Ever Get One of Those Tickets?

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Kyle

Diamond Member
Oct 14, 1999
4,146
11
91
how bout dont worry so much about pissing other people off- go around 10 over (if you're in a rush- and in what ever lane is going around that speed) and let others pass you if they feel like it- let them get the ticket. Going over 10 over you should expect to get a ticket if you pass a cop.
Worrying about pissing others off by driving to slow is stupid...
 

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
Originally posted by: NaOH
Alright i guess this discussion has reached it's peak since next thing i know i was blocking the left lane while everyone was zipping past me, bumping my hip hop musak, with my loud tin can exhaust, on a two lane highway, before the cops pulled me over. :)

Tin can exhaust... ugh I hate those things. Those things totally lack "cool factor" but sadly kids here seem to think otherwise and love gunning it up the hill right outside my dorm window :disgust:
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
91
Originally posted by: NaOH
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Originally posted by: BigJ
Doesn't anybody drive in the right lane (when they're not passing) anymore?

That's what I was wondering. Sounds like the cop busted you for not knowing how to drive.


NEVER let other cars pass you on the right. If that happens, then move over immediately, or as soon as possible. You don't sit there in the left lane running whatever speed you feel like, while everyone else passes you on the right.

The left lane on highways everywhere, is for the faster cars. And driving in the left lane gets you noticed by the police.

So pass on the left, then get back to the right until you need to pass again.

lol people weren't passing me on the right...alright i was doing a decent speed passing the people doing 70 (which is typically slow for our highways).

also, he didn't tell me to get out of the right lane. he even told me if i had slowed down a little bit then i'd be fine (kind of whack when people are usually doing 80 anyways).

I love all these left lane comments from people OUT OF CALIFORNIA. I've never been bothered by the police (and i've run into them on the freeway :p) once. The first time i've been pulled over it's for doing 83 when you'd get horned to death by nearly everyone (im not kidding either) for going the speed limit. I've seen other states on the east coast and i admit they are more reserved then ours and i see where you guys are coming from, but here it's different, and I'm not trying to make california seem better. I'm just telling how it is.

I was just cruising a long with everyone else not passing a single person (Although I was in the fast lane furthest in).
as I stated in my OP there were cars to the right of me that were AHEAD OF ME while we were cruising meaning they were going faster.
Which means you weren't passing anyone, and shouldn't have been in the left lane to begin with, which is likely why the cop noticed you instead of the people on the right that were going faster.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Originally posted by: NaOH
lol people weren't passing me on the right...alright i was doing a decent speed passing the people doing 70 (which is typically slow for our highways).

also, he didn't tell me to get out of the right lane. he even told me if i had slowed down a little bit then i'd be fine (kind of whack when people are usually doing 80 anyways).

I love all these left lane comments from people OUT OF CALIFORNIA. I've never been bothered by the police (and i've run into them on the freeway :p) once. The first time i've been pulled over it's for doing 83 when you'd get horned to death by nearly everyone (im not kidding either) for going the speed limit. I've seen other states on the east coast and i admit they are more reserved then ours and i see where you guys are coming from, but here it's different, and I'm not trying to make california seem better. I'm just telling how it is.

It's kinda funny that you're here, telling us "how it is" in California, but apparently (see your original post) you don't know "how it is" in California. Or, maybe the cop on the road was recently relocated from the East coast??
 
Jun 27, 2005
19,216
1
61
Originally posted by: NaOH
Been driving for nearly 6 years (I'm on my 4th year in college). Was driving on the 5 back to Stockton from San Jose with my brother because we go to school there. I was just cruising a long with everyone else not passing a single person (Although I was in the fast lane furthest in). My brother brings flashing lights to my attention and i was gestured to pull over to the right so i had to make my way through the group of cars i was traveling with. Of course he asks me how fast I think i was going and I say like high 70s. Then he was like "You think I would pull u over for going that fast?" So I'm expecting a high number like close to 90 (to my disbelief). Then he says I was going 83 in a 70.....:confused:

Average speed on these freeways are always about 80. If I had slowed down to 70 I would be blocking A LOT of cars. I was even cruising a long with other cars and got picked out. Technically I was speeding but damn, ever get one of those tickets where you feel like you wished you were actually really speeding?



I've had a friend doing 9x in 65 and he wrote her off with 8x.

