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Comments
So the person sitting at a light chatting on the phone with an earpiece gets rearended and that's their fault? Not quite that black and white.
"Second change, no pickups, SUV's or vehicles with trailers in the left lane"
Absolutely!
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
My reasoning is that if the purpose of speeding tickets is to punish/deter speeders (which I tend to doubt), then a sliding scale would make more sense.
Without using ages, a person who makes say 100k (not necessarily wealthy) would not really be deterred over a $150 speeding ticket. That same person, were they making $20k/year would hopefully be more deterred by that same fine. Add in insurance rates after the first couple of tickets and the disparity is even greater.
I dont think we are talking about the LAW as much as the common sense road courtesy. The question (I think) is - Is is being discourteous and disrespectful to pass someone on the right? Personally, I think it is and I also think that the LLC's deserve it.
Common sense road coutesy is extremely lacking nowadays. More and more people seem to be falling into one of two camps: the aggressive "how dare anyone get in my way" camp and the oblivious/selfish "I don't care if I'm in everyones way" camp.
Case in point: One driver in his huge SUV with cruise set on the speed limit in the left lane chatting on his cell phone, totally oblivious to the 10 cars backed up behind him or the dozens of people passing him on the right staring straight out the front windshield. The other driver cutting across 3 lanes of traffic to get around said SUV driver then back across 3 lanes to get in the right lane at 15 mph above the speed limit. Both drivers are in the wrong.
When Medical Science finds a cure for your attitude, it will be more uplifting than the cure for E.D.
"Drink-driving fines in Norway are calculated on the basis of 1.5 times a monthly salary.
In January 2002, the director of Finnish telecommunications giant, Nokia, received what was believed to be the most expensive speeding ticket ever.
Anssi Vanjoki, 44, was ordered to pay a fine of 116,000 euros (US$103,600) after being caught breaking the speed limit on his Harley Davidson motorbike in the Finnish capital, Helsinki.
Mr Vanjoki had to pay a fine equal to 14 days of his income in 1999, which was about 14m euros ($12.5m)."
Norwegian's $30,000 drink-drive fine (BBC)
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
It wasn't excessive --- it was only two weeks pay!
Traffic would not be a problem in urban areas if everyone drove correctly and with skill and attention. AGain, if everyone's going 85, then no one will rear end anybody! Everyone just needs to go faster, and not cause a wreck by doing something stupid. Traffic Jams are usually started by one or two [non-permissible content removed] drivers.
The law enforcement agencies in CA are so corrupt that they deliberately issue unconstitutional laws and citations, knowingly thinking that it'll be at least a few years before some rich guy spends $150,000 dollars taking a $200 ticket to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to be overrulled. By the time that happens a city like San Diego probably already generated millions from extremely illegal and unconstitutional "red light (video) cameras" or even "speeding video/cameras" if they decide to follow in AZ footsteps.
In my opinion, the highways would be safer in CA if the CHP ceased to exist.
The law enforcement agencies in CA are so corrupt that they deliberately issue unconstitutional laws and citations, knowingly thinking that it'll be at least a few years before some rich guy spends $150,000 dollars taking a $200 ticket to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to be overrulled. By the time that happens a city like San Diego probably already generated millions from extremely illegal and unconstitutional "red light (video) cameras" or even "speeding video/cameras" if they decide to follow in AZ footsteps.
In my opinion, the highways would be safer in CA if the CHP ceased to exist. "
I have an anecdotal incident that truly fulfills the high points of your opinion.
Had a vehicle that was legally parked on the street of a college town, that is "enforced" by the county sheriff's. According to witnesses a drunk person came out of the local eatery got in his suv becoming a DRUNK DRIVER and proceeded to smash into the legally parked vehicle. Being DUI, (which is another felony) he left the scene of the accident (felony here in CA) and ran at least two stop signs almost hitting two pedestrians and several cars. A friend, happened to be a witness and got the description of the driver and vehicle and some numbers and letters of the license plate. Of course it was reported it to the county sheriff and they claim it was forwarded to the CHP. Long story short, the witness actually saw the car with EXACT matching damage in a parking lot the next day and reported it further. The county sheriff and CHP claimed to have "LOST" the information and subsequent reports. Further both agencies REFUSED to assigned a case number so the proper DMV and insurance procedures could be followed. If it were not for the witness follow up (license number), the insurance company would not have covered it under the uninsured motorist portion. Since we kept them appraised of the lack of proper authoritie's cooperation, they indeed covered it. My guess is this drunk person was someone they knew personally. In any case, they stonewalled even the most elementary procedures of filing the proper paperwork, that they themselves require.
Your guess is probably right, though it could also be:
1. The insurance companies are encouraging police officer's to not file reports in a feeble attempt at stonewalling claims from under/uninsured motorists. Without a license plate #, your out of luck!
2. The cops are just plain too lazy to file a report. A true recent incident where my wife was rear ended (totalled her 2005 Civic) and then she was pushed into the car in front of her, and that car was pushed into the next! 4 cars involved, and no report! I asked her why she didn't file a report and she said the Officer had talked and persuaded everyone that it wasn't neccessary or advised to file a report. Going so far as to say that by filing a report the DMV would know about it, and hence your insurance company will know about it, and hence it might go up? He was implying all that, but what I told my wife was, hey, if the accidents not your fault (which it never is if your rear-ended) then make all the reports you want and need!!! I know your insurance will go up anyway for not at fault accidents, but with your car severely damaged, your gonna file a claim anyway!
Don't be so sure. In New York State you can get some real hefty fines but because they call them "surcharges" or "safety assessments" they pass constitutional muster.
