Tickets for speeding are nothing more than a money grab. They have more to do with revenues for the local or federal gov't than your safety. Another thing is this monkey cops will pull over certain cars for speeding, while others will be speeding twice as much and not even get a second glance. Where I live especially if your an east indian descent, and on top of that driving a mustang or for that matter any nice car well yuor getting pulled over regardless of if your speeding or not, and if yuo were slightly speeding well that is just a bonus for these morons. Ive seen cops pull U turns in the middle of the night while my friend I were driving smack dab on the speeding limit of not below it just to pull us over and ask where we were going. I have been pulled over simply for "routine stops" as they put on countless occassions. So in short my opinion is that they pick and choose who they want to give tickets to and it has nothing to do with safety or ne thing else. Anyone who is goign to tell me otherwise can just save thier breath because im the one getting pulled over for routines stops all the time.

 

Ok, I'm going to wade in on this discussion even with the warning from Clark Kent regarding saving my breath.
Yes, there are poor examples of law enforcement officers and poor examples of private citizens ... neither have a corner on the market. I have written many tickets back in the "dark ages," but never one for less than 15 over unless the driver was really driving erraticly. I always tried to be courteous using yes & no sir/ma'am -- that said, if the driver presented an attitude, I would adjust mine. As with "trooper", most of the time if the driver was honest and respectful, had no negative driving history or flags, they got a warning.
Now one 1 occasion traveling cross-state, I was stopped by a sgt. with the state police. He was rude and had a "Wyatt Earp" attitude. I was stopped for 63 in a 55, so I was speeding ... when I commented to him that I hadn't had a ticket in 34 yrs. of driving his response was,"Well maybe this one will make you show your a$$ down."
I took the ticket, and after the trip I called the supervisor in that troop and the appropriate district judge. I expressed my concern about this sgt. and his attitude, but did not ask for anything regarding the ticket. However both said that the ticket would be changed to a "non-moving violation" when it was paid. I paid the ticket, my insurance didn't get notified of a speeding offense, and I had the opportunity to share my concerns as a law enforcement officer about another in the same business.
Now one comment by Clark Kent bothered me ... having seen officers make a u-turn at night to pull him over because he was of "East Indian descent". Now folks, I don't know about anyone else, but I don't think I can determine the descent of a driver after dark when meeting them on the highway so that I would u-turn and chase them down because of their ethnicity. The driver would have to be doing something to perk my interest.
Lastly, Clark ... all of us (me included as you can see above) run into those "Wyatt Earp" types that have a need for a serious attitude adjustment as an officer of the law, but please don't lump all officers into a negative existence. That's doing the same "negative profiling" of which you complain.
I personally LOVE my 05 GT ... Trooper, you've made me sweat again over the addition of red stripes to compliment my red leather interior ... temptation temptation . Lets just try to enjoy our cars and those of our fellow Mustangers, not develop an attitude based on a few negative people and be judgemental, and "Let's be careful out there." (Hill Street Blues)

 

Mach 73 if I read your post right you are saying that you are a police officer in Louisiana and you actually got a speeding ticket? I know numerous guys who are police officers in South LA and all they do is keep their badge with their drivers license so that when they get pulled over the officer sees it and then lets them go. My brother, who was an officer in the New Orleans area at the time, was clocked by a Trooper running 140 MPH around 2 am one morining and didn't get a ticket! You must have really pissed the Trooper off to get a ticket.

I agree with some of the previous comments about viewing a ticket as a tax or revenue for the jurisdiction. I look at a speeding ticket as a toll. If I were to average one ticket a year here in Houston, that works out to about $0.35 / day to drive whatever speed I want (when conditions permit of course). That's not a bad deal considering I spend $3 a day in tolls to get to and from work.

 

I look at a speeding ticket as a toll. If I were to average one ticket a year here in Houston, that works out to about $0.35 / day to drive whatever speed I want (when conditions permit of course). That's not a bad deal considering I spend $3 a day in tolls to get to and from work.[/quote]


That is not accurate as you might get more than 1 ticket and it will increase your insurance and cost of extra tickets.

