I’m talking specifically about obeying the speed limit, doing a full stop at stop signs, etc. After receiving a speeding ticket for doing 53 in a 50, As an experiment I went a full day obeying all traffic laws 100% and it caused so much road rage. For example, there is a 2 lane road near me with a speed limit of 50 (where I got the ticket), traffic usually moves at about 60/65. There was a huge line of cars behind me and nowhere to pull over. As soon as an opening came up on the shoulder I was about to pull over and one of the cars behind me blew past me on the on the right blaring their horn. Then another truck passed me at the next opportunity and brake checked me. Both of these cars proceeded to run a red light about 1/4 mile ahead of me endangering others. By far the worst part of driving on this 2 lane road was the 25 mph work zone which is completely ignored by everyone else. It effectively resulted in me doing 25 mph in a “60” which is very dangerous.
Having needed to spend the entire day pulling over at every opportunity to let people pass I inevitably picked up a drill bit and got a flat tire.
Even matters as simple as stopping completely at a stop sign for 1 second cause immediate anger and dangerous behavior from other drivers.
What on earth are we expected to do? All I want is to avoid speeding tickets and drive safely.
I can’t believe you got a ticket for speeding 53 in a 50! What state do you live in that police are that eager to give a ticket? Cops will only be that strict where I live in 25mph zones, usually school zones or a place where the highway goes through the middle of town.
They say something around here like: +8, you’re great. +9, you’re mine. And that is actually pretty low for how much I’ve seen people speed here (+15 sometimes, even on 2-lane highways like you’re talking about). I got ticketed for a +13.
In california, near an upscale/wealthy neighborhood with otherwise low crime. Its how the police department stays well funded I’m sure.
We call that a speed trap. Its kind of a cost of doing business. You should continue driving like normal people do.
Sounds like it. You could fight it if you have the time and will. Most likely (though take this with a grain of salt because I’m in the Midwest which is clearly different), the officer won’t see it as worth his time to go to the court hearing, especially if the fine is low.
Yeah it feels like the fine is just high enough to justify them making money from the stop, but just low enough that it doesn’t seem like its worth my time/effort to fight it.
And that’s what they want people to do. Likely it isn’t enough money for the officer to go after either, so you could just fight it to make sure they don’t get the money, if you have the time. It’s cool if you don’t.
Virginia is really bad about traffic cops like that.