Colo. Cracks Down on Left-Lane Dawdling (Tickets for Slow Pokes)

Yahoo ^ | 4/4/05

[RebelBanker]

The speed limits as currently set are more about generating ticket revenue than safety. The Defense Interstate Highway System was designed for speeds 10 to 20 miles per hour faster than the current limits. The federal government forced the states to lower the limit to 55 mph everywhere in the name of "conserving energy" during the Arab oil embargo in the 1970's. This has been loosened, but many states still maintain the artificially low limits because they are now dependent on the revenue generated by the speeding tickets.

[Lx]

Years ago I was driving a company van with the number on it and some numb nuts called me in for speeding. My boss though it was pretty funny. Of course not all companies would react that way.

I don't care if you're going the speed limit, if you impede the flow of traffic, you are a hazard. In California, on surface streets, if a study shows traffic going faster that the posted speed limit. they have to change the limit to accommodate it, Obviously this doesn't apply to school zones.

Admit it, it's not the number plastered on the vehicle. You're self righteous about driving the speed limit and want to enforce other to do the same. At least admit it. You're a lane Eichman.

[Lx]

In this case you're a 100% right. I don't know where you live but here in California, fines are doubled in construction zones. In fact, it seems the CHP admired the make work requirements of Massachusetts to have to have a patrol car at road construction sites so now they do that here.

[Zathras]

Strangely that makes sense.
Thanks... REALLY!

[Pablo64]

I understand how the roads are built. Both my father and I used to work for the Colorado State Highway Department building highways through the mountains. I also know about the reasons behind the 55 mph speed limits (a bogus solution I agree). I'm not 100% certain about the revenue generation theory, but I lean hard in that direction. One thing I try to consider when I'm out driving (especially on the interstate with high speeds) is that a lot of the people out there exceeding the speed limit are really not very good drivers to begin with and a lot of those are driving vehicles that are probably not quite up to par and the combination of those variables means that you and I are put at more risk than neccessary being on the road with them.

When I was younger I loved to drive at speeds in excess of 100 mph (yeah, I was a lawbreaker back then), but I never ever did that on roads where there were other cars (I know that's hard to find those kinds of places now days, but back then I could show you some really nice 10-20 mile stretches of straight road with no traffic on them). Now that I'm older (hopefully a little wiser) and have a family of my own, I am very conscious of people who seem to think that the posted speed limit shouldn't apply to them and that their "right" to speed and put me in danger trumps my rights. That's been the point I've been trying to make here, but most others have been bent on trying to label me a control freak, or tell me that I'm the problem when I'm just trying to obey the law.

[Pablo64]

You are clueless. I'm sure you feel very smug about yourself, however, by being able to label me with the name Eichman. Typical of people who can't win an argument. Start name calling.

[Lx]

You take yourself waaay too seriously, that was an attempt at humor. Not been paying attention to the Ward Churchill thread have we?
As for who's smug, sitting in the left lane doing exactly the speed limit while holding up the flow of traffic is the definition of smug.

[Pablo64]

On the contrary. I've paid quite close attention to our dear Mr. Churchill. I don't find it humorous in the least bit to try and equate someone with Nazi's, unless they truly warrant it. Maybe you need to figure out what is appropriate for humor that would still get your point across.

As for the rest, you are still clueless. I never said that I just hang out in the left lane, doing the speed limit "smugly" holding up traffic. You incorrectly infered that.

Next time you get a speeding ticket, just tell the officer that you were only "going with the flow of traffic". I'm sure that'll get you off with just a warning.

[Tunehead54]

Barring some law, driving the speed limit in the left lane is legal.

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I've driven in at least 20 states and I think most regularly post signs saying "Slower traffic keep right" - I suspect there is a law to back up those signs that for the most part is never enforced. BTW - I'm in Floriduh and it AMAZES me to see people fail to pull over for ambulances and fire trucks with lights flashing and horns blasting - Sheesh! Talk about idiots!

[proud American in Canada]

"It's a control thing. Left lane hogs want to force other people to do their bidding."

Exactly. These people feel like they are the self-appointed speeding police. They purposely do this in an attempt to enforce speed limits, not matter what the driving conditions, not even realizing that they ar probably contributing to more accidents than they "prevent."

People might "speed" in the left lane, but more often than not, when it is very excessive it's not for really extended periods of time, it's because they are trying to pass a truck or what have you.

And I say this as a person who usually goes fast but the minute there are hazardous conditions, like heavy snow or rain, I probably irritate the heck out of people behind me.

However, I stay in the right lane when I am slow.

[Lx]

Actually, I have never ever received a ticket for going with the flow of traffic. It's just not done. Now if you weave in and out of traffic and speed, you'll get one.

As for the rest, you are still clueless. I never said that I just hang out in the left lane, doing the speed limit "smugly" holding up traffic. You incorrectly infered that.

You wrote that you pass only going the speed limit without regard for the people stacked up behind you. Sounds like semantics to me. It sounds like you alone get to arbitrate the speed of the rest of us. You're the one without a sense of humor or you'd realize how lame holding up traffic while claiming how virtuous you are to the rest of us is.

One of my in-laws sounds just like you and is just as lame-lame I tells ya!