The problem is of course that they always expect people to exceed the speed limit, so they set it lower than what it should be. If no-one sped, everyone would be able to drive faster ...

I like the German system personally - no speed limit at all, but signs that they can use for setting speed limits. If there is a limit set, people know there is a reason for it, and never exceed it.

I heard that if you get hit from behind on the Autobahn in the left lane, it's YOUR fault for not moving over. Is this true?

I do 60 (or more) on service roads because I can ;)

Selma is just north of San Antonio on I-35.

Are you serious? What states are those?

Just like the drug laws are there to protect us :rolleyes: There is no crime until there is a injured party. So until I plow over someone I have have not done anything wrong.

FWIW, I drive over 50,000 miles a year and I usually am going faster than the posted speed limit sometimes more than 20 mph and I have yet to plow over anyone.

No matter where I am driving, I always try to blend in. That way, if I get a ticket, I know it is just my unlucky day.

But if everyone is doing 75 on the highway, then I'm just one with the crowd...

Cops & Bushes....

We were in a rental car driving from West Palm Beach to Orlando FL on the Florida turnpike.

My lead-footed husband was speeding as we traveled passed an overpass where a state trooper was hiding.

The Trooper gunned his engine and took off and was hit by a motorist legally traveling in the right lane. Seems the trooper was a little anxious that day.

Since we were not in any way involved, and only became aware of what happened behind us because we heard the siren (he could have been going after someone else) we didn't stop.

My husband drove the rest of the way at the speed limit.

I know GA and SC for sure, since I have argued my way out of tickets on said gounds before!

SC Highway patrol are the sneakiest in the business... unmarked Corvettes!

Well, speeding is still a thing over here in those areas governed by a restricted speed on the Autobahn. Basically you will find speed-limits near any bigger city nowadays, but people mostly keep within reason of that of course. If it's posted at 100km/h, people usually (except those who never learn) go at 120 km/h, and before you exceed 110km/h you won't get a ticket under these circumstances. Still yet there are people e.g. going through construction areas where there is a 60 km/h limit and get clocked at 140 km/h or more...

As to being rearended in the left lane and being at fault that usually is not the case. You may get a partial fault if you drive substantially too slow, but usually the one rearending is at full fault...

That all said I still prefer driving on a US-freeway as it's not that much "fighting" to get anywhere. Driving in the US is soooo much more relaxed than over here...

Greetings - Dirk

I *strongly* suggest to the original poster to ask for deferred adjudication.

I lived in San Antonio for six years from 1992-98. Foolishly, I let my insurance policy lapse in the early 1990s, and I was subsequently pulled over in Leon Valley for speeding. The officer wrote me a ticket for not having insurance, and said that if I got a policy and went to court, I could have the matter adjudicated. He didn't give me a speeding ticket, just the no-insurance citation.

I got insurance that week, went to court the next week and showed my new insurance card to the judge. He said, if you keep your insurance steady for a year and come back after that time, the charge will be dismissed, and I would have to pay only $70 in court costs vs $250 for the no-insurance citation. I did as instructed and the charge was dismissed as promised.

While in court I heard people being offered what Leon Valley called "speeding probation": basically, if you go six or twelve months without getting another ticket, you come back to court and they drop the citation and you pay an administrative fee. Nothing winds up on your record.

Also on the subject of deferred adjudication: In 1997-98 I served as the Permit Officer for the City of Castle Hills. I would sometimes help with municipal court on Thursday afternoon, and our police officers would issue plenty of tickets, many on NW Military just north of Loop 410. These speeders would come in, and if they had no speeding history in Castle Hills, and they asked for speeding probation / deferred adjudication, the judge would almost always comply if the offense was less than 15 mph over the posted speed limit, offering dismissal if the driver paid some court costs and went six months without getting another speeding ticket in Castle Hills.

(The OP should be grateful that the citation is for 59mph in a 45, and not 60mph, as Selma might have a similar policy. I've also heard that defensive driving is no longer allowed in Texas if the offense is 15+mph over the limit.)

In any event, I always encourage people who receive mild speeding citations to go to municipal court with your hat in hand and ask if they can be gentle. More often than not, the municipal judge will be very accommodating.

People who tell me "Oh, I heard that the town in which I received my ticket won't deal with speeders" or "I don't have time for court" just irk the snot out of me. They don't even try to avoid a conviction when it is very possible. I tell them, well then don't expect any sympathy from me when you tell your speeding story. You could avoid a permanent blemish on your driving record if you just try a little.

Once again, to the OP: Go to court and ask for deferred adjudication. You'll almost certainly get it, and avoid a conviction, if this is your first ticket in Selma.

No law whose primary purpose is to "protect" me from the consequences of my freely chosen actions is moral. If you want to argue "protect others", you've got a slightly better position.


("Danger, Will Robinson -- topic drift vortex ahead!")

In general I agree with you on this. IMHO, the person going 10-20 mph below the speed limit (in good weather) on a busy highway is more of a danger to the other cars on the road than those going 20 mph over the speed limit, since most of the vehicles will be attempting to pass the slower vehicle. However, I have never seen a driver who did not keep up with the flow of traffic on a freeway get pulled over. Driving too slowly would seem to fall into the category of reckless driving. If vehicle or driver is not capable of functioning at or near the speed limit, they should not be on that road.

I've seen speed minimums on some highways, posted just under the speed limit. A likely scenario is 70 max, 40 min. A lot of spare tires cannot be ridden above 40mph, otherwise the minimum might be a bit higher.

Herndon VA
 

These guys are nothing but Revenue Hounds. I drive thru Herndon roughly 3 miles in the morning (evening is another route) and they are routinely in 3 different locations. The good thing is that they are in the same basic spots and I've never been snagged and have figured out how to monitor the traffic ahead of me for brake lights to know if they are collecting taxes that particular morning. Its just amazing.. Who ever sets up these cops schedules evidently doesn't have to worry about any crime since they are constantly manning the speed traps. They use about 3 cops each at these traps as well.. I can't imagine this is the most effective use of cops. I'm glad I don't pay taxes in Herndon or I'd be upset. I don't even shop in Herndon as I don't intend to support those cops in any way with my sales taxes.

Haymarket VA
 

You want another speed trap in VA

The town of Haymarket. Growing up there when I-66 was new and it passed through the corner of the town, the town put a 35mph speed limit on the freeway (town had a law that said no speed greater than 35). The town cop would sit at the top of the on-ramp for US15 and wait. This went on for quite a while before the state made them change the law and the sign. However, they still will sit on the on ramp and clock people coming through the little corner of the town. They opperate on a zero tolerance. I know many people who have gotten tickets for 1 mile per hour over the limit.