 

The comment was directed at me for saying that I sometimes stop guys just to talk about the car they are driving and not caring about the violation that attracted my attention in the first place.... I'm far too busy to just sit out looking for Mustangs and Corvettes... I'm looking for reasons to have contact with someone.. if the violation I notice is being comitted by a car with some ***** and the driver does not have an attitude... I want to talk about something fun instead of writing the guy the ticket. I get what I want and he gets what he wasn't... I slow him down and he doesn't get a ticket.. If you really think that I'd risk my job and stop someone with no PC... you're in need of a reality check. Most every car on the road is in atleast 1 violation of the V&T... Cars like ours are almost always in violation of one of the exhaust sections in NY and usually a little above the posted limit just like every other car on the road. I don't need to manufacture what is already there. Just because you think it's ok to go 5 over doesn't mean it. I don't stop for 5 over.. my number is 15 during the day which is par for the course around here.

 

Just because you think it's ok to go 5 over doesn't mean it. I don't stop for 5 over.. my number is 15 during the day which is par for the course around here.[/QUOTE]

I need to clarify some of my previous rambling, and I'll use trooper's statement to illustrate what I'm talking about. I feel the fact that I have driven thousands of miles over the last 30 years with no accidents, that I use my signals and remain aware of and cooperate with the other drivers on the road, that I intentionally don't talk on a cell phone while driving easily 99% of the time... I feel that does qualify me to make the judgement to drive 5 over the speed limit. Will a judge see things that way? Unlikely. Obviously, trooper does not see things that way because maybe he's the only one qualified to make judgements like that. But I feel that the speed limit is ultimately there to protect me...the guy "breaking the law." See what I said...the law serves me...not the other way around. I think law enforcement persons can sometimes get caught up in the letter of the law and lose sight of the spirit of the law. But I digress... this is not my main point. We don't want to the general populace running around making judgements and we don't want to take the time it really takes to understand why they made those judgements, I guess because all of us sometimes make wrong judgements. All of us. We just want to apply a formula (I don't stop for 5 over but I do for 15 over (which I feel is probably perfectly reasonable most of the time)) because that's the most efficient thing to do. But does it really serve justice? It doesn't serve the public because it's not training the public to drive any safer. Instead, it trains us to hit the brakes and drive 5 under the speed limit whenever we see the police, because obviously he must be looking at me and not the other 50 cars on the road with me.(After all, I am the most important person out here)

Which brings me to my point (finally). The reason we can't speed safely in this country is because of our culture. We are not encouraged to cooperate with one another...instead we are trained to compete. And many people who would never say boo to you in person have no trouble using their 2 ton suv to threaten you on the road when you aren't driving the way they think you should be. Those who spend their time "teaching" other people how to drive probably don't have much of a life, so they constantly need to get into other people's. Although many of the "things that make you go humm" can probably be attributed to just not paying attention. I think most of he stupid stuff we run into day in and day out can be put down to just plain laziness.
"I get in the left lane, drive my speed and ignore all the other drivers because it's just the least mind occupying thing to do. It frees me up to talk on my phone." I guess my main point is that our system, as it exists today, doesn't encourage drivers to drive more safely or efficiently. I believe it actually does the opposite. The agenda in name is safety, but from my observations, the actual agenda seems to be money.

sorry...this ramble started to take on the characteristics of a rant. Trooper, if you ever pull me over for 10 or 15 over, I will be happy to talk mustangs with you all day. I love to talk mustangs.

 

Sorry I misunderstood you!

 

Clark Kent, there are more factors you're not telling us.

Like, do you live near a high security area? Like a military base, NASA base etc.
or how about a high drug trafficking zone? I've been stopped many times driving through one of those just so the cop can make sure I'm not buying drugs.
or do you live near a hot spot for street racing? They might just be making sure you're not going to illegally race your car on a public highway.

There are several reasons why any cop would makea U turn at night to pull you over if you're not speeding. I doubt is race reasons, most cops are smart enough not to jeopardize their career for something as foolish at openly being a bigot while working...

EDIT: Although, I do believe there is some truth in the fact that they could give out tickets just to improve the local economy. Look at Mississippi. If you're going 5 mph over, be prepared to pay up. I've gotten a ticket for going 3mph over before. A buddy of mine has gotten numerous tickets at the LA, MS state line for going 5mph or less. Passes a cop in LA, he might wave or thumbs up for his car (not really, just figuratively), then a cop 50 feet later in MS pulls him over after he's slowed down for the other cop. SO being that MS is the poorest state in the country, they could just be trying to help the local economy...

 

Hey Smitty, that was a good read. And very insightful. I never thought about it like that but I think you're right. People generally do try to "compete" here for whatever reason and in many cases it just seems silly.

As for cops... I agree with what Mach 73 said. No one group has the market cornered for being jerks.

I've been pulled over by jerks that were looking to show off their badge and basically make life miserable for me for the next five or ten minutes.

