Oct 2 I was pulled over for criminal speed in Mesa AZ. I was going 92mph in a 65mph zone. The DPS officer was a rude dick but whatever that's his problem not mine. It seems he was not such a dick after all MUCH TOO MY SURPRISE. The magistrate who I had to go in front of told me yesterday that he would allow me to go to traffic school. In AZ this will keep the violation from ever going on my driving record. The courts however will ALWAYS have it but for insurance or a job prospect it won't pop up. I was extremely lucky. My question is Who has been pulled over going FAST and what were the consequences ? Now keep in mind I was a lead foot until this ticket and now I am scared to death to drive fast. It really took the wind out of my sail. I am going to Los Angeles next week for Thanksgiving. Once I hit the state line to CA I am gonna keep it at 90mph traffic permitting. Here in AZ no more than 85-87 per advice from the court. Our max speed is 75mph and going over 85 is criminal but he said 90 is the limit. Over that you are gonna pay. I was in a 65mph zone which made it an issue. He told the whole court room over 20 is BAD. I had responded to a post after this happened and was BEAT UP by several guys for saying I was going to plead not guilty and try to have the charge reduced. I was told crap like go in there and throw myself at the mercy of the court ! Well as it turns out he was like Okay what happened ? I told him before entering my plea as was my right. This judge was cool and I felt that there was a chance for some understanding and mercy. I was right. He looked at me and asked What were you driving ? Then he looked down at the paper work and smiled saying a Corvette ! Maybe that is why he was cutting me a break ? Lol

 

HP (Chuck) Bushrod may have some insight on this, but a posted speed limit is always subject to "conditions". Stories of people going the speed limit - in hazardous driving conditions get ticketed or excessive speed due is not that rare.

But, does it cut both ways? Does a vehicle in excellent condition with exceptional road characteristics (and a Vette would certainly qualify) equate to an '85 Eldorado on thin, 12-year old tires in a cold light rain, driven by a blue-haired granny (peering out from under the steering wheel)? I think NOT. And, perhaps the judge (in your case) would agree (

But, I wouldn't want to test that hypothesis myself in IL - especially after the first of the year. It is my understanding that after the first of the year, anything "40 mph over" will result in confiscation of the vehicle and jail time.

)

 

Here in AZ that would be 125mph out on the freeway's away from city limits. That speed is not uncommon at all especially cafe' bikes or *** bikes. I understand the laws because accidents kill at these speeds. AZ by the way has the second highest fatality rate second to CA. But compare AZ population to CA and you see the insane speeds people here drive. I now stay around 70-75 and people get annoyed by me. Dirty looks horns honking fist waving !

 

Let them get annoyed at you! That officer stopping you may have saved you, others, or just you of a lifetime full of regret.

 

Jeeze. It's a speeding ticket.
Do the traffic school thing and forget about it.
BTW Traffic School can be quite entertaining.

Drive long enough and you'll get more.

USAF

 

That is one good thing about traffic tickets. I know when I get one, I drive slower and more cautiously (for a while anyway). The cost and time (for traffic school) and the potential of a tarnished driving record and increased insurance rates is often not worth the few seconds of fun. That's what my weekly track outings are for.

 

Bear in mind that the California rural freeway limit is 70, and CHP won't
cut you much over 5MPH slack. And the trucks have a 55 max limit everywere in CA.

 

Chuck ANYTIME Ive driven from Phx to LA the CHP are driving 85mph right along with everyone else. Just been my experience. Driving 85mph is not some outrageous speed. Just my opinion. Now watch me get a ticket for saying that. I can't sit here and argue that doing 100mph is safe. Who would try ? Like I said my days of driving like an ******* are over. I don't want to lose my license.

 

Last summer I got nailed for 68 in a 25 on a desolate road with no streetlights going threw a state park road at midnight. Not this road has no intersecting lanes nor does it have a campground or basically any people at all present at night. I was on my motorcycle and I was radared by a DNR officer. I fought the charge of speeding in court. The judge lowered it from 43 over to 19 over and gave me a 219.00 fine. The bad part was, it still cost me 4 points on my license.

 

Each state has its own way of looking at that speed. Here in Va its called reckless driving and you can get jail time. Also as far as how many mph over you can get away with its up to who pulls you over. Local may not want to mess with you unless over 10 and the troopers/state may pull you at 5 over. Have you ever seen what a 100lb deer can do to a metal car?? And the last one i saw was doing under the speed limit of 55.

 

I liken Speeding with Guns.
If you know how to handle yourself and are trained, it can be lots of fun.
If your afraid, uneducated or object to others having fun, those who do should be punished.

0.02

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=3362140



THIS ^ ^ ^

 

C4in Mesa,

I'm a police officer and for several years I was in a traffic safety unit conducting primarily speed enforcement. I don't blame the cop for being rude, you were doing 92 mph. Now put your self in his shoes. Most likely the officer was stationary, parked, at 0 mph. You are doing 92 mph. From a dead stop, think about how fast the officer has to go just to catch up to you just to initiate the car stop.

Can't blame the officer on this one, you brought all of the cop's attention to your self.

Luckily for you this worked out for you in court and I'm glad that nobody was hurt, and your insurance won't know about this.

Be safe and drive slow, the ladies can get a better look at you and the Vette!

 

I know I'll probably get bashed by the safety guys for saying this. Some of the replies about speeding would seem that they always assume people are doing this on the sidewalk during rush hour while texting with one eye closed and steering with their feet. I don't see why it's such a big deal, out on a wide open stretch of clear road where you can see for miles, far away from town with no traffic in a highly stable car and being alert to conditions. Some counties set unrealistically low limits in places like this just to lay traps for travelers and revenue enhancement.

 

What if traffic school required you to go the scene of high speed fatality accident as an observer?

 

I heard you can get a felony conviction for 'extreme speed' if they choose to cite you for it in AZ. maybe not in every case or for a first offense, but I before I knew about this, I had no problem doing well over a buck 50 on some of those long, straight, 3 mile desert interstate stretches. Out of state plates and 175mph- not sure how much slack I'd get on that one. Thank god for the statute of limitations (or I wouldn't be telling you this story).

CA is different. 100mph tickets will cost you- but not really compared to other places. shoot... I got a warning for doing 90 the other month, but there were special circumstances (CHP tailgaiting me in the dark).

 

In Maine, I think we are now 75 mph on the northern very rural stretches of the interstate, but if "Have you ever seen what a 100lb deer can to a metal car??" consider a moose and fiberglass.

 

I always follow the speed limits.

 

I'm also a police officer and I do agree that 92 in a 65 is excessive. I work traffic and commonly cite speeders at higher speeds, 20mph and over. I pretty much follow a few guidelines for speed. 15mph and over always results in a citation. Under that 15mph over can go either way. Driving record, attitude, and honesty all play a part in my decision. School Zone speeds 10mph or more always receive a citation. I try my best to treat everyone with respect and I try to be fair across the board, even with people who give me attitude. I stopped a guy for 38 in a 25 a few years back and the guy gave me attitude right off the bat. Told me to hurry up with the ticket and was just being plain rude. I wrote him a warning and he changed his attitude instantly. He stated that he had never received a warning for speed. I politely told him that his poor attitude had a part in him never getting a break. He concurred, thanked me, and went on his merry way. Haven't stopped the guy again since.

Sounds to me like the OP got a good break and that everything worked out ok. Glad to hear that the citation was resolved without much drama.