Trojan Man

I'm kinda with RIAD on this one. The litigious society in which we live dictates that RIAD made the logical choice. I can just imagine the "off-road" driver suing RIAD for somehow getting him into this situation. Add to that law enforcement crawling up your butt and that makes for a very sticky situation.

HOWEVER, the one thing that I would have definitely done (as Pete01 suggested) is call 911 and anonymously report a TC.

These days you have to use your head even when following your heart. This sounds cold to many of you, but you can thank your democratically elected liberals for allowing society to get to this point.

Riad

First of all I don't need to justify my actions to you, so let's get that clear right now. Second, if I thought that the incident was serious I would have called 911. The guy skidded off the road and onto the grass, the worst that happened was his pride was hurt.... man you really need to get off that pedestal you're on. You weren't there, you don't know the circumstances and I guess in Boston everyone is just so nice that it wouldn't have been a problem for you to go back and help; however, in NYC it's just not that way.

So let's leave it at that. If you are morally superior to the rest of the world perhaps you should start your own religion, let me know how that works out for you.

pete01_996

The New Story:
The Original Story:
OK, I'm definitely not morally superior, cause I'm letting my pride react to your comments here ...

I have to point out that my comments were in response to your original story.

Certainly didn't mean to sound preachy ...

I'll zip it now, cause this is so far from the sort of thing I like to chat about ...

Peace man , by the way ... I love your city and find the people there very good natured!

WCE

I frequently made the 400 mile trip from NC to NJ many years ago in my 928. I always cruised at 80+, but on certain trips in light traffic, I would let wind drag be my cruise control (probably around 130 - the speedo was pegged at the Fed mandated 85mph reading). On one pre-dawn ride on I-85 in NC, I was making great time and was very surprised to notice headlights a couple of miles back since I hadn't passed anyone and the Escort hadn't lit up. It was still dark, and I was already over-driving the H4's at well over 100. When the headlights didn't go away after a few minutes, I foolishly (in hindsight) coasted down to the limit after loosing sight of the other car over a hill. It quickly caught up to me and lit up blue! I had gotten more than my share of tickets previously, including one trip when I ran with a 635Csi through a couple of states at triple digits, but this was the first time I wasn't able to engage the ABS before being clocked or paced at close to top speed.

I pull over and the cop orders me out of the car, hands on the trunk and approaches me (no gun drawn, which I half expected). He told me he had been in pursuit at his top speed for about 10 miles and that there was a roadblock being setup at the State border (about 5 miles north)! He was apparently at the top of an entrance ramp when I blew by (this is how I've collected most of my speeding tickets over the years). He handed me a ticket for 100+mph with a mandatory court appearance, and told me I had to follow him to post a bond since I had an out of state license. I follow him to the local court house and we wait for a clerk to show up and swipe my credit card!

Young and foolish, about a month later I show up in traffic court sans Lawyer and plead No Contest, figuring I'd pay the fine and be done with it. The Judge was PISSED because he couldn't take my license, and hits me with a $300 fine + 30 days!!! I approach the bench and basically beg for mercy and he suspends the jail time.

In hindsight, I really doubt I would have been thrown in jail, but you never know. In about 20 years of driving very fast (and safe), and at least 100 points spread over 3 licenses (it always a good to be "out of State"), this was the only time I was actually written up for over 100!

Riad

OK, peace!! I just want you to know that I was not bragging about this guy going off the road, it was just an example of how people drive when they don't know the limits of their ability.

Also, I'm a huge Boston fan been their about dozen times. If I had a choice to live anywhere buy NYC, it would be Boston.

I really think this whole thread was a serious misunderstanding. The next time I head up to Boston, I'll buy you a beer!

Rob

jbdmd

I think the thing we are arguing here is ethical vs absolute obligations

assuming one wanted to live a long life he would need food, water, shelter and compainionship...nothing more. these are absolute objective obligations

Ethics, on the other hand are highly subjective. Do I call the police?
Do I call the police if I know they are killed or injured? The answers to these questions can be much more difficult because the consequences could be dire for both you and the victims. (for you potential arrest for them death?)

Of course, I would like it if I was hurt or injured and someone calle 5-0 for me....but that doesn't meani think they are obliged to do so.

As a pop culture example take Rush Limbaugh...recently fresh out of rehab for narcotic abuse and there is a question as to whether he broke the law obtaining those narcotics....personally i think he is a bigot, and a hypocrite at the least...but i fully support his right to try to keep his records secret....the man does not want to go to jail!....even though i hope he does on a personal level...i support his right to try his damdest not to!....he is under no absolute obligation to cooperate in his own destruction.

Lastley I do think that there are some ethical decissions it would behove us to make. Such as not randomly murdering other people, or molesting children. The point is these are clear infrigements on the right of others.
Riad as infringed on no ones rights.

