OT: Speed Limits

[DRK]

Now, I'm not condoning criminal activity at all here. So dont get me wrong.

As well as being a major pain in the ass over in Canada, (Please watch that video below. It is worth EVERY SECOND of your time), speed limits are a major pain in the ass over in Australia. .....

The Video. WATCH IT
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BKdbxX1pDw[/youtube]


..... (Continued)

For example. A few days ago, I was tagged by a speed camera going 60km/h in a 50km/h zone just around the corner from my house. Fine, I sped, I broke the law, whatever. I'm man enough to admit that...

But am I doing anything that is so outrageously evil and criminal that warrants me paying a $100 dollar fine? I've been on that road about 10000 times in the 10 years I've lived in my area... and I know, hardly anyone does the actual 50km/h speed limit. It is extremely rare to find someone doing the speed limit, because frankly... it's too slow.

Not once in my 10 years living here, have I witnessed a major accident on that stretch of road, or even a minor accident. Not one person has lost a life on that road... So it's not dangerous at all.

So why, may I ask, does the Coppers decide to put a speed camera, on this ONE DAY, on that stretch of road? The Police use the arguement that "Speed Kills," and it's "dangerous." But why may I ask, of all places to put a speed camera, do they choose to put a speed camera on a stretch of road that a crash has not occured on once in 10 years? Who are they trying to save?

Which brings me to this. Speed Cameras. "Safety tools?" Or "Revenue Raisers."

Here's another example. I was recently driving home from University, in a 70km/h zone. Doing 70 km/h, pumping my music, and everything is carefree. Everyone is going at a smooth pace, and the traffic flow is fine. Suddenly, on this particular stretch of road, the speed limit decreases from 70, down to 60km/h, for almost no apparent reason at all.

Low and behold, not far after the speed limit change, there is a speed camera hidden behind a bush***, not far after the speed limit decreases. Why? Why, of all places, after a speed limit change, do they decide to put a speed camera in that place? Why not put it in the 70 zone, or after an increase in the speed limit?

Again. "Safety Tools?" Or "Revenue Raisers?"


Look. I'm not a dangerous driver. Even though I've very new to getting my driver's license, I pride myself in being a good, safe, and responsible driver. However, the law see's differently, and if I risk getting caught again, I could potentially lose my license. Over what? Much Ado About Nothing to be honest. And you know the best thing, as I was plodding along late at night on the freeway after a party, doing the speed limit, a marked cop car speed past me (doing over the speed limit), decides to change lanes, and tailgates a poor guy for about 500m. Hypocrisy.

Anyway, if anyone is looking for me, I'll be that dude in the white Mazda 3 in the slow lane, obeying the speed limit as the whole world goes past me at a more appropriate pace. Not only am I holding up other people, but I'm also a danger to other people wanting to overtake me.


*** As I was cruising along in 70, I saw it at the last moment, which made me slam on my brakes. Although I did see a flash, so it could be two tickets in a month.


/Rant

TL;DR:

- Speed Limits too slow
- Speed Cameras are just money makers.
- Speed cameras do not make roads "safer"
- Cops are corrupt.

[YFZblu]

+1 for the use of 'coppers' - Also, I'm sure there are plenty here who will agree with you. Phoenix had some extra freeway cameras up a couple years back, and it caused a giant stink.

[Miklo]

Speed cameras are "revenue raisers" for sure. In the US, and likely overseas, municipalities contract out to private companies to operate and collect on speed cameras. These companies get a percentage cut of each speed camera violation that gets issued. So the violation you just got won't just go to helping pay for government spending, it will also help the private company's bottom line.

Additionally, they are often as you said placed in "speed traps" and require no operating effort by the municipality. No situational factors are taken into account like they are if a police officer pulls you over - so if traffic is moving fast or you are trying to get out of the way of a dangerous driver, you will automatically get a violation.

Police officers frequently get speed camera violations that they are not required to pay, even if they didn't have their sirens on and weren't responding to an emergency.

As for speed limits, I guess they have to set it to something, but I am with you on them frequently being too low. I have numerous speeding tickets on my record and my insurance has doubled as a result, and when I went out to shop for cheaper insurance rates I learned that half of the major providers won't even pick me up and the other half charge even more than my current provider. And to think, here in DC there is gang violence everywhere and here the police are writing speeding tickets wherever there aren't cameras.

[NaturalBuns]

+1 for the use of 'coppers' - Also, I'm sure there are plenty here who will agree with you. Phoenix had some extra freeway cameras up a couple years back, and it caused a giant stink.

That pissed me off

[nevetsov]

I was actually busted twice in the past couple of months - they always come out right before the end of the financial year and target hot spots so they can pump up their revenue and make the books look a bit better.

One was making a right turn at 7pm on a Saturday night on a stretch of road that has ZERO traffic. The alternative is literally a ten minute detour and everyone always does it. Not saying that makes it right but like you mentioned it exploiting a poorly crafted piece of road purely to catch out motorists. $88 and 3 points.

