Speeding ticket, how many you got?

[Kiwi cop]

In early 2002

I was up for a promotion which meant I would have to move out of the sole charge station and police house I was living in. My wife said she would refuse to move back into her house unless she had a new stove and dishwasher installed, so on a Sunday morning I drove over an hour to the "local" appliance store in my diesel 4X4 wagon.

At the store I found I could only get one of the two boxes into the rear compartment. I was leaving town thinking about having to make an other trip back on another day off. I just wasn't thinking and thought I was in the 70 km/h area so accelerated.

Luckily the speedo in that vehicle read high because I came around a corner and found three local cops with a laser. I got a ticket for 67 in a 50 km/h area.

My wife was indignant that I didn't play the cop card to get out of the ticket. I just shut up, paid the fine and was very careful of my speed for the 2 years I had the demerit points recorded against my license.

But I have given out a few tickets in the last 34 years, and some of the excuses make me smile. When I drove an unmarked car I would see a vehicle coming up behind me in the mirror and switch the radar to same lane mode as the driver overtook. As the car came into the radar I would lock the reading and hit the red/blues/siren. Even the bright yellow safety vest I was wearing didn't seem to register with most drivers.

One day I passed some speed reduction advisory signs where I knew the speed reduced right before a school. It was 8:30 on a weekday morning, so I slowed down to the reduced speed in the advisory zone. A car came roaring past me as I came past the school gates. He demanded to know why I had slowed down before the official signs. When I told him it was because of the school he said "What school"?

These days I set my cruise control right on the limit, even when I know the speedo is reading high, and just cruise along. I tend to get overtaken a lot though.

 

[7shooter]

Got two tickets . Both times by the state patrol . Once in Minnesota driving a Triumph Spitfire and the other in Wyoming in a Pontiac station wagon. Was guilty both times.

I did get stopped in Wisconsin driving a Corvette Indianapolis 500 pace car that my brother was delivering to a dealer in Chicago. In that case I was not speeding . I am extremely careful in Wisconsin because I know how strict they are in that state. I think the patrolman probably thought that two young guys driving a car like that must have something illegal in the vehicle.

I argued with him and got a warning .

 

[CH4]

Been driving for 37 years, everything from emergency vehicles, motorcycles and commercial vehicles and never a ticket of any kind - over 2 million miles, 330,000+ on a motorcycle. Not saying I haven’t earned one, just never received any; conversely, I’ve written thousands.

Edit: Now 40 years ticket free.

 

[BigBoy99]

I received a warning ticket for speeding when I was 16. That was 60 years ago and haven't received another speeding warning or ticket since then.

 

[REM 3200]

Been driving for 37 years, everything from emergency vehicles, motorcycles and commercial vehicles and never a ticket of any kind - over 2 million miles, 330,000+ on a motorcycle. Not saying I haven’t earned one, just never received any; conversely, I’ve written thousands.

Good Lord!! That truck in the third picture looks more like a train than a truck.

 

[Step N. Mud]

Sure! Had dozens of tickets, mostly 10 to 15 mph over the posted speed limit and not that proud of them either.
Until I got to be about 30 and figured out it was a lot less stressful
just to comply.
On a special note, I once was complimented for pulling over quickly in front of a sheriff who had just nailed me on a wide open two lane country road for exceeding the 55mph sign and he told me I was the first person he didn't have to chase down that day.
Haven't had a speeding ticket for over twenty years now.

A friend once told me "You drive like Ben Hur."

 

[LVSteve]

A friend once told me "You drive like Ben Hur."

A few weeks after getting to the US I was driving an unfamiliar large pickup truck. New American buddy said I drove, "like his granddad what with my careful speed and both hands on the wheel". As the words came out of his mouth we crested a rise and looked straight down the barrel of a radar gun. Without changing the tone or cadence of his voice he continued, "Not that it's always a bad thing", which, naturally, put us both into convulsive laughter, much to the puzzlement of the cop as we drove by.

