Drivers face ticket for running out of gas on I-15 (construction zone in Utah - $97 BUCKS)

KSL ^ | 8/03/11

[Libloather]

Drivers face ticket for running out of gas on I-15
August 3rd, 2011 @ 8:25am
By ksl.com

UTAH COUNTY -- Drivers who run out of gas through the I-15 construction zone in Utah County could face a ticket.

Troopers have started giving out $97 tickets to motorists whose tanks run dry.

Alan Peterson with UDOT's incident management team told KSL in 2008 that the agency was getting an increasing number of calls about people running out of gas. Peterson thought it was linked to higher gas prices.

UHP now says it's getting about five calls per 10-hour shift from motorists stranded because they're out of gas.

In the Utah County CORE construction zone, a car stopped in the narrow lanes poses a real danger, troopers say. Those vehicles often stop in areas where there are no shoulders to the road.

[Libloather]

Carpool and bring enough folks to push?

[Minutemen]

Don’t tell them you ran out of gas!

[rarestia]

So we’re now being punished for not purchasing a good. Granted, the person driving is an idiot for not gassing up the whip, but at the same time, if they don’t want to or can’t afford to and they run out of gas, how do you think they’re going to be able to afford a $100 traffic ticket?

[ClearCase_guy]

Debtor’s Prisons may have to make a comeback.

[BobL]

It’s good to see people being held accountable for their decisions, when they do stupid things.

(....now if only the same were true here in Texas for Governor Perry)

[Gen.Blather]

My city has these special help vehicles that will be on the scene in minutes. They provide a gallon of gas and a battery jump. What I’ve noticed is who is using this service. Welfare queens. They’ll sit in the car chatting on their cell phones while the white female service lady pours in the gas and jumps their car for them. Meanwhile, traffic is backed up for blocks and everybody is inconvenienced. Also, a police cruiser sits behind them with his lights flashing.

Now let’s take a look at where the welfare queen is spending cash. The car is a POS that has never been cleaned or maintained even though some appear relatively new. But the queen herself has a cell phone, glitter nails, three pounds of makeup leather handbag, an incredible hairdo and very nice clothing. But she can’t be bothered with replacing a battery, filling the gas tank or putting air in the tires.

What they should do is call a tow truck and have the POS towed.

[caver]

Let’s see. Obama and the libs have worsened the economy, eliminated jobs, driven up the price of gas, forced us to wait in lines of traffic due to stimulus and paying off his union thugs and we get penalized because maybe we don’t have the money for gas. And then they want to fine us. WTF?

[from occupied ga]

can’t afford to and they run out of ga

If they can't afford gas they shouldn't be driving. Mechanical breakdowns can happen to anyone. Running our of gas because you'd rather spend your money on something else is just plain poor planning. OTO if you're planning on getting gas at the next exit and the construction has you idling for an hour in a traffic jam then it really isn't your fault. And the fact that they;re running out in a construction zone indicates to me that maybe that's what is happening.

One thing that really irritates me is the construction sign that say "Expect delays." Why should we expect delays? About half of us pay a fortune to the government for its so-called "services" and the best they can do is tell us to "expect delays."

Here in the Atl metro area we have "HERO" trucks that will assist stranded motorists including giving them a gallon of gas if the run out. A lot of people have been running our just to get the free gallon. They should get a ticket.

[Johnny B.]

So we’re now being punished for not purchasing a good.

Or, we could look at it as being fined for failure to maintain one's vehicle in proper working order, and causing an unnecessary traffic jam.

After all, driving is not a right.

if they don’t want to or can’t afford to and they run out of gas, how do you think they’re going to be able to afford a $100 traffic ticket?

If they can't or won't pay for the gas to run their car, they shouldn't be driving.

[ClearCase_guy]

Reminds me of the old Soviet Union — the government oppresses you, imprisons you, eventually shoots you ... and then sends a bill to your family and demands payment for the bullet.

[caver]

Sadly, I think we are becoming the Soviet Union.

[Ratman83]

How many of these cases are actually caused because someone sits in traffic for hours to move a mile or two than have the problem.

Not from the area so I am not sure if this is part of the problem, but I have seen this in other areas.

[Vigilanteman]

That's exactly what's going to happen. They will abandon the car and walk (if close enough) or call a friend (if not). It may cut down on the number of gas call incidents or prompt more people to join AAA or other auto clubs since the fine is more than the premium membership. It is unlikely to bring in the revenue envisioned and could result in more draconian legislation such as requiring AAA to rat on their members.

Then there's the question of cause. What if the motorist ran out of gas because they were caught in a highway construction delay?

[rarestia]

I agree with you both that if you can’t afford proper maintenance, then you shouldn’t be driving in the first place. However, we all know that’s never the case.

Case in point: my younger brother drives around a truck that is literally ready to fall apart. There are a handful of cotter pins holding nuts on bolts that have since worn down to nothing.

Proper vehicle maintenance is like raising a child: there’s no right way to do it as long as you do it, but there are myriad wrong ways to do it.

[DJ MacWoW]

Appearing in a blue collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up, he denounced Republicans for driving the car of the nation’s economy into a ditch, then standing around “sipping on a slurpee” while he’s tried to push it out.

Support Free Republic

[oh8eleven]

What they should do is call a tow truck and have the POS towed.
Which POS - the car or the welfare queen?

[AlexW]

“It’s good to see people being held accountable for their decisions, when they do stupid things.”
_____________________________
That is absurd.
They should be fined, or held accountable ONLY if
tax payer money is being used to bail them out of their
oversight or stupidity.
Running out of gas is not always the driver’s fault.
There could be a leak, or a faulty gas gauge.

[Wallace T.]

If such petty-ante oppression is happening in conservative Utah, God help those living in liberal hellholes like New York, California, and Massachusetts. I read a story recently where an 11 year old girl rescued an injured bird who was on the endangered species list. A Federal wildlife officer happened to find out about the girl's actions, and as a result, the mother received a fine of over $500.

I am increasingly persuaded that no one, certainly NONE of the Republican contenders for the White House, will be able to save this country from becoming a mammoth East Germany, albeit one with more creature comforts.

[Loud Mime]

I drive 15 a lot. It has many stretches that are in the middle of nowhere (but a BEAUTIFUL nowhere). If you’re driving on that highway the odds are that you’re going somwhere in Colorado or Salt Lake City. Therefore, methinks you have the money - - you’re just trying to stretch out the time between refills.

[Mr. Bird]

Then there's the question of cause. What if the motorist ran out of gas because they were caught in a highway construction delay?

I see a few comments like this one. I think that is highly unlikely based on a specific, personal experience. During last year's "Snowmageddon" in DC, I sat in my gas-guzzling SUV for eight hours for an eight mile commute (no exaggeration). Because I had a relatively full tank, I did not worry about running out of gas. I was very interested to observe my overall consumption was not all that extraordinary. And that was eight hours.

As for abandoning the car, then the penalty gets enhanced with towing fees. I am in agreement with this. I have long felt that running out of gas is one of the silliest, unjustifiable reasons for disabled vehicles on the road. To do so in an area with no shoulder or restricted lanes is indefensible.