Stupid Guest Tricks

delsdad wrote:Since ANY points here will affect your insurance rate, it is really in your interest to fight the charge. And the points stay on the drivers record for 6 or 7 years. THe ticket might only be $200, but the impact on your insurance could be $1000 a year, until it rolls off your record.

Yup, I can't disagree with what you're saying, and I can't even claim with absolute conviction that I wouldn't, in the actual event, do what was in my own best interest. (It's been a long time since I got a speeding ticket, and will hopefully be a very long time before I get another)

That being said... even though it might be in my own interest to fight the charge, that doesn't mean it's the ethical thing to do. I know the rules, I know the potential consequences, and if I decide to break the law, I should be prepared to pay the penalty. When you knowingly break the law and then exploit weaknesses in the system to avoid responsibility, it's very similar to any number of stupid guest tricks.

WEDFan wrote:Yup, I can't disagree with what you're saying, and I can't even claim with absolute conviction that I wouldn't, in the actual event, do what was in my own best interest. (It's been a long time since I got a speeding ticket, and will hopefully be a very long time before I get another)

That being said... even though it might be in my own interest to fight the charge, that doesn't mean it's the ethical thing to do. I know the rules, I know the potential consequences, and if I decide to break the law, I should be prepared to pay the penalty. When you knowingly break the law and then exploit weaknesses in the system to avoid responsibility, it's very similar to any number of stupid guest tricks.

Got to say, I admire your willingness to not "game the system" and take personal responsibility for your actions. It is rare to see this kind of honor these days.

wonder if prius people get speeding tickets.
maybe after a full charge up.

drcorey wrote:wonder if prius people get speeding tickets.
maybe after a full charge up.

Sure we can. The acceleration of a Prius may be less than that of a Ferrari, but that doesn't impose a limit on top speed. I've had mine up to 70mph on the Beach Line, and there was no sign that it was near its limit.

I have a trip this sumer that will take me through Montana; perhaps I'll see there if the car's top end is higher than mine.

Besides, you can get a speeding ticket for going 45 in a 25 zone, so a speeding ticket is entirely possible even for a bicycle, as one friend of mine once did.

Zazu wrote:Sure we can. The acceleration of a Prius may be less than that of a Ferrari, but that doesn't impose a limit on top speed. I've had mine up to 70mph on the Beach Line, and there was no sign that it was near its limit.

I have a trip this sumer that will take me through Montana; perhaps I'll see there if the car's top end is higher than mine.

Besides, you can get a speeding ticket for going 45 in a 25 zone, so a speeding ticket is entirely possible even for a bicycle, as one friend of mine once did.

I had a company car that was a Prius. I can tell you that it will keep up with any standard, non-muscle car out there. What amazed me is the cruise control. Driving it around Vermont (very hilly country) pulling a long grade, it did not drop a single mile per hour. You could hear the engine gradually increasing in rpm and maintain. I own a Cadillac Deville with a V-8 engine and it will lose 1 to 1.5 mph on the same inclines. Magic cars...if only they were a little bigger cause I practically fill the whole car. Still a fairly comfortable car to drive and handle.

OK, Toyota...can I expect an endorsement check soon?

Zazu wrote:...I have a trip this sumer that will take me through Montana; perhaps I'll see there if the car's top end is higher than mine.....

Be careful driving in Montana. They used to not have a posted speed limit during daytime, dry weather. But that changed at least ten years ago.

Deb wrote:Be careful driving in Montana. They used to not have a posted speed limit during daytime, dry weather. But that changed at least ten years ago.

Thanks for saving me from an unhappy surprise!

Zazu wrote:Besides, you can get a speeding ticket for going 45 in a 25 zone, so a speeding ticket is entirely possible even for a bicycle, as one friend of mine once did.

wait a minute... speeding ticket with a normal bike? that cop must have been on a quota or something...

Zazu wrote:Besides, you can get a speeding ticket for going 45 in a 25 zone, so a speeding ticket is entirely possible even for a bicycle, as one friend of mine once did.

figment1986 wrote:wait a minute... speeding ticket with a normal bike? that cop must have been on a quota or something...

No, my friend was clocked doing 67 mph in a 45 zone. He claimed the radar gun was inaccurate, and that he was really doing about 72! (Yes, it was downhill on a steep, straight road.)

And yes, it caught up with him. He was riding legally -- 55 in a 55 zone -- when some SG opened a car door in front of him. Miss that dude.

Zazu wrote:No, my friend was clocked doing 67 mph in a 45 zone. He claimed the radar gun was inaccurate, and that he was really doing about 72! (Yes, it was downhill on a steep, straight road.)

And yes, it caught up with him. He was riding legally -- 55 in a 55 zone -- when some SG opened a car door in front of him. Miss that dude.

well that sucks!

DS had to fight a speeding ticket - he's hard of hearing, he used to get stopped a lot when he'd visit his girlfriend, he'd be driving the interstates at 2am - they'd hear his speech and think he was drunk! So he always tried to drive w/in the limit - but in Chicago, that was a sign of "guilt"

I went to fight his ticket with him - and yep the judge went alphabetically and by the time DS got up there - judge was NOT happy - so we pleaded "guilty to speeding, NOT guilty to seat belt charge" I explained I was interpreting for DS - and judge looked up, and a light bulb went off on that cop - judge fined ds $1!