That's pretty ballsy from a guy from Long Island.
It's no secret that Jersey is much more strict than NY. People on the NJ Turnpike are also much more maniacal than the LIE. LIE is more like the GSP... we don't have a NJTurnpike equivalent as far as everyone going 80. We don't even have a hard and fast law that says left lane is passing only.
One -- it's expensive -- Everywhere you go with it, especially in Jersey, people want your god damn money because you have it. Parking? 15 an hour easily. Parking not in a private garage that won't charge you dearly in the major cities around me will get you toed, booted, and fined. Tolls -- FU -- I wish I could paddle the Hudson with a row boat and paddle with my middle fingers extended. Going to a School? Best be sure to shell out a huge amount of money for a parking permit.
Tolls, only if we have to cross bridges, which we never do unless we go to NJ or upstate... this is a big enough island (including Manhattan/Queens/Brooklyn) that we only do that a handful of times a year. We pay a parking permit for taking the LI railroad, that's it. No idea what this school parking permit is you're talking about. Maybe it's a private property thing, in which case, it's not at all surprising.
We do have public servants like cops and teachers making a lot of money through our taxes though. Fault is on NY unions. Not sure if NJ is the same.
Two -- traffic laws are ludicrous -- don't use your turn signal less than 100 feet before turning is points and fine (and you better count those god damn feet), squeak your tires is careless (aside from burning rubber which I agree is reckless), license plate holder from dealership obscured the plate is a fine, and basically every law ever written and seen enforced -- and you should visit a traffic law forum for entertainment mind you -- will have you driving on egg shells for the fear of being in Jail and spending millions for an attorney for driving what would be described by a judge in your hearing as a homicidal death machine. I am not saying I ever gotten anyone of those tickets, this one careless driving ticket after 20 years of driving is it. I just sympathize for people who have to deal with frivolous townships.
yup NJ.
There is something to be said for actual enforcement of laws though. I can't count the number of times I wish people got ticketed for rolling stop signs. They hardly even touch their brakes.
Three -- Maintenance is a bitch. They don't work past 100k miles without paying a few grand on parts that are built to fail
Agreed, it's a good thing we don't have 100k cars yet.
Five -- We can no longer afford to build roads. It's true. We build houses cause the state don't have to spend money to build houses. THEY ZONE SHIT AND THEN TELL YOU TO SIT STILL FOR 2-8HRS Before getting to work before committing murder suicide on your employees.
yup NJ.
I'm nearing 40 and don't find driving any more stressful than it once was. If anything, I've learned about patience and that beating the other guy to the next stop light is more than stupid. Having infants/toddlers in the car will calm you down a lot, but this is not to say I don't ever drive spiritedly any more, I just pick my spots. Relax and you will have fewer problems (tickets or potential to receive them). More importantly, less stress.