Pulled Over by DPS

[handog]

Law enforcement agencies have long had the ability to write citations for slower vehicles failing to keep to the right or for impeding traffic. The new law does not affect that.

I always keep to the right out of common courtesy. I did not know it was the law.

It's getting tougher to be a law abiding citizen. There are so many laws being heaped on us it is hard to keep track. It seem like almost everything is becoming a crime now. You can be arrested and charged with crimes for doing things like reading your wifes e mail, not recycling properly, and having brown lawns. There was a news story just last week about a school girl here in Texas being pulled out of class and arrested because her perfume was distracting .

[Fangs]

Entertaining read.

I've never seen a need to get upset at people while driving. Everyone's at a different place as far as skills, vehicle capabilities, and mood. When I want to fly down the road I appreciate those who get out of my way, but I don't ride someone's bumper if they're hogging the fast lane out of some sense of entitlement or just because they're oblivious. I wait 'til there's an opening.

Likewise, on the occasions that I don't feel like flying down the road (running on a spare tire, talking on the phone, on deferred adjudication ), I hang out in the right lane, move to the middle or left to pass, and then move out of the way again. I'll also pull onto the shoulder if it's a 2 lane road to let faster traffic pass, just as I appreciate the truck hauling a horse trailer doing so for me when I'm in my speeding mode.

I guess this is one aspect of my life that I'm perfectly ok with blaming on video games. The traffic out there is the level I have to beat to get to my destination. Getting upset over it doesn't help at all. Getting ticketed is the price you pay for speeding. I've done the math, and personally, it's more time/cost effective for me to speed and pay my tickets when I get them than to stick to the speed limit. It's more fun as well.

For those who don't have a grasp of common courtesy, well, that's why I love lane splitting on my bike.

As for all the laws about moving over or what's the definition of "normal" speed... I don't care. I know my abilities, what my car/bike's capable of, and the consequences of ignoring laws.

The way I see it, having a 2 lane road with 60 mph traffic separated by two yellow lines is about as safe as going 120 mph on a highway where oncoming traffic is separated by a concrete divider. I think anything over 20 or 30 miles an hour is unsafe, so I might as well make the most of it.

[Ameer]

I was lighted up on MCB Camp Lejeune, NC for going over the posted 25 mph speed limit in my POV. I told the young MP that the sign we were both looking at says the speed limit is 35 mph. The young marine MP told me I wasn't to the next sign yet. The next sign was 100 feet ahead of us in clear view.

That agrees with what they taught us in traffic school. The speed limit changes at the sign.

[srothstein]

...The reason the signs and law do not refer to the speed limit is because we do not have a real speed limit in Texas...

Well your honor, you see, there is this guy on this forum call texaschlforum, his handle is srothstein, at least I think he's a guy, from his name n all. I never actually met him. But I think he's an officer. And HE said..........

Well, if you read my signature line and see my name is Steve, it might help convince them I was a guy.

But since so few people bit on the speed limit line, I thought I would throw out another one. I was talking about this with a friend who will remain nameless. He had an interesting observation on the whole thing.

His question was why so many people realize the CHL is not a license to go be a cop in case of an assault or something, but why even more people think their driver's license is a license to be a cop and enforce traffic laws? That was how he saw people who insist on staying in the left lane to slow down those crazy speeders.

Having wished several times that I could hit the red lights when I was just in my POV, I sure can understand that temptation.

[mamabearCali]

On the speed limit issue. The is my 2 cents. Sometimes it is meant to save lives (road hazards--neighborhoods)--sometimes it is meant to be a source of revenue for the county (this really makes me sick to think of our elected officials acting this way)--sometimes they are just outdated and stupid. BUT in all those cases I cannot/don't want to afford to pay the fines so I don't speed if I can help it.

[handog]

On the speed limit issue. The is my 2 cents. Sometimes it is meant to save lives (road hazards--neighborhoods)--sometimes it is meant to be a source of revenue for the county (this really makes me sick to think of our elected officials acting this way)--sometimes they are just outdated and stupid. BUT in all those cases I cannot/don't want to afford to pay the fines so I don't speed if I can help it.

The last time I brought up this subject I was warned by a mod per PM and accused of cop bashing.

[Bullwhip]

Off topic, couple of days ago I saw an inspection sticker that expires 7/12. Huh? More than a year out?

It wasn't the cowboy on a bronco sticker, it was blue-ish and the shape of Texas, it wasn't the registration sticker either.

Are there counties that have 2 year inspections?

[gigag04]

Dealership new cars get extended inspection periods.

[Keith B]

Yes, a new car can get a 2 year inspection sticker.

[Munk]

Law enforcement agencies have long had the ability to write citations for slower vehicles failing to keep to the right or for impeding traffic. The new law does not affect that.

It's getting tougher to be a law abiding citizen. There are so many laws being heaped on us it is hard to keep track. It seem like almost everything is becoming a crime now. You can be arrested and charged with crimes for doing things like reading your wifes e mail, not recycling properly, and having brown lawns. There was a news story just last week about a school girl here in Texas being pulled out of class and arrested because her perfume was distracting .

The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals.
Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them.
One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.
Ayn Rand, 1905-1982

[Bullwhip]

Yes, a new car can get a 2 year inspection sticker.

Thanks, that explains why I didn't know it. Never bought a brand new car, doubt I ever will!

[Keith B]

Yes, a new car can get a 2 year inspection sticker.

Thanks, that explains why I didn't know it. Never bought a brand new car, doubt I ever will!

You should try it sometime. That new car smell is great. That is until you throw up in it after you get your payment book from the loan company and realize you can't really afford it.

[gigag04]

Save and pay cash!

[pbwalker]

Save and pay cash!

[MojoTexas]

I don't worry about speeding tickets. Most of my driving is crawling through rush-hour traffic to and from work, going 20 MPH in a 65-MPH zone. It's a drag having to spend 45 minutes going 16 miles, but it's a small price to pay to live in a better community (McKinney, TX) instead of living closer in towards Dallas.

Knock on wood, but I haven't had a ticket in years.

The rest of the time I just don't drive that fast. Maybe 5 MPH over the limit if I feel the conditions justify it, but most of the time I'm just not in that big of a hurry.

MojoTexas