sideeffects

75-80 on highways and you'll be fine.. sidestreets follow the speed limits... thats where they'll get you th most... I found this out the hard way several times..... some people just don't learn

Ricracing

Do not come to Finland for speeding.

We have a progressive earning speeding ticket system.

Some guys who earns really well have payed speeding tickets
way above ? 50,000, that's in US$'s 65,000

Socialismus :thumbsdown:

gwf545

That is a bit fast, even for I15 in the desert, especially at night when you can't see well. During the day, during the week, there are stretches where you can see for a long, long way and your odds are much better. But over 100MPH is not a good idea anywhere for more than a short sprint.

What worries me more is the inadvertent blast past 100 that I occasionally seem to find myself doing after I break out of a pack where some jackass has things blocked up by going 50-60 in the left lane. The e60's just accelerate, handle and ride too damn well!

pennetta

US roads are worse than the AutoBahn but not worse than elsewhere in Europe. Also I think in Europe a ticket stays on record with you for life, here in NY its just 18 months. I have been speeding all my adult life with both motorcycles and cars and have had my 545i up to a speedometer indicated 160 mph, which given a 5% speedometer error is probably 152 +/- MPH.
The speed limits are very low here but they have the speed limit and also the actual adherance numbers as a percentage of the speed limit, so a 55 MPH speed limit is statistically only adhered to by 5% of the drivers and they know the majority of the drivers drive 75 MPH. So really unless your over 75 you are OK even if they hit you with radar.

I got pulled over on a state roadway and I was going very slow. The cop asked me how fast I was going, I said 30 MPH. He said the limit was 15 mph !!!!. I said that I could run faster than that, he said he knows and laughed and walked away.
I also got pulled over on my CB900F going 125 mph on a exit ramp of the expressway, the cop got out of his car circle me and my motorcycle twice and said nice- bike please drive slower, and then left.

Iceman

Undetectable or not, over here radar detectors are useless, since the cops mostly use sytems that can NOT be detected. Plus they are illegal...

pennetta

If there was an undetectable device we would have it here. The cops need to detect the signal that is emitted from their device, that bounces off of your car and is detected and read by the same device. The only system less detectable is if he is following you without you realizing it or if an airplane times you from road markings from above.

Iceman

They have it over here. You are lucky in the US, trust me!
They measure with light, Koax cables, video cameras and other stuff...
The use of radar is rare over here!

Road Runner

NeRwEEzy,

What's the code number exactly that you are referring to? I've never heard of that and I have researched driving laws in CA.

Destiny,

Here's what I can tell you - based on the California Vehicle Code - of which sections I shall note in this post. If anyone says anything different, ask them to tell you what CA Code (or Vehicle Code) section the law they are citing refers to.

Note that CA vehicle law in general is very confusing.

- First off, <100 mph is just speeding. Fine only. No biggie.
- Second, >=100 mph gets you into the realm of here is your prize: (CA Code Section 22348 sub paragraph b)
- court can impose 30 day suspension for 1st offense, 60 days for 2nd, 6 months for 3rd+ (per code 13200.5)
- max. $500 fine (1st offense)
- 2nd offense within 3 years = up to $750 fine + license suspension per code 13355(a)
- 3rd+ offense within 5 years = fine up to $1000 + licsnse suspension per code 13355(b)

