driving from TX to LA..... speed question
 

Yes, I try to follow all traffic laws but I also like to know the local customs...

I will be driving from Houston to St. Francisville LA.... I know from experience that in Texas you can go faster than the speed limit... but whats the custom in LA...? Someone told me that they are strict over there, and especially so if you have a TX plate.... ????

Since the "margin of error" depends not upon any written code, differs among local jurisdictions (and even among TX DPS and LA Highway Patro(wo)men), and may be subject to the momentary mood of the cop, I'd not play much above 2-3 mph above the posted limit, although on the TX portion of IH10, depending on conditions, about 5 mph above the limit will normally not endanger you. LA part of IH10? Quien sabe? Don't drive any faster than the trucks laden with drilling pipe or tankers.

One caveat: TX state law requires that when passing a law enforcment or emergency vehicle stopped/stopping someone on the right shoulder, that the driver slow down and make an attempt to move into the next lane 9on multi-lane roads).

Do NOT speed in LA. Especially on I-10 between Lake Charles and Sulphur, LA....

I had no issues... but nobody drives the limit in both TX and LA...

Don't speed in Jeff Davis Parish, east of Lake Charles, and watch yourself on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. The main thing about the TX plates is that the cops usually assume that it's mostly casino traffic. Once you're west of exit 44 the casino traffic is mostly gone, but Jeff Davis Parish has always been a big speed trap. I-10 is also a humungo drug trafficking corridor.

Enjoy St. Francisville, it's great. If you're visiting plantations, I can recommend Rosedown, Butler-Greenwood (it's also a great bed-n-breakfast) and The Myrtles - it's haunted!

This is certainly one of the most speed-trapped areas in LA.

Agreed about all of these. I'd be careful near the Texas-Louisiana border and the Atchafalaya Causeway. And Jeff Davis ... well, I wouldn't even sneeze in Jeff Davis. ;)

I remember when the Atachafalaya Causeway was speeder's dream. But I guess the LEOs got hip to that source of $$$. I couldn't believe all of the police cars I saw the last time I drove that road. :eek:

Crazy to read about Saint Francisville, Louisiana, even here on FT! :) My mother spent the second half of her childhood there. I've only been to visit once (saw Rosedown) and it was brief.

Love this area too. We live on the Northshore. This area is the fastest growing region in the state, and I think is very nice too..

You only have to slow down if you do not vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle.

Whenever you come down off of one of the "swamp bridges" (Atchafalaya, Bonne Carre, etc.), SLOW DOWN. There is almost always a cop running radar on the traffic coming off of the bridge.

On the bridges, you can exceed the limit (and it seems that most do). They won't pull anyone over on the bridges because there is limited shoulder width.

This probably won't affect you, but the law in TX regarding night-time speed limits just changed. Prior to the change you had two speed limits, e.g., 70 daytime and 65 at night, or 75/65 on some interstates. With the new law passed this week, they've eliminated the reduced speed limit at night. There were quite a few places that used to stop you for going, say, 68 in a 70/65 zone. Signs will likely stay up for a long time in most areas.

That used to be the case. And I think that the LEOs are still concentrated at the ends of those causeways. But I have seen them pulling people over mid-causeway! :eek: I was kinda shocked because it flew in the face of all my prior understanding about how those things were patrolled.

The nighttime speed reduction is still the law until the old signs are removed and replaced.

Interesting. About a decade ago, here in Dallas, I sat on a jury for speeding ticket trial (yup, a jury trial for speeding :rolleyes: ), and in the judges instructions, we were told that we should find him guilty if he was driving in excess of the maximum safe speed, and that the maximum safe speed was assumed to be the posted limit unless we were presented evidence to the contrary.

Assuming that's still the law, if you got a ticket for driving faster than the posted limit, but slower than the yet-to-be-posted limit approved be the legislature/municipality, it seems that you could make a pretty convincing case that your speed was not unsafe.

Louisiana Speed
 

They, State Police and local Sheriff, will allow 5-9 over posted.
Locals a little more strict because they really need the $.

Welcome to Flyertalk, jpb4! ^

Fun to see this thread is still alive..... have to say that I experienced some fast driving in both TX and LA.... nobody goes the limit... its pretty much 10 miles over the posted limit and in some of the more desolate parts of the freeways folks are doing 15 and 20 miles over with no issues.... made good time on my journeys, and just tried to go with the flow.

Will be doing quite a few miles again in a few weeks, but this time will be going South and West of Houston... will report back once I return to Argentina... :D ^

+1 on atchafalaya basin bridge

I've seen countless speed traps at the very end of the bridge and I've heard of people being ticketed for 2-3 over.

I lived in New Orleans for over ten years (1980-1990) and I was able to buy my way out of a couple of speeding tickets and a late night towing incident, with cash on the spot to the officer. At that time $50 was the magic amount that would satisfy a cop or tow truck driver. EVERYONE kept money inside their drivers' licenses (they were folded cardboard at the time).

I now live in Dallas and I would not even think of doing the same here--might end up in jail? In New Orleans, it was a different world--never a second thought about offering money to the police at a traffic stop. As I recall, what you do is innocently ask something like: "I don't have time for court or paperwork, can we take care of this right now?"

...just a helpful hint for tourism in Louisiana (or Mexico or Colombia, perhaps).

(Bolding above is mine.)

Everyone? Really? Do you have data to back up this urban myth that "EVERYONE" did this? A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HYPERBOLE. I've lived in NOLA all of my life and this is the first time that I've heard of this and, believe me, I could have used this piece of "vital" information a few times in my life here. I've asked around with some of my contemporaries and none of them were aware of this so-called "helpful hint" either. Therefore, I'm calling BS on this "helpful hint". "Magic amount"! HAHAHAHAHA!!!