My son is a good example. He racked up a number of moving violations in a short period. On one ticket he was given a "fine" of $50 a "surcharge" of $75 and a "safety assessment" of $125. I think much of this had less to do with safety than it had to do with filling government coffers.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Bad drivers that actually cause accidents.
1. At Fault Accidents result in a $2,000 mandatory fine; which cannot be reduced.
2. Not at Fault Accidents where your vehicle was at least moving would result in a $150 fine.
3. Not at Fault where the vehicle was parked or stationary would result in a $10 administrative fee.
Furthermore, if the accident results in a traffic jam, the at fault parties shall pay an additional $2,000 for wasted gas and pollution cleanup. It would also include a punitive penalty of $500 more for wasted time and efficiency of all the people affected by the accident and traffic jam.
Thank you.
I bet if this law is enacted.... accidents drop by 50% or more!
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
You could also say that if everyone's doing 75 no one will get rear ended. You could also say that if everyone's doing 55 no one will get rear ended. And so on and so forth.
FWIW 85 in an urban area is way to fast.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
It is not the speed limits, but rather the drivers, who accomplish that mission.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
if you drove in NJ you'd see that it was true - their highways get even more stacked up than those in states which allow passing on the right: left 2 lanes packed with cars doing 70 - right lane *totally empty* because nobody knows "lane discipline" and nobody has the gonads to pass on the right at 80+ except for one out of state doofus pretending not to know the NJ rules. hello!
(i think there are "no passing on right" signs too - it's no secret!)
Interestingly enough it also states "The driver of an overtaking motor vehicle not within a business or residence district shall give audible warning with his horn or other warning device before passing or attempting to pass a vehicle proceeding in the same direction." Does this mean that every time I pass a vehicle on the interstate I have to blow my horn?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The driver was also weaving all over her lane and greatly varying her speed. When I was able to get around her without fearing for my own car, I saw she was playing with her sunglasses. Nice. It wasn't even that sunny.
.... I bet if this law is enacted.... accidents drop by 50% or more!
This law will never be enacted - accidents will go down reducing the state revenue from tickets. I think the police forces like to raise as much money as possible in a risk free manner - ticketing speeding motorists, confiscating a prostitute's income/property, etc. I think they like these victimless criminals - where the prosecuted is usually harmless and unarmed.
I know thats the cynic inside me, but its probably true.
I wonder how long ago that law was enacted? There is probably a section dealing with excessive use of buggy whips too.
Can you just see yourself tooling down the interstate in NJ blowing your horn at everyone you pass? How long do you think it would be before someone shot you?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
There is a section regulating bells on horse drawn carriages and sleighs.
How long do you think it would be before someone shot you?
Not sure but the last time I spent and amount of time in NJ I got yelled at a lot.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Mr. Camera, when were you last calibrated?
Mr. Camera, how do you do what you do?
Ridiculous!
You can't question a machine.
The lawmakers had a bill to undo the prerogative and advantage of the local juridictions. But the outgoing criminal, convicted governor vetoed the bill as a "gift" to the large cities who had adopted them (Cincinnati didn't).
In turn he screwed the public that doesn't know each location; i.e., people traveling through or in an unfamiliar area.
Currently the City of Dayton which has millions owed on 3 years or so of unpaid tickets, employed a Toledo law firm to go after some of the unpaid tickets. Oddly there were no lawyers in Dayton area to do the work. Odd that the Camera Company uses a branch location in Toledo to do the billing for the camera bills. Odd how those things work>
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Kyle
But only honest, good guys obey the laws. The criminals have guns.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
To stay on point, how much of a deterent is taking away a drivers' license of one who habitually drives dui? I mean what are they going to do, NOT let him/her drive!!!!?? What will you do to a dui driver that causes you damage and doesn't (surprise here?) have insurance? SUE!!???????
Additionally this persons license should be taken away for 6 months, at a minimum.
Driving is a privilege, not a right IMHO.
Insurance or (self) bond is MANDATORY in CA. This would imply the law see's it as 100% Yet it is widely estimated that 25% and OVER drive without (MANDATORY) insurance or bond. Even more are underinsured or do not drive financially responsibly. Through a quirk of CA supreme court rulings, if you do NOT have (MANDATORY) insurance, you can actually and are encouraged to sue someone who DOES have mandatory insurance, even if the accident was the uninsured's fault!!
My take? If you are not insured, you (defacto) forfeit your option to sue. Or make the legislator's buck up and get off the lie that insurnce is mandatory. There are no real penalities if you do not have mandatory insurance. If it is the fault of the uninsured remove the road blocks to speedy disposition. (since we are both dreaming, there was mine)
I ended up dropping in behind the Jeep for a moment. The truck passed by, and I returned to the left lane to finish the pass and make my turn. Ironically, the truck turned at that same left (and, of course, sped down the residential street onto which it turned). I guess I was courteous to that driver, but not very courteous to everyone else.
But it is also a combination of certain people being determined to follow the artificially low speed limits, and other certain people being determined to establish a more real and acceptable "real world speed" on the road.
Determined people, whatever the cause they choose, certainly do have a way of buggering up an otherwise smooth flow.
I am happy to report that I never had more than 4 vehicles backed up behind me, even though I was relegated to driving between 30 and 50 for 350 miles on a 65 mph two-lane road. A lot of courtesy pull-overs and other pass-enabling behavior kept traffic flowing smoothly. The longest any one vehicle was held up by me was about 1.5 miles through some twisty narrows. Not too bad and we all made it home safely! I love that old Chevy.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
But you can question those who operate the machines. Those questions can be asked of those who operate the cameras. Hence your argument is groundless.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D