Posted on 03/10/2024 9:19:21 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Officials look to crack down on James Bond-style tag flippers, other means to obstruct license plates; ‘This is about fairness’
Mechanical devices that can hide a driver’s tag at the push of a button are sold online for a couple hundred bucks. Other drivers are getting creative on the cheap, jury-rigging their plates with face masks or duct tape.
Some drivers have power-washed paint off their plates or covered them with a range of household items such as leaf-shaped magnets
“Our Motorized Stealth Plate Flippers, allows you to flip your license plates 180°, James Bond style!”
New York State Thruway cameras recorded a motorcyclist reaching around to cover his bike’s license plate and spotted a car whizzing by with a Cheetos bag taped over the Florida-issued tag.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Yep, it’s NASTY - every state wants their ‘piece of meat’ from people driving I-95. It is a “Revenue Engine” to borrow a term from Governor Perry.
I was just posting the blow-by-blow on the TTC. Actual Texans on the ground mostly thought it sucked. The only piece built was SH-130 to bypass Austin, and the southern portion was a PPP that went bankrupt.
I-95 has: Dade-Broward-Palm Beach express lanes, Northern Virginia express lanes, Maryland express lanes NE of Baltimore, Kennedy Highway, Delaware Turnpike, a new tie-in to the PA Turnpike, NJ Turnpike, GW Bridge and Maine Turnpike. Wouldn’t be surprised if I missed a few.
There are still lots of traffic “Red Light” cameras in Sacramento.
I tried to challenge in traffic court once, by requesting the “person” who reported my “violation” to testify....some remote worker in Arizona....court just sent me a letter saying “No”. I appealed the violation asking for a jury trial with testimony from the same person, the court just sent me a copy of the backside of my appeal, with a box checked that said....”Appeal Denied.”.
Yep...and it was GREAT to see it go broke. Cintra (a major private contractor based in Spain) knew what was necessary to make money - which was to eventually convert ALL FREEWAYS into Toll Roads, but, eventually and thankfully, it got stopped.
I still remember how easily the TTC* passed the State Legislature (both chambers) at the very beginning, it was almost as easy as Impeaching Ken Paxton, but thankfully the State Senate was reformed by the time that Paxton came around.
*for those who don’t know, the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) was a plan to build a network of private toll roads though Texas and to either convert existing freeways to toll roads, or strangle them by not letting them be widened and not letting other existing highways even be repaved (without paying off the private operators), or a combination of all. It passed easily into law in Texas around 20 years ago - and ONLY THEN did people realize what it was...and then it was killed.
No idea. This was 7 years ago.
Pls, see #17.
Officials look to crack down on James Bond-style tag flippers, other means to obstruct license plates; ‘This is about fairness’
Your darned right. We demand equal access to tag flippers technology! Fair is fair.
“As society descends into lawlessness, I’m finding myself running a lot more red lights than I used to. Typically, red left-hand turn arrows when there isn’t a car in sight. I used to dutifully wait for the arrow to turn green. Now I say screw it. I ran one the other morning and the guy right behind me said screw it as well and followed me right through it.”
Started doing the same. We have about 5 seconds at one intersection between a red light and when cross-traffic finally moves. The hell if I’m stopping at 3 seconds past the red light. I’m helping the traffic flow, actually. Late at night I’m not going to be a target for bad guys - so, yep, I’ll still stop at a red light, check for traffic and pigs, but if clear, I’m rolling.
They have California wrong - they also charge Sales Tax on gasoline (most states don’t) and force expensive boutique blends of fuel, thereby adding at least another $1.00 to their fuel, beyond the ‘official’ 78 cent tax.
Therein lies the problem. The actual 'root of all evil'. Letting the competitive spirit rule without proper driver training.
While driving the average road or highway I can:
Use less fuel
Less wear on the brakes
Go slower than other drivers
Keep reaction time to a maximum
Have fewer accidents
Have fewer tickets
And yet my average speed is higher and I pass the same Mario Andretti type drivers over and over. I arrive at my destination much calmer.
The lack of TRUE driver training is what leads to Road Rage. That, and hormone rages. Which has led to popular songs about hormones/adrenalin/sexual relationships.
But I doubt we will ever change our tune, or institute proper Driver Education. As humans we resist being told what to do and especially how to do it.
Typical government. Lie to the constituents to get them to agree with what you want and then when you don’t come through as promised........excuses, excuses, excuses.
Toll roads serve a great purpose when they are well-managed and vastly superior to the “free” alternatives. Think of a limited-access highway with a speed limit 10+ MPH higher than the alternative route, with an 88,000-lb. (or higher) weight limit for trucks, and tandem or triple trailers allowed. The cost of the toll pays for a superior roadway that only exists because it provides its own revenue stream.
I wouldn’t participate in the lawlessness myself. Here, I’ve only seen one driver deliberately run a left turn signal like that. The intersection cameras determine the traffic flow and the signal sequencing so there’s hardly any wait anyway unless opposing traffic is entering.
—” I used to dutifully wait for the arrow to turn green. Now I say screw it.”
And one fine day you will lean about inattentive viewing.
A painful and expensive lesson.
Now, do not care about you, but your innocent victims concern me.
It’s a small cross-street and I am SICK of having to stop for 5 seconds before the stupid car is allowed to move...so I deal with it.
As to your ‘utopian society’ where you don’t have DEI’s setting traffic light timing, sorry but that is LONG-GONE, and so I’ve adapted to it.
Best you check with your handler to adjust your meds!
Gas Tax by State for 2024
I guess when a site has so many people, some will be stuck having to defend California:
“Taxes, fees make up $1.18 per gallon of gas in California “
https://ktla.com/news/taxes-fees-make-up-1-18-per-gallon-of-gas-in-california/
Average Price of Gasoline by State:
Texas: $2.93 (actually $2.73 without state tax)
Calif: $4.88
https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/
So even the $1.18 difference (above) is SEVERELY discounting the effect of California on their gasoline prices. But feel free to keep defending them!
I hope the toll avoidance grows exponentially.
don’t get me started on the Pennsylvania toll scams....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.