday, around town roads. A 10mph window is very normal for limited access highways. In fact I have spent my whole life assuming that the de facto speed limit is 10 over on limited access & 5 over on other streets. I have never been pulled over while keeping inside of those windows.
And as Mike implied, this window on highways is so normal that doing the speed limit is probably more dangerous & certainly not the norm.
I was twice given warnings to speed up or move to the far right lane in California when driving the speed linit +5 in the center of 5 lanes, letting cars pass me on the right at Mach I that got no attention from the CHPs.
The highway cops here are told to use good judgement. Most drivers, including myself, go at least 5 mph over the speed limit. When conditions are safe and no erratic or dangerous driving is observed, they don’t stop anyone.
The throughways are designed for at least 80+ mph of safe driving with today’s vehicles.
Hunter Thompson, in his book “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” suggests that when the siren and red lights appear behind you, you should not wimp out and pull over. Instead, he recommends that you speed up and demonstrate to the officer your driving skills. He says that officers have disdain for wimps who automatically pull over, but respect the person who makes them work to stop you.
Cig…“A 10mph window is very normal for limited access highways.”
I agree…if that’s the window. There are arbitrary limits that are pretty safe according to conditions and under ten mph is reasonably safe in many areas, including limited access highways.
But I heard; “I routinely go 10 or so faster than the speed limit.” If you routinely travel at 75 Plus and not 75 as a limit, I guarantee that the necessity to pass others at that speed means you will frequently be going well over 80mph. The higher your cruising speed with “your traveling companions” the greater the passing speeds. Now you’re bouncing off 80 and a cop has to catch you…he’s hitting well over 90 mph from a stop; Contrary to popular belief, they don’t get their jollies weaving through traffic at those speeds, putting others at risk, trying to catch a speeder and are not happy about it.
You will see these higher speeds are regular occurrences for those who actually thought they were cruising at less then 75 mph; that was their story when pulled over too.
The type of car you drive has a lot to do with it as well. A grey 4 door sedan does not attract attention. A friend of my wife is a fast driver, but never got a ticket until she started driving a red sports car.
That often seems true, Docnick. Driving a regular route for several years and seeing the same cops it became somewhat predictable that a coupe with a radar detector would get stopped often while a station wagon would go unnoticed at the same speed by the same officer. I drove more than 1 million miles on that route with no tickets and no accidents. And BTW, once a sheriff’s deputy made a U-turn in front of me and turned on his lights, then motioned for me to follow. At times I exceeded 85 mph and found myself at the community hospital where the OR was waiting for some blood I was hauling. It was amazing that a worn out Ford could actually go that fast.