And I've been pulled over by really nice cops that in some cases DID ticket me and in some did not. I can honestly say I've only been pulled over twice where I didn't deserve it.

Both of those times I got a ticket and both of those times I wasn't speeding. In one case I was just driving my friend's Mustang and it had glass packs on it and I gut pulled over for speeding but the Suzuki Samurai next to me was what was speeding.

The other time I just plain wasn't speeding and the guy pulled me. I can only assume it was another car either in front or behind that was.

Last time I got pulled over was in LA and the guy could have written me a few tickets because I had no front license plate, I was speeding, and I have tinted windows. I was fighting with my wife and trying to find a Ford dealership of all places and was lost.

But the LAPD officer was very cool and let me off with a warning. His partner looked like he was ready to shoot me, but he looked like he had been on the job all of a week so I assume he was training him

Back on topic... I've seen vids of those laser jammers and they do seem to work. But I agree with what most have said, save your money and just don't speed. I find anytime I do speed I'm kind of stressed anyway because I'm worried I'll get caught.

I'd rather enjoy the ride and not stress Besides, speeding anywhere other than the boonies won't get you anywhere much faster. Red lights and traffic... ahh they are a pain hehe.

 

I have no doubt, ZERO DOUBT, this happens all the time where I live.

 

no man its not a race zone, or high security zone. its actually a very nice neighbourhood. And even if you were to make a cse of my neighbourhood which someone couldn't because other races are nto being pulled over in our neighbourhood, but what about when me and my friends are constantly harrased no matter where in the city we are. ive been in areas at a friends house in the most affluent part of town, still getting pulled over in broad daylight mind you for nothing. I have even been pulled over in my dads work truck, my family car, ect. I have been questioned by a cop just satnding outside my gf's house which is in a very rich area. I was being asked what I was doing there and if that was my house, and if it wasn't if that was my car ( a 94 cavalier i was driving). The amount of times me and and other like me have been pulled over, or simply harrased for other reasons is to numerous to outline here. But trust me when I tell you guys discrimination does occur and at much higher rate than you may be aware. I can tell you this because I have experienced and continue to on a regular basis. All through high school being singled out for the color of your skin and your background, and all through my adult years. It is unfortunate in this dya and age, but it is the grim truth. The sad part is that where I live east indians are owners of many multi million dollar companies, they own mansions, and nice cars, give to charity in large amounts, there was entire wing to the hospital recently opened that was mainly funded by indians, but just because there are some that choose the other side of the law they use that as an excuse to harrass and discriminate the rest. there are plenty of bikers around here, as welll as other gangs, but yet you do not see them being pinned against the wall based upon the actions of a few. well I digress and dont want to bore you guys any further. I was imply trying to state that I see cops given outs tickets in a totally biased matter, and it really bothers me. I was actually training to bea cop, but a lifetime of this made it really hard to make that decision, and in the end i choose against it. Well hopefully we can all avoid tickets all together and continue to enjoy our great cars. sorry for the vent just thought i should clarify somewhat

 

I just bought M45 extreme...Yes they do work, but you have to have them mounted properly.
You will need to make sure that the Blinders are mounted within an 18inch diameter to cover all target areas. In the Stang that means all 4 lights and the front license plate will need to be coverd. Im actually putting 3 Blinders up front and 1 in the back. Oh yea..and tehy have to be alligned veritcally and horizontally.

You should check out some youtube videos of them in action. There is one video i saw that captured the Blinders with an infrared camera. SO you can see them going off when the laser hits them.


When i get mine mounted i'll post some pics.

Worth the money...If your going to speed, the hell ya.

And dont' forget a decent radar detector like the Bel STI. Which i can attest to is the best Radar detector i've ever used. And i've used many. And had many even taken away.

Nice cat and mouse game. but you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

Your absolutely right.
For the most part "Active Speeders" are more aware of there suroundings and i find myself lookin at all 4 mirrors constantly.
Then of course you have the "Passive Speeders" who are oblivious to the fact that they are speeding. Whole different ball game all together

This is what North America should do:
1) Apply German driving laws and licensing schemes. Making a lot more harder and expensive to get licensed (this should get rid of 30% of all drivers on the road today).
So this make roads safer and less congested. Also road rage would fall, since the fast lane would be used for faster moving vehicles only or passing.
There are too many people on the road today that are scared to drive.
Make every driver take a some kind of defensive driver course (eg recovery of lost control)
And why not also through in some track time to get people used to higher speeds.

2) Introduce 2 speed limits. Meaning during rush hour and non-rush hour. Rush hours speeds will remain the same as tehy are now. Increase non-rush hour limits oin Interstates to 90 accross the country.