 

[CH4]

Good Lord!! That truck in the third picture looks more like a train than a truck.

Being retired I often get bored so to mitigate my wrestlesness, I occasionally pull wiggle wagons (triples and Rocky Mountain doubles) around Nevada and Utah.

 

[Delta Expatriate]

I have had my share - but I do not think I have any in the last 25 - 30 years. In the mid 1980s i think I had maybe 4 or so within 15 months. I got a letter from the Mississippi Highway Patrol requesting that I visit them at the Sunflower County Sheriff's office on an appointed date and time. I did so, and after talking with them, they told me my driver's license was being suspended for two weeks, but they were "suspending the suspension" - so I kept on driving. I have sometimes wondered if my license was actually suspended.

 

[walkin jack]

Got my first drivers license in 1959 (about 59 years ago). For 11 years I was a sales rep for Gerber Products Co. ( yeah, the Baby food company. Had a new company car every year. Drove from 30K to 40K every year during that tine.

I've always believed that the more miles you drive the more "opportunities" you have for: Flat tires, running out of gas, breakdown...and SPEEDING TICKETS. Guess I proved that rightly enough. On two separate occasions I got letters from the state advising me that should I receive one more moving violation in the next 6 months that I would have to go before a judge and show a reason why I should not lose my driving privileges.

Other than that I have probably averaged about 8K to 9K per year while I worked for Shell Oil Co... 25years. I only live 2.5 miles from the plant. Since I retired in 2000 I average 5K to 6K. Cars, motorcycles pi9ck-up trucks, light trucks and vans.

I know there is a number out there somewhere but I couldn't even get in the ball park with a guess. Lets just say it was a bunch and call it a good guess.

I'm pretty hard headed but the State of Texas FINALLY taught me the wisdom of obeying the traffic laws of our great state. My Last ticket was about 12 or 13 years ago.

Four of them stand out in my memory. here's the short versions:

.on the loop 610 (during the CB radio craze {I was KCR-6795, The Mongoose}). I called for ba :smokey report. The Weight Watcher came back, "Clean and Green Mr. Mongoose. You shake the trees and I'll Rake the leaves".

I pot my foot in it.

The Weight Watcher turned out to be the WAIT Watcher...a Texas DPS officer. He was waitin' and he was watchin. Got me.

.Goin' east o I-10 about 25 miles from Shreveport, La. in my yellow 1977 Monte Carlo. I whizzed by a DPS cruiser who was facing the other way. Had my trusty CB on ch 19 and suddenly some guy comes on and yells "Hey, did'jall see that smokey bear come out of the median!?!? Man, he was slingin' dirt and grass everywhere!!!"

Another guy comes on and says "Yeah, He's hot after that yellow Monte Carlo!"

I just sighed, slowly shook my head and pulled over to the shoulder. He got me.

.Driving my 4-cylinder Ford Maveric *** company car in a strange neighborhood at 10:00AM one morning. Looked in the rear view and saw a huge ford Grill about a foot off my rear bumper. Tailgater? I sped up some. That's when he hit me with the siren.

Turns out I was in a school zone that was in effect until 10:15AM. All the ones around my area ended at 09:45AM.

Huge old guy in HPD uniform Pulled me out with his gun drawn and spread me out on the hood of my little Maveric. Said I was trying to run. I asked him if he really thought I was trying to out run his big police interceptor in a 4-cylinder ***. Didn't phrase it very well. He shook me and put the muzzle of his revolver against5 the back of my neck.

We went back and forth a bit and I pointed out that I was unable to see his light bar because he was so close behind me, shoot, I coudn't even see the top of his hood. He got me.

He was pretty mad but I think he believed me. He gave me a ticket for 30 in a 20....but he didn't tell me to have a nice day.

