What Would It Take to Make You Stop Speeding?

[L. ed foote]

It would take a car that really isn't much fun at speed. Like a Trooper...

Good answer.  

I'd love to get L. Ed Foote's answer on this.  He's pretty much a "penalties be damned" type of speeder.

To be honest with you, I don't know.

Threaten to suspend my license?  Nah, that didn't work.

Actually suspend my license?  That didn't work either.  The only way you'll catch me is if you pull me over again.  That may be the day after, or it may be 5 years later.

Speeding tickets?  Nope.  From infraction to actually paying, I have 3 months to pony up my loot.  And that's if the ticket doesn't get dismissed, for whatever reason.

Drive an econobox?  Nah, been nailed anywhere from 15-25 over in a Geo Metro, a Toyota Corolla (early 80's model), and a Chevy Spectrum.

I guess the only way to get me to stop speeding is to eliminate speed limits.  Either that or you'll have to impound my car right there on the spot.  That's the reason why I keep it under 30 over; reckless endagerment in NYS, and I think your car's impounded on the spot.

Maybe if I were caught more often, I'd stop?  Naaah

FWIW, I drop the hammer on highways, thruways, expressways & parkways.  I cool it in residential areas, and school zones.

I don't speed to get a kick or a thrill, I do it because it's practical.  Distance driving is boring.  Especially in the southern states.  The faster I drive, the sooner I arrive at my destination & quicker I get it over with.

Nothing personal with those in LE, you have to do what you have to do, I have to do what I have to do.  You catch me, fine.  If not (which is more likely), even better.  The law's on the books, but it'll take all your resources to enforce it properly

Let's face it.  If I drive cross country at high speeds without incident, and I get nailed for speeding, it doesn't change the fact that up until the point I was cited, I was clipping along above the posted limit.

But as it stands now I will, and will continue to, drive as fast as conditions will allow.

[dazzleman]

To be honest with you, I don't know.

Threaten to suspend my license?  Nah, that didn't work.

Actually suspend my license?  That didn't work either.  The only way you'll catch me is if you pull me over again.  That may be the day after, or it may be 5 years later.

Speeding tickets?  Nope.  From infraction to actually paying, I have 3 months to pony up my loot.  And that's if the ticket doesn't get dismissed, for whatever reason.

Drive an econobox?  Nah, been nailed anywhere from 15-25 over in a Geo Metro, a Toyota Corolla (early 80's model), and a Chevy Spectrum.

I guess the only way to get me to stop speeding is to eliminate speed limits.  Either that or you'll have to impound my car right there on the spot.  That's the reason why I keep it under 30 over; reckless endagerment in NYS, and I think your car's impounded on the spot.

Maybe if I were caught more often, I'd stop?  Naaah

FWIW, I drop the hammer on highways, thruways, expressways & parkways.  I cool it in residential areas, and school zones.

I don't speed to get a kick or a thrill, I do it because it's practical.  Distance driving is boring.  Especially in the southern states.  The faster I drive, the sooner I arrive at my destination & quicker I get it over with.

Nothing personal with those in LE, you have to do what you have to do, I have to do what I have to do.  You catch me, fine.  If not (which is more likely), even better.  The law's on the books, but it'll take all your resources to enforce it properly

Let's face it.  If I drive cross country at high speeds without incident, and I get nailed for speeding, it doesn't change the fact that up until the point I was cited, I was clipping along above the posted limit.

But as it stands now I will, and will continue to, drive as fast as conditions will allow.

Dude, your attitude matches mine almost exactly.  The only real difference is that I've never had my license suspended, though I was threatened with suspension once if I got any additional tickets.

Generally, I don't worry about getting a ticket unless I've gotten two tickets within the previous 18 months or so.  Once, I got two tickets within ten minutes of each other.  I paid two fines, and it wasn't that big a deal.  I just felt stupid for allowing myself to get nailed again so quickly.  What was the shortest time you ever went between tickets?

What if you had to do two full days of community service every time you got nailed for speeding?  What impact would that have?

[dazzleman]

If it just starts getting expensive to speed I would stop speeding as much. At some point, there is no reason to waste that much money on having a little more fun.

Hey man, are you back in school yet?  How's the year going for you so far?

[Tom]

It would take a car that really isn't much fun at speed. Like a Trooper...

Good answer.  

I'd love to get L. Ed Foote's answer on this.  He's pretty much a "penalties be damned" type of speeder.

To be honest with you, I don't know.