Your friend only got written up for 8X because anything 20+ over requires a court visit and the cops hate going to court over a ticket. He makes you think he's doing you a favor by writing a smaller ticket in exchange for not going to court and protesting it.

As for your situation... sometimes they just get behind a pack, flip on the lights and ticket whoever pulls over. Gotta make those quotas y'know.
 

KingofCamelot

Golden Member
Aug 20, 2004
1,074
0
0
Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
So me being a nooby driver, not using the highway much, what lane should i use on a 6 lane highway like the 405?

When its not very busy traffic tends to go from fastest to slowest in a left to right order. So, just find a lane that matches your speed.

Basic rule of thumb, keep up with traffic in your lane, and if they are going faster than you want, move to the right. If a lot of traffic is passing you on the right, its probably time to move over.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: NaOH
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Originally posted by: BigJ
Doesn't anybody drive in the right lane (when they're not passing) anymore?

That's what I was wondering. Sounds like the cop busted you for not knowing how to drive.


NEVER let other cars pass you on the right. If that happens, then move over immediately, or as soon as possible. You don't sit there in the left lane running whatever speed you feel like, while everyone else passes you on the right.

The left lane on highways everywhere, is for the faster cars. And driving in the left lane gets you noticed by the police.

So pass on the left, then get back to the right until you need to pass again.

lol people weren't passing me on the right...alright i was doing a decent speed passing the people doing 70 (which is typically slow for our highways).

also, he didn't tell me to get out of the right lane. he even told me if i had slowed down a little bit then i'd be fine (kind of whack when people are usually doing 80 anyways).

I love all these left lane comments from people OUT OF CALIFORNIA. I've never been bothered by the police (and i've run into them on the freeway :p) once. The first time i've been pulled over it's for doing 83 when you'd get horned to death by nearly everyone (im not kidding either) for going the speed limit. I've seen other states on the east coast and i admit they are more reserved then ours and i see where you guys are coming from, but here it's different, and I'm not trying to make california seem better. I'm just telling how it is.

Sorry, I didn't realize all Californians suck at driving. :roll:
 

NaOH

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
5,015
0
0
Originally posted by: KingofCamelot
Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
So me being a nooby driver, not using the highway much, what lane should i use on a 6 lane highway like the 405?

When its not very busy traffic tends to go from fastest to slowest in a left to right order. So, just find a lane that matches your speed.

Basic rule of thumb, keep up with traffic in your lane, and if they are going faster than you want, move to the right. If a lot of traffic is passing you on the right, its probably time to move over.

that lane wasn't tailing me and we were fine and the lane to the right was not passing me. that's what I've been trying to say. I DO move over if I'm block people, especially on mountains when my torque less pos civic can't make it up fast enough.
 

czech09

Diamond Member
Nov 13, 2004
8,990
0
76
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: NaOH
Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Originally posted by: paulxcook
83 in a 70 is kind of lame, but that's why you shouldn't cruise in the left lane. I read some stat that more than 80% of highway traffic tickets are written for motorists driving in the left lane. Either way, speeding is always a calculated risk.

Agreed.

So I should go 70 and block every single person on the freeway if I want to be in the left lane?

No. :confused: Use the left lane for passing only. If you're not going faster than the people in the lane to your right, you need to move over to the right.

Ding ding ding.
 

NaOH

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
5,015
0
0
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: NaOH
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Originally posted by: BigJ
Doesn't anybody drive in the right lane (when they're not passing) anymore?

That's what I was wondering. Sounds like the cop busted you for not knowing how to drive.


NEVER let other cars pass you on the right. If that happens, then move over immediately, or as soon as possible. You don't sit there in the left lane running whatever speed you feel like, while everyone else passes you on the right.

The left lane on highways everywhere, is for the faster cars. And driving in the left lane gets you noticed by the police.

So pass on the left, then get back to the right until you need to pass again.

lol people weren't passing me on the right...alright i was doing a decent speed passing the people doing 70 (which is typically slow for our highways).

also, he didn't tell me to get out of the right lane. he even told me if i had slowed down a little bit then i'd be fine (kind of whack when people are usually doing 80 anyways).

I love all these left lane comments from people OUT OF CALIFORNIA. I've never been bothered by the police (and i've run into them on the freeway :p) once. The first time i've been pulled over it's for doing 83 when you'd get horned to death by nearly everyone (im not kidding either) for going the speed limit. I've seen other states on the east coast and i admit they are more reserved then ours and i see where you guys are coming from, but here it's different, and I'm not trying to make california seem better. I'm just telling how it is.

