VBirginia State Police...Be Careful

[Racinfan83]

I wish I could get them to come here and do a story. We have it all here - from a town with 400 yds of I-70 just west of the airport that leases a 3rd floor office in a building right next to the highway - and the only reason they lease it is because they put in a sliding glass window in it to shoot laser out of --- to the town next to me who has an cop who runs an unmarked Explorer, and his favorite game is to park on the shoulder of the highway with an orange "breakdown" sticker on the rear window, and sometimes he will even raise the hood and put the flashers on. Shoots radar out of it for about 6 chase cars that are on the next on ramp. To me that is CHEATING and has nothing to do with SAFETY - and all about REVENUE. I drive 70-75, and have gotten a few driving awards (which all get fixed by one of the Traffic Lawyers here). What ticks me off about the whole deal is that I am not an unsafe driver. My going 10-15 over the limit is not putting anyone in danger. I probably have a million miles under my belt in about everything with wheels on it, from tractors to cars/pickups to dump trucks to semis. I know what I can and can't handle, and it really ticks me off to have some cop cost me money just because some legislator decided 60 was fast enough without knowing my abilities. Not trying to make it sound like I'm a better driver then everyone else - cuz I know I'm not - but I am certainly capable of controlling my vehicle at 10-15 over (or more). I just think cops have MUCH better things to do then sit and pick on motorists who are not really posing a danger to society.....

[USAFPILOT]

I can't effing stand traffic cops traffic laws and traffic penalties. They are doing nothing, I Repeat, NOTHING, other than generating revenue. I think the solution is to require police department monitored community service for all traffic violations. There should be no monetary penalty, that way the punishment will fit the crime. The police would only write citations they are willing to enforce, rather than for profit. Dont worry, we are on our way there. Once the liberal progressive communists steal the rest of our money, the cops wont have a choice.

[scottfab]

Originally Posted by Racinfan83

I wish I could get them to come here and do a story. We have it all here - from a town with 400 yds of I-70 just west of the airport that leases a 3rd floor office in a building right next to the highway - and the only reason they lease it is because they put in a sliding glass window in it to shoot laser out of --- to the town next to me who has an cop who runs an unmarked Explorer, and his favorite game is to park on the shoulder of the highway with an orange "breakdown" sticker on the rear window, and sometimes he will even raise the hood and put the flashers on. Shoots radar out of it for about 6 chase cars that are on the next on ramp. To me that is CHEATING and has nothing to do with SAFETY - and all about REVENUE. I drive 70-75, and have gotten a few driving awards (which all get fixed by one of the Traffic Lawyers here). What ticks me off about the whole deal is that I am not an unsafe driver. My going 10-15 over the limit is not putting anyone in danger. I probably have a million miles under my belt in about everything with wheels on it, from tractors to cars/pickups to dump trucks to semis. I know what I can and can't handle, and it really ticks me off to have some cop cost me money just because some legislator decided 60 was fast enough without knowing my abilities. Not trying to make it sound like I'm a better driver then everyone else - cuz I know I'm not - but I am certainly capable of controlling my vehicle at 10-15 over (or more). I just think cops have MUCH better things to do then sit and pick on motorists who are not really posing a danger to society.....

It is fair but is majorly chicken $*H%

[scottfab]

Originally Posted by Daniel_Mc

.... snip...

I travel a good bit for work and got one for 4 MPH over down around Baton Rouge, LA 2 weeks ago. Granted I was speeding but 4 MPH c'mon... You can't be mad you do it to yourself and the Officer(s) are only doing their job. One thing radar detectors and jammers are legal here.

...snip...

wow that beats my 65 in a 60 just North of Olympia her in WA back in 04. Real world chicken #)#( cops. Doing job or not.

[rhipsher]

Well Virginia just sucks then. Check out the speed limit in Texas.

Plus the state legislature just passed a bill that no longer requires Texas state residents to have a front license plate anymore. Now I don't have to worry about my forced air intake. Did I mention I love living here?

[SteelBlueZR1]

Where I live in Maryland is just as bad or worse, however, VA laws are downright scary with an 81mph in a 65 meaning loss of license, $3,400 and possible jail time. I refuse to drive in VA after living there. The police state is part of the reason I am planning on moving out west to Colorado to get away from this BS!
I drive just 3 miles to work in Owings Mills at Maryland Public Television and pass 4 cops on average per day, 3 speeding cameras and innumerable red light cameras. NO, I am not making this up - I have driven my ZR-1 just 4,000 miles in 2 years and been pulled over 4 times! Each time for no front license plate or going less than 5 miles over the limit. ONe time the officer asked why I was on Historic tags on a Monday, and I told him I was headed to a "Car Show." I work at MPT and was using my car for a John Davis stand-up promo for MotorWeek car show, which was actually the truth! The cop smirked and sent me on my way...
The last harassment started with a PO following me, starting just 1 mile from my house on the way to a WAZOO event, and I had cruise set at 40mph, but the officer followed me for 5 miles and finally pulled me over.
When I told him my Z had just 8k miles on it and is 22 years old, he said, "Oh, I thought it was a new Vette," and never told me why I was being pulled over. He was nice enough to tell me he had put a note in the system so that I would stop being hassled by officers every 1k miles for "No front license plate."
Oh, I almost forgot, at 6k miles I was pulled over a 5th time in PA on the way back from Lance Miller's ZR-1 Net Registry event, and just finally got out of the speeding ticket at court, but it cost me $236 in court fees to be found not guilty on appeal?! The police officer pulled me over more than 5 miles after he allegedly got me on radar at 14mph over the limit. The officer told me he was going to arrest me for evading him, since I exited the highway into Maryland (that is where I live?!).
But, the public defender dropped the case on appeal immediately. The fun part was driving to central PA to go to court twice, and a third time to file the appeal?!
What public good is there in hassling car collector enthusiasts, who according to insurance data are the lowest risk drivers?
Kinda makes you want to sell the Z and take a bus everywhere...

[carter200]

Originally Posted by rhipsher

Plus the state legislature just passed a bill that no longer requires Texas state residents to have a front license plate anymore. Now I don't have to worry about my forced air intake. Did I mention I love living here?

Ricky,
Need to look a little closer at that:

HB 625 clarifies that the penalty for operating a vehicle on a public highway without displaying the two license plates assigned to the vehicle is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $200.

IF you have better info please send to me as I would like to only have the one plate.......

PS: I love living here, too...

[scottfab]

Here is some more useless information

[Racinfan83]

Originally Posted by scottfab

Here is some more useless information

Now THERE is one I would probably never break!
And the only way I'm moving to Texas is if they turn the heat down in the summer about 15 degrees....

[LancePearson]

It is well understood that this is a way police departments in large towns and states can be very nearly revenue and cost neutral and self funding. Pretty darned far from the laws originally designed so roads would be safe. Honestly, I don't know any group of generally safer drivers than those of us with these classic Corvettes or other older Corvettes. Speed, yes. It isn't fictional when I talk about 145 mph and wish I had a place I could let it out up to much more and see what fifth gear would do. I guess I'll have to ship the car to Texas some day. That Big Bend race would be very interesting and an 85 mph max speed limit just barely begins to let the Z breath an run a little. There are a few idiots driving Vettes but I'd put us Z owners up against anyone for safety records...except Paul who drives off the end of runways! LOL>>>>>>only kidding Paul!

Lance