Threaten to suspend my license?  Nah, that didn't work.

Actually suspend my license?  That didn't work either.  The only way you'll catch me is if you pull me over again.  That may be the day after, or it may be 5 years later.

Speeding tickets?  Nope.  From infraction to actually paying, I have 3 months to pony up my loot.  And that's if the ticket doesn't get dismissed, for whatever reason.

Drive an econobox?  Nah, been nailed anywhere from 15-25 over in a Geo Metro, a Toyota Corolla (early 80's model), and a Chevy Spectrum.

I guess the only way to get me to stop speeding is to eliminate speed limits.  Either that or you'll have to impound my car right there on the spot.  That's the reason why I keep it under 30 over; reckless endagerment in NYS, and I think your car's impounded on the spot.

Maybe if I were caught more often, I'd stop?  Naaah

FWIW, I drop the hammer on highways, thruways, expressways & parkways.  I cool it in residential areas, and school zones.

I don't speed to get a kick or a thrill, I do it because it's practical.  Distance driving is boring.  Especially in the southern states.  The faster I drive, the sooner I arrive at my destination & quicker I get it over with.

Nothing personal with those in LE, you have to do what you have to do, I have to do what I have to do.  You catch me, fine.  If not (which is more likely), even better.  The law's on the books, but it'll take all your resources to enforce it properly

Let's face it.  If I drive cross country at high speeds without incident, and I get nailed for speeding, it doesn't change the fact that up until the point I was cited, I was clipping along above the posted limit.

But as it stands now I will, and will continue to, drive as fast as conditions will allow.

Spoken like a seasoned speeder  

[dazzleman]

It would take a car that really isn't much fun at speed. Like a Trooper...

Good answer.  

I'd love to get L. Ed Foote's answer on this.  He's pretty much a "penalties be damned" type of speeder.

To be honest with you, I don't know.

Threaten to suspend my license?  Nah, that didn't work.

Actually suspend my license?  That didn't work either.  The only way you'll catch me is if you pull me over again.  That may be the day after, or it may be 5 years later.

Speeding tickets?  Nope.  From infraction to actually paying, I have 3 months to pony up my loot.  And that's if the ticket doesn't get dismissed, for whatever reason.

Drive an econobox?  Nah, been nailed anywhere from 15-25 over in a Geo Metro, a Toyota Corolla (early 80's model), and a Chevy Spectrum.

I guess the only way to get me to stop speeding is to eliminate speed limits.  Either that or you'll have to impound my car right there on the spot.  That's the reason why I keep it under 30 over; reckless endagerment in NYS, and I think your car's impounded on the spot.

Maybe if I were caught more often, I'd stop?  Naaah

FWIW, I drop the hammer on highways, thruways, expressways & parkways.  I cool it in residential areas, and school zones.

I don't speed to get a kick or a thrill, I do it because it's practical.  Distance driving is boring.  Especially in the southern states.  The faster I drive, the sooner I arrive at my destination & quicker I get it over with.

Nothing personal with those in LE, you have to do what you have to do, I have to do what I have to do.  You catch me, fine.  If not (which is more likely), even better.  The law's on the books, but it'll take all your resources to enforce it properly

Let's face it.  If I drive cross country at high speeds without incident, and I get nailed for speeding, it doesn't change the fact that up until the point I was cited, I was clipping along above the posted limit.

But as it stands now I will, and will continue to, drive as fast as conditions will allow.

Spoken like a seasoned speeder

Foote's definitely a seasoned speeder.  He embodies that quintessentially American attitude of strong defiance of authority that is (sometimes) improperly exercised.

I also like the way that, unlike other speeders who get nailed, he harbors no personal animosity toward law enforcement.  He knows he could get nailed, and when he does, he takes it like a man, and keeps right on speeding.

Most of it is a mind game anyway.  Penalties for speeding are not great, in the grand scheme of things, and for most people, the trauma they put themselves through when they get caught is far worse than the penalty itself.  Foote is wise to that game, and declines to play it.

There's a lot to respect in his attitude toward the whole game.

[L. ed foote]

Dude, your attitude matches mine almost exactly.  The only real difference is that I've never had my license suspended, though I was threatened with suspension once if I got any additional tickets.

Generally, I don't worry about getting a ticket unless I've gotten two tickets within the previous 18 months or so.  Once, I got two tickets within ten minutes of each other.  I paid two fines, and it wasn't that big a deal.  I just felt stupid for allowing myself to get nailed again so quickly.  What was the shortest time you ever went between tickets?