Sorry, I didn't realize all Californians suck at driving. :roll:

Yeah, I'm sorry were not endowed with your wonderful flawless driving abilities.
 

Matthias99

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2003
8,808
0
0
I've seen other states on the east coast and i admit they are more reserved then ours and i see where you guys are coming from, but here it's different, and I'm not trying to make california seem better. I'm just telling how it is.

I drive on I-495 in Massachusetts every day, and on I-90 (Mass Turnpike) about once a week. They're both 3 lanes each way, with 65mph speed limits (except for some stretches on I-90). I frequently see people cruising at 85-90 in light traffic. Although it's pretty rare to see anyone going much over 90. You will get passed on the right (legal in MA on divided roads/highways) frequently if you're going less than 75-80 in the left lane. My general experience is that most east coast drivers, while fast, will behave fairly predictably and are not horrifically aggressive. You don't usually see things like the patented LA "cross over four lanes of traffic to hit your exit at the last possible second" maneuver, for instance. But I haven't driven very much at all in CA personally (used to live out there, but before I could drive myself.)

Connecticut drivers are freaking suicidal, though. They seem to think that if I'm leaving a couple car lengths between my car and the car in front of me at highway speed, that obviously means they should jockey around me at 90mph and cut me off while jamming their car into that space (without using a turn signal). Then they sit on the bumper of that person before suicidally trying to get around them as well. Of course, I'd probably want to die if I lived near New Haven too.... I see this occasionally in other states, but for some reason it happens to me all the freakin' time in CT.

On a mostly empty 3-lane highway I'd drive in the middle lane. With any kind of significant slower traffic I'd go back and forth between the middle and left lanes. About once a month or so I'll have a MA state trooper come blazing up behind me at ~90 in the left lane when I'm going about 78 and scare the crap out of me (and then keep going once I move over). The only time I've ever gotten a speeding ticket I was on a downhill stretch of 495 in my old car (which had no cruise control), stopped paying attention for a minute, and wound up going about 95 in a 65... in the left lane... right past the cop at the bottom of the long hill. D'oh! I'd only had my full license for about a year... he was VERY nice and took it down to a 75 in a 65 (only ~$100).

On a 2-lane highway you should keep right unless you're passing. If there are cars spaced out and I'm moving faster than most traffic I'd probably stay left just so I wasn't going back and forth all the time. But if you're moving significantly faster than most traffic (unless they're at or under the speed limit) you shouldn't be surprised if you get a ticket, left lane or not.

In any case, sitting in the left lane when you're not actively passing will usually paint a big target on you. I'm not sure about CA, but it's actually illegal in MA (technically; it's rarely enforced on its own, and the way it's written also makes it technically illegal to be in the middle lane of a 3-lane highway when you could be in the right one).
 

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
4,025
0
0
Originally posted by: NaOH
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Where in the pack of cars were you?

on the left with no one in front of me. But the pack on my right had some cars a little bit ahead of me.

i didn't read the thread but you never lead the pack, especially in the fast lane.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: NaOH
Been driving for nearly 6 years (I'm on my 4th year in college). Was driving on the 5 back to Stockton from San Jose with my brother because we go to school there. I was just cruising a long with everyone else not passing a single person (Although I was in the fast lane furthest in). My brother brings flashing lights to my attention and i was gestured to pull over to the right so i had to make my way through the group of cars i was traveling with. Of course he asks me how fast I think i was going and I say like high 70s. Then he was like "You think I would pull u over for going that fast?" So I'm expecting a high number like close to 90 (to my disbelief). Then he says I was going 83 in a 70.....:confused:

Average speed on these freeways are always about 80. If I had slowed down to 70 I would be blocking A LOT of cars. I was even cruising a long with other cars and got picked out. Technically I was speeding but damn, ever get one of those tickets where you feel like you wished you were actually really speeding?

1)Your BROTHER had to point out the flashing lights?
2)You had no idea at all how fast you were going?

You, my friend, need to pay more attention to your driving.