- Third, many states have Reckless Driving statutes tied to speed (i.e. speeding of +XX = reckless). Fortunately (or not), California's reckless driving statute is quite vague. It defines reckless driving as "wanton or willful disregard". The catch is that if you're charged with reckless driving (RD), you face a combination of a fine $220 - $1,000 AND/OR imprisonment of 5 days (minimum) to 6 months. It's up to da judge to decide what your penalty is.
- Fourth, in the U.S. traffic violations are divided into two legal categories - "infractions" and "criminal." There is a very important distinction between them. Of course (gotta love the U.S.), each state draws the line between the two at a different point. But the bottom line is that an "infraction" is a civil penalty. i.e., no jail time possible. You may be assessed "points" against your driving record, but you cannot go to jail. A "criminal" offense, on the other hand, means there is the possibility of jail time.
- Now, one reason this is an important distinction is that in a criminal case, it is more difficult for the prosecution to prove that you should be punished. They must prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that you are a sinner. In a civil proceeding, the prosecution only need prove there is a "preponderance" of evidence. That's like the difference between a 90% chance of rain and a 50% chance of rain in the weather forecast. In one case it seems a virtual certainty, in the other it is less clear but you go with your gut feeling.
- So, from the standpoint of the State Revenue Collection System (oops... I meant public safety and all that), it's going to cost the State a lot more to convict you of a criminal offense versus a civil offense. For example, in a criminal proceeding you can request a jury trial. That means major $. The State has to pay the jurors, they have to pay the court reporter, the judge, the bailiff, pay the police officer overtime to show up in court, the electricity, the janitor at the court, etc. etc. If you're charged with a civil fine and just pay up and forget about it, this is a much better margin for the Money Suckers than if you exercise your Constitutional Rights and demand a jury trial. Now, truth be told these folks are not dumb. They know a lot of people who drive are dumb though and may of them can't afford a lawyer. Oh, but wait there's that Constitution thing again. See, in a criminal case you can make them appoint a lawyer for you for free (if you can't afford it... then you have the fact you are getting the lowest paid lawyer in the universe working for you - do you really want that?).

That's my $0.02. I have cited the CA code above. If someone ranting about a new law would be kind enough to site specific information relating to the CA Code / CA Vehicle Code, I'll listen. Otherwise, my suspicion is that some jurisdictions are trying to rattle folks cages by tossing out the RD code section 23103 (jail +/or $).

Now, all that aside, my disclaimer is that I don't live in CA (though I love to visit). So, maybe I missed the latest episode of Dateline where there was some mention of this. It's also possible that my info on the CA Code is not up to date in this regard. Again, if someone would enlighten me then I would be most appreciative. Thanks.

Cheers.

RR

SergeyM

Wow! That's scary. I do speed from time to time and never considered 100mph to be a really high speed. 130-140 mph is fast though. But here in NJ all you can get or at least that is my understanding) is points on your license. 30+ mph over the speed limit are 5 points. 12 points in 2 years and your license is gone for 3 month. 9 points total and you cannot get insurance except from the state ($$$). But a jail term? Come on, don?t we have enough real criminals to keep jails full?

Road Runner

Sergey,

I totally agree with you. Just FYI, in Connecticut... get this.... If you pay the fine (and plead guilty), you get no points on your license! If you fight the ticket and lose in court, you get a fine + points! How messed up is that? I can hear the cash registers ringing at the courthouse... cha ching.

Another funny example of how wacko this whole system is in the states... if you are caught speeding in New Mexico, if you're 2 miles our more outside of an incorporated city/town, no points. Inside that 2 mile radius, points + fine. Again, wacko.

At least there is some semblance of common sense. Take those examples versus VA where I live. If you're 20+ in VA or driving >=80 mph, you can be ticketed with Reckless Driving. Yet, the max. PSL is 65 mph. 65+20 = 85 last time I checked. And if you're speeding in a 35 MPH PSL zone, you have to be going 60 MPH or higher to get a RD ticket. Gee, let's see that's 60 - 35 = +25 over the PSL? WTF????

That particular provision of the RD statute in VA is - IMHO - a violation of the defendant's 14th amendment (equal protection clause), because someone accused of the same crime - speeding XX miles over the limit - is treated differently in different circumstances. How is it that +15 over the PSL in a 65 mph zone is equal to +25 over PSL in a 35 zone is equal to +20 over PSL in every other zone? What a bunch of BS.

But then, that is Virginia for you. VA is for Bull$hit. (versus official state logo - VA is for Lovers, for those of you not familiar with it - G_d I hate those bumper stickers).

BTW, I am working on a state by state guide for these silly, ridiculous, and (sometimes) downright stupid laws throughout the U.S. I shall post it as soon as I'm done. It will be a compilation of all states showing speeding statutes and penalties, RD laws where applicable, and any other pertinent BS. My intention is to provide a guide for travelers. So, for instance, if you decide you want to avoid driving through VA (which I recommend everyone avoid this - especially I-85 where the VA State PO-Lease like to harass folks passing through).

RR