What if you had to do two full days of community service every time you got nailed for speeding?  What impact would that have?

Shortest time between two tickets?  I believe it was a month, back in 1996.  I was nailed in Sharon Springs (Rt. 20).  When I went to contest that ticket a month later, I was nailed on the Taconic Parkway.

It seems that speeding tickets are always pleaded down to a lesser charge (unless you act like an ass), so it seems I don't have to worry about getting 3 tickets in a 18 month period.

If I had to do 2 full days of community service, I'd still speed.  It's part of the "fine" so I'd have to "pay."  Time or $$ it makes little difference to me.  I'd rather have the time, (I can make back the $$), but if those are the lumps I have to take, so be it.  Wouldn't be the end of the world.

[dazzleman]

Shortest time between two tickets?  I believe it was a month, back in 1996.  I was nailed in Sharon Springs (Rt. 20).  When I went to contest that ticket a month later, I was nailed on the Taconic Parkway.

It seems that speeding tickets are always pleaded down to a lesser charge (unless you act like an ass), so it seems I don't have to worry about getting 3 tickets in a 18 month period.

If I had to do 2 full days of community service, I'd still speed.  It's part of the "fine" so I'd have to "pay."  Time or $$ it makes little difference to me.  I'd rather have the time, (I can make back the $$), but if those are the lumps I have to take, so be it.  Wouldn't be the end of the world.

You got a ticket on your way to court for a ticket you got a month before?  That's pretty funny, man.  

I have to agree that if I had to do two days of community service for speeding, I'd suck it up and continue to speed, as long as I wasn't getting nailed too often.  I could probably deal with doing it about once a year or so.

Foote, I can see that you're not a guy who's too suseptible to behavior modification.  :D  It must have been a lot of fun for your dad, teachers, principals, etc. to try to discipline you when you were a kid.  I'm sure you gave them a run for their money.  :P  

[L. ed foote]

Foote, I can see that you're not a guy who's too suseptible to behavior modification.  :D  It must have been a lot of fun for your dad, teachers, principals, etc. to try to discipline you when you were a kid.  I'm sure you gave them a run for their money.  :P

My father gave me enough rope to hang myself.  I never did.  He played it straight with me, I did the same with him.  He knows my value system, and how I put pride and honor before anything else.  And I won't do anything extremely stupid.

I never was a bad kid, I'd do as asked, no problem.  I hate attention, so I don't like acting up or out.  Never felt the need to show off to others, I really didn't care what others thought of me.  Still don't.  It's good to be an introvert sometimes.

If I detect that you don't have my best interests at hand, then I get stubborn, and we have a problem on our hands.  

I also don't see eye to eye with those who overstate their importance to me.

But yeah, I've taken my fair share of lumps.

[Raza]

Honestly though, other than removing speed limits, I'd need a cop in front of me and a cop behind me at all times.

[L. ed foote]

Honestly though, other than removing speed limits, I'd need a cop in front of me and a cop behind me at all times.

Even that's not guaranteed...

On my way to Montreal Labor Day Weekend, a slick-topped statie blew past me like I was standing still.  I tried pacing him @ 100, and he was pulling away from me, hard...

[Raza]

Honestly though, other than removing speed limits, I'd need a cop in front of me and a cop behind me at all times.

Even that's not guaranteed...

On my way to Montreal Labor Day Weekend, a slick-topped statie blew past me like I was standing still.  I tried pacing him @ 100, and he was pulling away from me, hard...

That's happened to me before, too.  But what I really meant was an escort.

[El Barto]

I'll never stop speeding.  If penalties get bad enough I'll cough up the moeny for a good radar detector.

[dazzleman]

Honestly though, other than removing speed limits, I'd need a cop in front of me and a cop behind me at all times.

Even that's not guaranteed...

On my way to Montreal Labor Day Weekend, a slick-topped statie blew past me like I was standing still.  I tried pacing him @ 100, and he was pulling away from me, hard...

That's pretty cool, man.  I have had similar experiences a couple of times.

One time, I was in the left lane of the Merritt Parkway (in Connecticut), going about 75 mph.  I saw a cop come racing up behind me, with his lights off.  I thought I might be busted for speeding and was waiting for him to put his lights on.  

But he didn't put his lights on, and I moved over into the right lane, and he sped past me.  I let him get a little ahead of me, and then I paced him at a safe distance, going about 80-85 mph.  I couldn't keep up with him, and I eventually lost him.  Still, it felt great to do some serious speeding right under a cop's nose, and get away with it.  

