I rented a car when driving to pick up my 993 which had some work done on it out of state..

I was in PA. in traffic flow near ERIE.

I wasn't using my radar detector because the rental did not have a 12V outlet for it.

I wasn't paying attention and the Erie cop spotted me at 81 in a 55.

After being pulled over, I was informed I was at risk for-

- impounded car
- mandatory court appearance
- reckless operation offense

I was polite, apologized for not paying attention to the limit, and waited.

He came back to give me my 1st ticket in > 25 years.

He cited me for 5mph over the limit and informed me the ticket wouldn't affect my insurance, and asked me to slow down.

The fine was @150.

In PA, for speeding tickets 5mph or less, once the fine is paid, there is no recording of this type of ticket which PA classifies as a minor offense in the same category as a parking ticket.

- no points or entry on license
- not recorded a speeding ticket

I got my XMAS present early.

 

I just don't speed anywhere anymore because they are everywhere it seems.

 

Merry Christmas to you! Here in NH, troopers don't seem to bother until you are north of 80 mph. So I try to keep it at 80, there are always people going faster. Haven't had used a detector in years. Back when I lived in ND , '86-'96, those empty wide open spaces, you wanted to keep going faster. I managed to get a speeding ticket about once a year, but at $ 25, no biggie.

 

I usually keep it no greater that 5 MPH above the limit.

I was in traffic flow and not paying attention to the speed.

A detector is a must here in WNY - troopers and local police are brutal and tend to hide around every corner.

Drug Cartel was just busted, had been importing drugs 5+ years near the 190. Niagara Falls.

Seems like speed traps at times take priority over things that are more important.

 

Yes, clearly they don't want to offend their meal ticket or use any court or police resources adjudicating the offense,
If they can get the revenue and have their customer drive away paying AND being happy about it, why not?
Now that's customer service!
Andy

 

Merry Christmas. It is a win win. They got you to slow down, they got a citation recap, the State got their tax and they know you most likely won't fight it; no Court time. And, you got a substantially lower fine, no effect on your insurance and likely drove away feeling good..... or at least not as bad if he slammed you for the full 26 MPH over. Very cool.

 

Agree. My wife pushes 10 over every day and says it's fine, but she's pretty and I am not.

 

On 280 here in the SF Bay Area drive 10 over the limit and you'd get pulled over for going too slow -- or so it seems. 80 mph is the norm and I like to fit in!

 

Like health care and college tuition, these days at some point America finds something that everyone needs and then monetizes it so someone can make a huge profit on it. Well, you need a car, so that's what happened with cops and tickets.

Time was, the states weren't so broke because the city leaders hadn't voted to give outrageous multi-million dollar pensions to themselves and their colleagues. But now cops know that every time they bust you, some of that money will indirectly end up in their pockets. It is literally highway robbery.

If you really wanna see the truth, here's a recent Los Angeles Times article that shows how so many of our police, and firefighters, are ending up not only making many hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, but are retiring with million dollar lump sum payments, on top of pensions that are $250,000/year for life. Because of this, your roads are not fixed, etc.

https://www.latimes.com/local/califo...216-story.html

Public servants deserve job security and good benefits; that was always the perk of a government job. But picking the pockets of the taxpayers so they could end up as multi-millionaires as well borders on thievery and is outrageous, and that's a big reason why so many tickets are written and the penalties are so high.

 

Nice gift! That could have been MUCH worse.

There is no question that 81 mph is illegal on most public roadways, but the biggest issue I have with all of this is the increase in "criminalization" that misdemeanors like these have had loaded on top of the original offence.
Depending on the state a "reckless operation offence" can affect professional licensure and all of the MAJOR subsequent consequences from any of those issues.