Even if I new that the guy could have been seriously injured I am not certain that I would have called anyone for fear of prosecution. My thinking he made a poor choice and now b/c of that we may both go down? I might just keep rolling along.

teflon_jones

i got a ticket doing 97 in a 65 one night at about 4 am. i was slowing down from 130 to get off the exit ramp.

thankfully it was my first speeding ticket in years, and the first in my p-car, so the cop said "you're lucky your record is clean or you'd be going to jail tonight". it cost me $350.

since then i've gotten 5 tickets in the last year. the last one the cop said "you were doing at least 85-90" and he said he was pacing me from behind. the thing was i had my cruise control set on 69 (in a 65 zone) because i had just gotten off a red eye from seattle to boston and i hadn't slept in two days so i was exhausted and in no condition to be driving fast. @$$hole cops. after that one i've just floored it a few times and i never see the cops again. (i don't recommend doing this...) last week i got pulled over by a cop and he said the speed limit was 55. i pointed to a speed limit sign up ahead that said 65 and said "no, it's 65" and he didn't know what to say. cops just don't like you if you're a p-car driver...

Riad

Every time I've been pulled over you could tell the cops were begging for you to be an a-hole just to give you a hard time. If you diffuse the situation by being really nice it goes a long way. Even if they don't cut you a break then and there, they will usually work with you in court.

One problem that we all have is that these guys have a job to do, and we're zooming around in near $100,000 cars. There is definitely resentment from some of them.

But for me they've all be ok, no real blatant ball busters. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. Ha-ha.. Berretta references are hard these days.

Scouser

The problem in the UK is that if you don't get busted by a traffic cop, the cameras will most likely get you anyway. They are everywhere. On the motorway, I sometimes take the car up to about 90 but then only for short bursts where I know there ain't no cameras. Fastest i ever took the car was 147mph and then I crapped out. I did that once when I first got the car. I took it to about 130mph the other day for a short while down some roads that I know are quiet to test out my new tyres. Apart from that I am generally a good driver......but when I get to the continent, everything changes

In the Uk, we have a 12 point system. The national speed limit is 70Mph. If you get busted (depending on speed) you usually loose 3 points and get fined. But points on your license means higher cost of insurance. Thankfully the points are cleared in 3 years.

But IMHO the law in the Uk is warped. I once got called out a late friday night cos my son had been mugged. He was unconsious. But before he went unconcious he managed to stumble to the police station. The police rang me. Told me to come up to the station quick. I jumped in the car, I
have no idea what speed I did but it was f...ing fast. When I go there, the police man said to follow behind the ambulance to the hospital. I did that with ease of course. Trouble is, I got camera flashed going thru a red light. The ambulance had all sirens and lights flashing and I stuck behind like glue. But he went thru the light and I followed. Son was fine. A few bruses.
But a few weeks later I received a ticket in the post from the camera trap. I went to court. Judge said in view of the mitigating circumstances, I would not be fined. Just gave me 3 points and a warning. What a load of crap that is........guess he was jealous of my porker.

Hamann7

Thank god I have an awesome lawyer here in LA who specializes in 100+ mph violations. He has only lost once (when he first started practicing in this area), since then he has had no convictions... either dismissal or traffic school.

He is handling one for me right now! Wish me luck!

Toreador

Hamann7, best of luck to you.
I know it's only a matter of time until I'm in your shoes.

1AS

I keep making donations to every trooper organization that has called (pre- do-not-call laws) and paste the star decals on the left rear passenger window so the trooper has to see them. There are some unspoken traffic-ticket etiquette rules which also seem to help. Like, pull way over to the right so the trooper isn't hanging his butt into traffic, lower your window so he can see you, keep both hands on the top of the steering wheel so he can see them, and politely and matter-of-factly accept whatever he says, admit to not being aware of the infraction (or the degree of infraction) and apologize. That, and my V1, seem to have helped a lot. I think Porsches are greater ticket magnets than sedans, but my experience is that Corvettes are worse. I have never once gotten out of a ticket while driving a Corvette, but have gotten out of most in my Porsches. Hope I haven't jinxed myself). On the other hand, my wife ususlly takes a humorous but smart-*** approach and always gets the ticket, and has twice had her car impounded (for expired tags after being caught speeding). AS

Tbred911

Driving back to Toronto... going through town of Preble... get pulled over for doing 83 in a 65... I pulled over to far right, turned the cabin lights on, rolled window down and had both hands on the wheel... trooper asks me why I think I got pulled over... I said perhaps I was going a little quick but didn't realize it... he said 83 you were doing... I apologized and he asked me if I had any other tickets in NYC... I said I'm squeaky clean (remember this part!)

He comes back and tells me my license is suspended since 1993 HOLY ****! I forgot to pay a ticket in Buffalo when I had ran a red light... he said he would have to tow my car and take me to court but that would be a hassle so he was just going to give me a ticket instead for 83!... my lucky day I guess!!

how much is the fine for 83 in a 65?

Tbred911

parkman

115 on a 35 chain bridge road/123 mclean, va. ugly site... no ticket, girlfriend cried... police officer felt guilty, let me off...