Careless driving
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Palo Iowa
Careless driving
Last night my wife and I put the top down and went for a little ride, I stopped at the stop sign on the edge of town,turned right on the main highway and got up to speed 55 (mph) before I reached the end of the medium. I have B&B PRT's on the car and they sound awsome. Anyway here comes the local LEO with lights on, I pull over and he comes up to the car, I told him ,"don't say I was speeding because I was never over 55"
He said I could be charged with careless driving, I never sqeeked the tires , was never out of control,just got to 55 really fast.. Is there a law on how fast you can get up to the legal speed limit??
He said I could be charged with careless driving, I never sqeeked the tires , was never out of control,just got to 55 really fast.. Is there a law on how fast you can get up to the legal speed limit??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 911
Likes: 98
From: Orchard Park N.Y.
There is no law that prohibits you from getting up to the speed limit as fast as you want as long as it is not done recklessly. Also, squeeling the tires is not a violation as long as it is not a reckless and out of control start. It might **** off the local PD and give them reason to look for something else. If you burn out and fishtail with other cars and people around then it is an unsafe start (NY VTL).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 4
From: Shelby Township Michigan
You could be written a ticket for what they call "Sudden Acceleration" is what I think it's called and I think it classifies as a reckless ticket. I got one back in the mid 80's for the same thing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,444
Likes: 371
From: Maryville TN
St. Jude Donor '06-13,'16-'17, '19
In Tennessee, you could be charged with drag racing!! I'm not sure if the law is still in effect, but years ago the definition of drag racing in my state was, "accelerating to the top speed of any gear". 
The fine for drag racing was $10,000 and/or 11 months 29 days in jail. Don't ask how I know this.
Tom
The fine for drag racing was $10,000 and/or 11 months 29 days in jail. Don't ask how I know this.
Tom
Last edited by TCW; Jun 4, 2005 at 10:08 AM.
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Originally Posted by badnblk2000
Last night my wife and I put the top down and went for a little ride, I stopped at the stop sign on the edge of town,turned right on the main highway and got up to speed 55 (mph) before I reached the end of the medium. I have B&B PRT's on the car and they sound awsome. Anyway here comes the local LEO with lights on, I pull over and he comes up to the car, I told him ,"don't say I was speeding because I was never over 55"
He said I could be charged with careless driving, I never sqeeked the tires , was never out of control,just got to 55 really fast.. Is there a law on how fast you can get up to the legal speed limit??
He said I could be charged with careless driving, I never sqeeked the tires , was never out of control,just got to 55 really fast.. Is there a law on how fast you can get up to the legal speed limit??
Sounds like it might be a subjective call by the LEO. We have a number of members who are LEO, maybe one of them can offer some perspective.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,703
Likes: 1
From: Don't taze me 'Bro! VA
I think one mistake you made was to challenge the cop right off the bat. I think you should have said something like...." is there a problem officer?"
These guys are full of testosterone and usually have a chip on the shoulder just waiting for someone to try to knock it off and it's best to just keep quiet. As for the charge.....sudden acceleration or whatever they want to call it, never heard of that one!
These guys are full of testosterone and usually have a chip on the shoulder just waiting for someone to try to knock it off and it's best to just keep quiet. As for the charge.....sudden acceleration or whatever they want to call it, never heard of that one!
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
Sounds like the LEO that stopped you was just looking for an excuse to bring you down a notch in your spiffy luxury sports car. I accelerate to the speed limit with the pedal floored in my girlfriend's Geo Metro ALL THE TIME. Im revving that sucker all the way to redline...but no LEO ever gets on me for THAT! 
An ex-roommate of mine had a suped-up 2001 Mustang. He got caught racing a Camaro one night here in LA. Could have gotten charged with Racing, which is really serious. But the judge reduced it to something called "Display of Speed"...which was explained as burning out and accelerating wrecklessly. His car was impounded for a month.
I hear that nowadays if you get caught racing here in LA they not only impound your car but they destroy it. EEEGYAD!
Stay safe!~~~JadeDragon
An ex-roommate of mine had a suped-up 2001 Mustang. He got caught racing a Camaro one night here in LA. Could have gotten charged with Racing, which is really serious. But the judge reduced it to something called "Display of Speed"...which was explained as burning out and accelerating wrecklessly. His car was impounded for a month.
I hear that nowadays if you get caught racing here in LA they not only impound your car but they destroy it. EEEGYAD!
Stay safe!~~~JadeDragon
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 0
From: Big Bear City CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Originally Posted by JadeDragon
I accelerate to the speed limit with the pedal floored in my girlfriend's Geo Metro ALL THE TIME. Im revving that sucker all the way to redline...but no LEO ever gets on me for THAT!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Originally Posted by JadeDragon
I accelerate to the speed limit with the pedal floored in my girlfriend's Geo Metro ALL THE TIME. Im revving that sucker all the way to redline...but no LEO ever gets on me for THAT!
Originally Posted by C5VetteLS1
My only question is WHY???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,059
Likes: 12
From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by Poptops
"They are from the government and here to help us!"
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 2
From: MCO
Floriduh writes the citation for "Exhibition of Speed". They had to crack down on the ricers who were constantly doing this right in front of law enforcement. It was passed at the same time as being able to confiscate the vehicle if stopped for drag racing (not sure if that one actually passed).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
Originally Posted by EscapePod
Floriduh writes the citation for "Exhibition of Speed". They had to crack down on the ricers who were constantly doing this right in front of law enforcement. It was passed at the same time as being able to confiscate the vehicle if stopped for drag racing (not sure if that one actually passed).
and yes, they just pased that for being able to take your car plus 5 years jail time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,978
Likes: 1,846
From: North/Central NJ - a.k.a. Gotti in the CFNE section
St. Jude Donor '05
My uncle is a lt. in a NJ town.. I was driving with him when i 1st got my licence.. i learned to drive on an 01 z28 SS - it was auto.. and at the light i got up to 45 real fast, that was the speed limit.. there is a law he told me that even if you dont burn out, or go over the speed limit.. something like sudden acceleration.