Second was on airport drive in Brisbane, where for the most part the limit is 80kms. There is one small stretch of road where the limit was 'temporarily reduced' to 60km during roadworks, however the roadworks were completed months ago and the signage is still 60km (the merging onramps are marked as 80 so not sure how that works). Anyway out of anywhere on the entire loop road, they conveniently chose to set up right after the 60 zone knowing that most motorists follow the signed 80 all the way through. The other side of the road is even marked as 80 and it's the exact same type of road! $220 and another 3 points.

Queensland - the smart state...


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[Kerrsed]

Here in AZ, they send you a picture of you speeding, saying where to send the money. Funny thing is that YOU DONT HAVE TO! They have no legal right to. A cop didnt stop you and issue a ticket, therefor technically you dont have to pay it. They drum up revenue from old people who do not know their legal right and others who are too scared not to pay, thinking they will get into trouble. A report was released last year that only about 20% of the tickets issued were being paid, so the city started to pull cameras down (specially here in Surprise), as the system was costing them more money than it was bringing in!

Personally, i had them send me 5-6 of them within the past 3 years. I never did anything about them. Got pulled over about a month ago, and cop runs my name and tells me i got no warrents, which i already knew.

[nevetsov]

Got pulled over about a month ago, and cop runs my name and tells me i got no warrents, which i already knew.

So all those Boxxy restraining orders aren't in their system hey?


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[RunSunRun]

Just go the speed limit or 5 mph over, cops usually don't care if you speed a little over the limit. Its only if you are going much faster than the limit that they will bust you.

Its personal responsibility, I know people want to be special or exempt, but the laws exist. Its your choice whether or not to follow them.

Just expect possible problems if you do break laws.

[Kerrsed]

Im usually 10-15 MPH over. I drive a small-ass car, so im quick off the line and in and out of traffic. It just sucks because out here, there are only 2 major streets close by that go all the ay into Phoenix (Bell and Olive). Bell is the major strip, so it takes FOREVER to use it, and Olive is a two lane street, so if you get behind a slow drive (or even worse a cop) then you are f**ked for the next 20 minutes.

[Kerrsed]

Got pulled over about a month ago, and cop runs my name and tells me i got no warrents, which i already knew.

So all those Boxxy restraining orders aren't in their system hey?


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Restraining orders arnt warrents!

[bwgood77]

Here in AZ, they send you a picture of you speeding, saying where to send the money. Funny thing is that YOU DONT HAVE TO! They have no legal right to. A cop didnt stop you and issue a ticket, therefor technically you dont have to pay it. They drum up revenue from old people who do not know their legal right and others who are too scared not to pay, thinking they will get into trouble. A report was released last year that only about 20% of the tickets issued were being paid, so the city started to pull cameras down (specially here in Surprise), as the system was costing them more money than it was bringing in!

Personally, i had them send me 5-6 of them within the past 3 years. I never did anything about them. Got pulled over about a month ago, and cop runs my name and tells me i got no warrents, which i already knew.

I had an attorney friend tell me this years ago, so I never paid them either. But they will try to serve you, and if they do, you are screwed. So NEVER answer your door if someone knocks unless you know who it is (if you have gotten these in the mail). I was leaving to go to the gym one day, and someone knocked, and I just happened to open the door (it was a young guy with a hat on) and he said my name, and I said "yeah?" and he said "You've been served." So I had to go to traffic school. I was pissed because I was moving out of state soon.

Texas has the worse traffic costs you can imagine though. They have these things called surcharges, where, if you get enough tickets, you have to pay a surcharge for three years to a private company. If you miss a payment, your license automatically is suspended (yet you may not know) so if you get pulled over, you may get a ticket for driving on a suspended license (and possibly driving without insurance if your insurance got notified your license was suspended and dropped you). So if this happens, you get assessed an additional surcharge you have to pay for three years for each offense. A lot of people end up driving with suspended licenses hoping they don't get caught. Tons of people have lobbied the gov't to try and repeal the law (which they have repealed in a couple other states) but it is such a revenue maker for the state and the private company that it looks like it is here to stay.

[mybloodisorange]

Instead of playing the 'up to 9 mph over the limit is ok' imagine if they just raised the limit and actually enforced the posted speed limit. Everyone goes over the limit because it is set too low; alot of the speed limits were set when cars werent as safe as they are now. When I grew up in the 70s hardly anybody even used seatbelts or even carseats and drinking and driving was handled with a 'just get yourself stright home sir'; it was a different time for sure. So in some bizarre way Ralph Nader is actually helping me drive faster...who wouldve thunk it?

[LukasBMW]

I agree 100% with the video.

Speed limits on most roads (especially AZ) are set far too low.

[Revived]

I agree 100% with the video.

Speed limits on most roads (especially AZ) are set far too low.

Paul Walker disagrees with you.

[LukasBMW]

I agree 100% with the video.

Speed limits on most roads (especially AZ) are set far too low.

Paul Walker disagrees with you.

He owes me a 10 second car.

[Revived]

I agree 100% with the video.

Speed limits on most roads (especially AZ) are set far too low.

Paul Walker disagrees with you.

He owes me a 10 second car.

I am a total dick for laughing so hard at this

[thamadkant]

Paul Walker wasn't the driver...

And that Porsche GT is so snappy around bends at high speed...


I like him in fast and the furious series, real down to earth guy and a skyline enthusiasts like me.