Thread: New Cop Cars

Originally Posted by badprimer1

Because it hasn't been deemed against the law. Should it? Good question. Maybe so. Distractions of all sorts lead to traffic accidents. Rubbernecking, adjusting radio, putting on makeup, etc., are all distractions. Speeding exacerbates the result of the accident. It is known and proven that higher the traveled speed, the greater the impact of collision and increase in possible loss of property or life.

I have never understood and will not understand the complaint against so called speed traps. It is not like the officer has gone out and removed a posted speed limit sign. The sign tells you how fast you can travel at max any given portion of the road. If the sign says slow down, then read and adhere to the sign that says slow to 55 from 65. It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out. And, if you are going faster than the posted speed, then accept the consequences and quit bitching about it. You know the stakes. If it brings in additional funds. Big deal. You still know the rules. Abide by them. Easy as that.

I'm in agreement with Hub on the cell phones. I think you will see more states enact the hands free laws for the phones. In Texas, cell phones are not permitted in school zones unless hands free and hopefully that will include every road and anytime of day/night.

Its not always as simple as that. Some roads go up and down with the speed limit. The traps are usually where it has gone down and typically not far from it if not on it. Then you have to add places that do what orlando did with the speed limits signs. They are not a set rate. They go up and down digitally for whom ever feels the safe speed is at the time.

Originally Posted by badprimer1

Because it hasn't been deemed against the law. Should it? Good question. Maybe so. Distractions of all sorts lead to traffic accidents. Rubbernecking, adjusting radio, putting on makeup, etc., are all distractions. Speeding exacerbates the result of the accident. It is known and proven that higher the traveled speed, the greater the impact of collision and increase in possible loss of property or life.

I have never understood and will not understand the complaint against so called speed traps. It is not like the officer has gone out and removed a posted speed limit sign. The sign tells you how fast you can travel at max any given portion of the road. If the sign says slow down, then read and adhere to the sign that says slow to 55 from 65. It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out. And, if you are going faster than the posted speed, then accept the consequences and quit bitching about it. You know the stakes. If it brings in additional funds. Big deal. You still know the rules. Abide by them. Easy as that.

I'm in agreement with Hub on the cell phones. I think you will see more states enact the hands free laws for the phones. In Texas, cell phones are not permitted in school zones unless hands free and hopefully that will include every road and anytime of day/night.

First, yes, in most states, it's illegal to eat while driving, generally under a driver distraction law. Second of all, the problem with speed traps is that they're an egregious example of using fines as revenue generation. I've heard of highways where they've specifically set speed limits to drop and then rise again in a concerted effort to trick drivers and get money. This one is so bad that AAA put up a billboard warning drivers of it. The worst speed traps? They’re in Florida « Places we go, People we see. We don't see as many of these up north here, but, for example, there was one wealthy neighborhood who had the speed limit lowered from 40 to 25 just one one small stretch of a road. Your chances of passing a cop on this stretch of road are close to 100%. There are sharp, blind turns later on in the road where safety is a much bigger concern, but the cops stay on this stretch, because they know that they can get more tickets this way.

Not only is it using fines as a revenue source, they're using our federal highways like their own personal troll bridges to extract payouts from the citizens that they're supposed to be serving. US citizens should not be hustled by their own public servants.

Originally Posted by BigHub

Which are all good points, and I agree. Cell phones are probably my #1 pet peeve, a long with girls who do there fucking make-up while driving. Many factors go in to accidents - and usually it's a combination of things, not just one.

Speeding, tailgating, illegal lane changes, cell phones, eating, drinking, etc... that all factors in. I see people speeding and tailgating all the fucking time, and then factor in that cell phone call that comes in - all it takes is a split second. If people would just follow the damn laws set forth by state and municipalities, traffic accidents would decrease dramatically.

I agree, which is why these municipalities should make it their goal to prevent these behaviors, instead of just trying to to make a buck out of them. Unmarked police cars do the latter.

Usually if I see I police car nearby I actually start driving worse because I'm so nervous!! And I'm not doing anything wrong at the time either!

It's really sad how driving makes us all feel like criminals. I do the same thing. I've got a near-perfect driving record, but for some reason, we've established this system where our own public servants harass us on the road.

Those look like the motorcycle cops in florida.