 

We definitely need to revamp drivers ed, license requirements AND enforcement of issues that lead to road rage and traffic congestion, not to mention accidents. Lane discipline would be one of the first areas that needs to be addressed.

How many times have you been behind three jackasses going side by side down a three lane road at the exact same (and slow speed)? Traffic slowly backups up behind them and more and more people get more and more pissed the whole time. Start pulling this people over and writing tickets for obstruction of traffic and maybe people would pay a (tiny) bit more attention to what they are doing.

 

ooooooooooooo... My favorite discussion... If i'm travelling in the left lane on a 2 lane road doing 65, and the speed limit is 65, am I obstructing traffic?

 

In California, the answer is YES. CA law states that a driver MUST move to the right lane if there is a car behind wanting to pass, REGARDLESS, (and here’s the important part) of the speed limit OR how fast you are going. If the speed limit is 70 and you’re going 90, you must pull over if some one comes up at 95.

 

Where Dustin and I live it is not a discussion, it is the law. Keep to the right.
In the driver's manual:
"The left lane is for drivers who want to go faster, pass or turn left.
The right lane is used by drivers who go slower or who are entering or turning off the road."
The law states:
"II. Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic,'
Notice how it mentions normal speed of traffic, not speed limit.

 

Normal traffic speed should NOT exceed the speed limit. No one lane is an exception for going over the speed limit, but slower traffic (ie., less than the posted speed limit) should keep right. If normal traffic speed is travelling the speed limit, then all lanes are equal.

I've had cops behind me plenty of times while in the left lane on a 2 lane road at the speed limit. Never been stopped. Never been stopped in New Hampshire either. Travelled between Worcester and Keene, Manchester, Hampton, and Center Harbor. No problems there either.

I have also never known anyone that was stopped for driving the speed limit in the left lane.

Can't be much of a law if it's not enforced.


Now, before I'm labeled as an idiot, i'm saying all this in a friendly discussion tone. I do know how this ticks people off, so i'm always ready to look at it from a different angle. I'm also not a habitual left lane traveller, but I do spend time there since the right lane traffic is generally under the speed limit. My speeding habits are only 5-10 over speed limit. On a 3 lane road, i'm RARELY in the left lane. That is where the speeders get caught!

Since this thread is about laser jammers, i'm off topic and thats it for me!

 

No offense but I think you might be missing the point entirely. Speed is not a factor in determining whether or not you belong in the left lane. In the state of OH the left lane is considered a passing lane. It very clearly states on highway signs to keep to the right unless you are passing. No mention of speed, because the determining factor is whether or not you are passing, no matter what speed you are going. From Karman's post it sounds like the same is true in NH.

Having said that, I don't think I know of one single person who ever got a ticket for hanging in the left lane.

 

Behavior like that in CA will get you a ticket so fast it will make your head spin. I was once ticketed by a highway patrolman in CA when the national speed limit was still 55 for obstructing traffic. I was going over 60 in the fast lane on a 4 lane stretch of I-5 through Camp Pendleton. He came up behind me and clocked me for more than 2 miles. When he pulled me over and asked if I knew what I was being ticketed for I guessed maybe 7 over the limit. He then proceeded to lecture me on the law and wrote me up for obstructing the flow of traffic. The ticket clearly stated my speed was over 60. Now when I am in the fast lane and a highway patrolman comes up behind me I pull over to let him by. Same for anyone else going faster than I am.

I've driven on the Autobahn, I know what the left lane is for. In Germany, between cities, if you're not going 150+ or passing slower traffic you stay to the right. I pretty much apply the same principles here. I stay left unless I am passing someone or going considerably faster than everyone else.

When I recently drove my Mustang GT home from the dealer in LA to my home in the bay area I was averaging 85 to 90 MPH on I-5 up through the central valley. (pretty cool when your car's computer shows an 85 MPH average speed!) Out there if you're not doing 80+ you'll get run over. (speed limit is 75) I ran several stretches at 95-105. Even at those speeds, when someone came up behind me I moved to the left. And people did come up from behind me. At no time was I the fastest car - I learned that trick to staying ticket free long ago.

Nothing worse than some self-righteous ignoramus going the speed limit in the fast lane because they think they have the right to do so. As they say - RTFM - the DRIVERS manual.

AutoWeek is a big proponent of better driver's education. See their Teen Driving Safety Summit for more information. I think more stringent driver's ed and licensing requirements are a good thing.

Martin