[dazzleman]

I'll never stop speeding.  If penalties get bad enough I'll cough up the moeny for a good radar detector.

That pretty much describes the way I feel.

[850CSi]

One of my friends was stopped at a light next to a cop. He starts reving up his engine and looks at him and basically tells him "let's race".

They really raced... The cop let my friend get a head start, but he zoomed by him and laughed.




I speed within limits, usually 0-10 over, except on the highway where I'll get up to 75 or 80 on a normal day. Then again, that highway's flow of traffic is usually around 75, so you're not exactly risking a ticket going 80 in the left lane.




BTW, Catman brought up a good point: Local officers are usually much more courteous, relaxed, and lenient than county or state officers, unless you really piss them off.

[JWC]

The only times I've been caught (and ticketed) for speeding was when I was in a hurry to get somewhere. Since it took 15-20 minutes to be ticketed, it wasn't worth it. Since then, I've spent a lot of time watching cars passing me, then catching up with them when we get to the next intersection.  I find it amusing when I happen to catch a green light at an intersection and drive past a car that passed me a mile or two back that got caught by the red light. Not only am I making better time, but I'm saving a small amount of gas also....and not risking a ticket.

When I do feel the need for fun, I just find a twisty country road out in the county, cruise it once to see if there are any kids playing, farm tractors, or policeman on the road, then drive it for fun. If it has enough curves, and the curves are sharp enough, I don't even have to break the speed limit to reach a good thrill level. I've found the "sensation" of going fast is just as much fun as going fast.


Edit: The photo of my Saab in the signature was taken on one of those "fun" rides.

[ro51092]

Uh......nothing  

I'm always 20-30 over the limit.

I've never gotten a ticket.

But honestly, the one thing to make me stop speeding would be to increase the Speed Limits to about 100 mph. B)

Better yet, NO LIMITS!!!  

[Raghavan]

Oh yeah, parents.

[dazzleman]

Uh......nothing  

I'm always 20-30 over the limit.

I've never gotten a ticket.

But honestly, the one thing to make me stop speeding would be to increase the Speed Limits to about 100 mph. B)

Better yet, NO LIMITS!!!

How long have you been driving?

[Raghavan]

Uh......nothing  

I'm always 20-30 over the limit.

I've never gotten a ticket.

But honestly, the one thing to make me stop speeding would be to increase the Speed Limits to about 100 mph. B)

Better yet, NO LIMITS!!!

How long have you been driving?

not very long apparently.  

[dazzleman]

Uh......nothing ?

I'm always 20-30 over the limit.

I've never gotten a ticket.

But honestly, the one thing to make me stop speeding would be to increase the Speed Limits to about 100 mph. B)

Better yet, NO LIMITS!!!

How long have you been driving?

not very long apparently.

Probably true.  If you're going 20-30 over all the time, you'll see the flashing lights behind you at some point.

It's funny how you know you're in trouble when the guy gets out of the car behind you, and you see the stripe on his pants.  As soon as you see the stripe, you know your a** is fried.  One time, I passed a completely unmarked car going pretty fast, and at the next light, he pulled up behind me.  Not knowing at first that it was a cop, I watched through the rear view mirror as the car door opened, and as soon as the guy stuck his leg out, I knew what awaited me.  Pretty funny.

[Raghavan]

Uh......nothing ?

I'm always 20-30 over the limit.

I've never gotten a ticket.

But honestly, the one thing to make me stop speeding would be to increase the Speed Limits to about 100 mph. B)

Better yet, NO LIMITS!!!

How long have you been driving?

not very long apparently.

Probably true.  If you're going 20-30 over all the time, you'll see the flashing lights behind you at some point.

It's funny how you know you're in trouble when the guy gets out of the car behind you, and you see the stripe on his pants.  As soon as you see the stripe, you know your a** is fried.  One time, I passed a completely unmarked car going pretty fast, and at the next light, he pulled up behind me.  Not knowing at first that it was a cop, I watched through the rear view mirror as the car door opened, and as soon as the guy stuck his leg out, I knew what awaited me.  Pretty funny.

Hasn't happened to me yet, but i'd have a heart attack if it did.

[so cal cookie]

I don't speed just for the fun of it.(Except when the road is windy and clear, but that's a whole different story. :P )

I just simply keep it with traffic on the highway.