.I-45 north bound going through Huntsville in my Chevy Nova *** company car. Passed a DPS officer on the side of the road pointing his radar gun at passing traffic. A ways farther up two officers were waving some us over. One came up tome and while he was writing my ticket I could hear on his police radio, "Brown Caddy inside lane...Blue Ford Pick-up center lane...".

I Pointed out that I was barely over the limit and many cars were going lots faster than me. He asked me if I'd ever seen one on those nature shows where a lion is chasing a heard of deer. I told him I had. He asked me if I noticed which one he targeted.

Together, in unison we said...THE SLOWEST ONE. He got me

 

[Dave_n]

Back in the UK as a "brash young fellow" I was accused of driving a 1948 MG TC at 65 mph in a 50 limit. Bear in mind this was in the late 1950s and the car could not do 65 downhill with a following gale! I told the magistrate this "fact" and asked if I could have a signed letter from the cop attesting to my excessive speed as it would help me sell the car! He was laughing so hard at my "cheeky response" that he simply told me to get lost in so many words. Needless to say, the local constabulary were not amused as they reckoned that I was "taking the mickey out of them". SteveLV will understand. Dave_n

 

[Step N. Mud]

Well hows that story go? One time I was caught crossing from a main street of a large town into a smaller more exclusive community, 35 mph to a 20 and a older cop walks up to my pulled over work truck and it's during a light rain storm. He starts writing
out my earned ticket, however his ink pen decides to **** out and the officer politely ask my if I have a pen. I had second thoughts but complied with his request and then I had more second hand thoughts.

 

[johngalt]

Not sure if the police still do this, but for a long time they would drive about 5 under the limit. Everyone was too chicken to pass him and queued up behind. I always passed them, being careful to not go over the limit. Never got a ticket for passing a police car.

Got one once in a school zone though.

 

[GaryS]

One. New Hampshire in 1973. Went to the Exxon gas station, paid the judge the $10.00 fine and filled my gas tank.

New Hampshire was a lot different back then.

 

[BigBill]

I learned how to beat the radar system while in court. I fixed the officers car, he fixed my ticket about 50 years ago. I learned my lesson.

 

[LVSteve]

Not sure if the police still do this, but for a long time they would drive about 5 under the limit. Everyone was too chicken to pass him and queued up behind. I always passed them, being careful to not go over the limit. Never got a ticket for passing a police car.

Back in the UK the motorway cops used to cruise between 55 and 60 in the slow lane because that way they saved the taxpayer money and had more time to see stuff. This caused the inevitable knot of traffic that refused to go faster than 65. I came upon one of these knots at 75 (70 limit) and just blew by unabated because I knew he wasn't interested. I was right, but the funniest thing was watching a father in the center lane point at my car and obviously indicating that I was about to get pinched. His kids must have been very disappointed.

 

[Step N. Mud]

I learned how to beat the radar system while in court. I fixed the officers car, he fixed my ticket about 50 years ago. I learned my lesson.

I figured out it was easier to not get caught speeding than it was to have to pour and finish concrete patio's for friendly officers.

 

[usmc2427765]

I never received a speeding ticket myself, but did give a bunch. I usually allowed 10 over the speed limit except when in a school zone and it was 8 over. I also usually issued a warning if the driver had a clean driving record, however if they were untruthful regarding their driving record they were slammed for the full amount. Passing a school bus loading or unloading children never, never got a break, my personal pet peeve.

 

[bullmack]

I've had a few and may have another in the mail. Was up in BC last week and went through a RCMP photo radar setup. I'm hoping there were too many bugs on my front plate to ID my truck.

 

[NYlakesider]

In the last 30 years or so none! That includes a few years of driving a large CDL type truck delivering building supplies when I retired from my union and a Vette on the road for 6 months of each year.


In the past, street racing in Albany was a big thing in the 60s early 70s and I did my share, got a couple way back then. I should have got quite a few more, but 6 cylinder cop cars that Albany had then could not stay up with our 4-550+ HP V8 cars.

In the between times got a couple, and quite a few serious tongue lashings!