Neighborhoods are different.  I drive exactly the speed limit.  No faster, no slower.

[dazzleman]

Uh......nothing ?

I'm always 20-30 over the limit.

I've never gotten a ticket.

But honestly, the one thing to make me stop speeding would be to increase the Speed Limits to about 100 mph. B)

Better yet, NO LIMITS!!!

How long have you been driving?

not very long apparently.

Probably true.  If you're going 20-30 over all the time, you'll see the flashing lights behind you at some point.

It's funny how you know you're in trouble when the guy gets out of the car behind you, and you see the stripe on his pants.  As soon as you see the stripe, you know your a** is fried.  One time, I passed a completely unmarked car going pretty fast, and at the next light, he pulled up behind me.  Not knowing at first that it was a cop, I watched through the rear view mirror as the car door opened, and as soon as the guy stuck his leg out, I knew what awaited me.  Pretty funny.

Hasn't happened to me yet, but i'd have a heart attack if it did.

After the initial surprise, it's not a big deal.  Eventually, you get used to it and get over it.  A ticket isn't the end of the world.

[TurboDan]

Hasn't happened to me yet, but i'd have a heart attack if it did.

Ha, why?  It's not like the officer is going to pull you out of the car and beat you with his night stick!  

Getting a ticket is a fact of life - it happens sometimes.  It's just unexpected.  But hey, oilfilter's lost cell phone (see General Talk) cost more than most speeding tickets.    

[TurboDan]

Probably true.  If you're going 20-30 over all the time, you'll see the flashing lights behind you at some point.

Probably.  With the correct combination of educated awareness on the highway and a decent radar/laser detector, you could go quite a few years getting away with it, though.

But, if he's doing it in residential/non-highway areas, though, he ain't going to last too long.

[mazda6er]

Ha, why?  It's not like the officer is going to pull you out of the car and beat you with his night stick!   

Yeah, if you're white, that almost never happens.    

[Raghavan]

Hasn't happened to me yet, but i'd have a heart attack if it did.

Ha, why?  It's not like the officer is going to pull you out of the car and beat you with his night stick!  

Getting a ticket is a fact of life - it happens sometimes.  It's just unexpected.  But hey, oilfilter's lost cell phone (see General Talk) cost more than most speeding tickets.  

The officer won't, but my parents will.  

[dazzleman]

Hasn't happened to me yet, but i'd have a heart attack if it did.

Ha, why?  It's not like the officer is going to pull you out of the car and beat you with his night stick!  

Getting a ticket is a fact of life - it happens sometimes.  It's just unexpected.  But hey, oilfilter's lost cell phone (see General Talk) cost more than most speeding tickets.  

My sentiments exactly.  I've had lots of things cost me a lot more than any of my speeding tickets ever did, so speeding tickets aren't too high up on the list of things I dread in life.  Would I rather not get one?  Sure.  But I'm not going to lose too much sleep when I do get one.

As far as the young guys are concerned, I never did get a ticket when I still had to answer to my parents for it.  They probably would have taken away my driving privileges at that point, or refused to continue insuring my car.  So I had to be a little more careful then.  Now I only have to answer to the state.

The bottom line is, unless you drive like an old lady, tickets are a fact of life.  I'd rather drive the way I want and get a ticket every so often than drive like an old lady and keep a clean license.  Everybody makes their choice.

[Raghavan]

Hasn't happened to me yet, but i'd have a heart attack if it did.

Ha, why?  It's not like the officer is going to pull you out of the car and beat you with his night stick!  

Getting a ticket is a fact of life - it happens sometimes.  It's just unexpected.  But hey, oilfilter's lost cell phone (see General Talk) cost more than most speeding tickets.  

My sentiments exactly.  I've had lots of things cost me a lot more than any of my speeding tickets ever did, so speeding tickets aren't too high up on the list of things I dread in life.  Would I rather not get one?  Sure.  But I'm not going to lose too much sleep when I do get one.

As far as the young guys are concerned, I never did get a ticket when I still had to answer to my parents for it.  They probably would have taken away my driving privileges at that point, or refused to continue insuring my car.  So I had to be a little more careful then.  Now I only have to answer to the state.

The bottom line is, unless you drive like an old lady, tickets are a fact of life.  I'd rather drive the way I want and get a ticket every so often than drive like an old lady and keep a clean license.  Everybody makes their choice.

Dude, i always ride my bike now, so i can't even get a ticket, and if i did, my parents would kill me. When i buy my own car, i'll speed all i want.