Originally posted by: NaOH
I love all these left lane comments from people OUT OF CALIFORNIA. I've never been bothered by the police (and i've run into them on the freeway :p) once. The first time i've been pulled over it's for doing 83 when you'd get horned to death by nearly everyone (im not kidding either) for going the speed limit. I've seen other states on the east coast and i admit they are more reserved then ours and i see where you guys are coming from, but here it's different, and I'm not trying to make california seem better. I'm just telling how it is.

Dude, there are differences between state to state, but you lack perspective if you think California is wildly different from everywhere else in the union.

The fact of the matter is that you don't know a few basic common-sense rules for speeding safely without getting a ticket. Thus, you got a ticket. Instead of listening to those of us who ARE able to speed without pissing anyone off or getting pulled over, you seem to think that you know everything there is to know already. Which means that you'll continue to get pulled over, and piss people off.
 

novasatori

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
3,851
1
0
this should be a non concern
take online defensive driving course to get the ticket expunged(I think this is what happens) and drop it - don't speed unless you're prepared to pay for it

13 over is still qualified for it I'm sure, I took it when I got my first and only ticket (79 in a 65 - 14 over) when I was passing and in a 75->65 section of a highway
took defensive driving course for like $50 and never heard of it again, better yet at the time I didn't even have to tell my father.
 

NaOH

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
5,015
0
0
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: NaOH
Been driving for nearly 6 years (I'm on my 4th year in college). Was driving on the 5 back to Stockton from San Jose with my brother because we go to school there. I was just cruising a long with everyone else not passing a single person (Although I was in the fast lane furthest in). My brother brings flashing lights to my attention and i was gestured to pull over to the right so i had to make my way through the group of cars i was traveling with. Of course he asks me how fast I think i was going and I say like high 70s. Then he was like "You think I would pull u over for going that fast?" So I'm expecting a high number like close to 90 (to my disbelief). Then he says I was going 83 in a 70.....:confused:

Average speed on these freeways are always about 80. If I had slowed down to 70 I would be blocking A LOT of cars. I was even cruising a long with other cars and got picked out. Technically I was speeding but damn, ever get one of those tickets where you feel like you wished you were actually really speeding?

1)Your BROTHER had to point out the flashing lights?
2)You had no idea at all how fast you were going?

You, my friend, need to pay more attention to your driving.

Originally posted by: NaOH
I love all these left lane comments from people OUT OF CALIFORNIA. I've never been bothered by the police (and i've run into them on the freeway :p) once. The first time i've been pulled over it's for doing 83 when you'd get horned to death by nearly everyone (im not kidding either) for going the speed limit. I've seen other states on the east coast and i admit they are more reserved then ours and i see where you guys are coming from, but here it's different, and I'm not trying to make california seem better. I'm just telling how it is.

Dude, there are differences between state to state, but you lack perspective if you think California is wildly different from everywhere else in the union.

The fact of the matter is that you don't know a few basic common-sense rules for speeding safely without getting a ticket. Thus, you got a ticket. Instead of listening to those of us who ARE able to speed without pissing anyone off or getting pulled over, you seem to think that you know everything there is to know already. Which means that you'll continue to get pulled over, and piss people off.


I had an idea but I can't be 100% exact dude:roll: Besides my tires aren't stock and are slightly larger because I have after market wheels on so my speedometer will be off slightly too (ie. i will go faster than what my speedometer says). You drive and tell me exactly what speed you were going. My guess was 77-79...

So I didn't see the flashing lights right away, my bad okay? I was busy looking ahead and being hypnotized after driving for an hour and a half. Don't go and assume I drove a mile without noticing the cop =/.

Maryland and California have very different driving styles.

It's been nearly 6 years of a flawless record so I doubt I am someone who is always pulling tickets. I didn't say i knew everything and even said i was speeding. The point of the thread was to see if anyone has ever gotten pulled over for not going over the speed limit by that much (i guess it's really subjective then....). Also, I can bet a pretty penny a majority of you don't have crystal driving records either.
 

NaOH

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
5,015
0
0
Originally posted by: novasatori
this should be a non concern
take online defensive driving course to get the ticket expunged(I think this is what happens) and drop it - don't speed unless you're prepared to pay for it

13 over is still qualified for it I'm sure, I took it when I got my first and only ticket (79 in a 65 - 14 over) when I was passing and in a 75->65 section of a highway
took defensive driving course for like $50 and never heard of it again, better yet at the time I didn't even have to tell my father.

Yeah, i just have to take the course online and I'm good so I'm not worried about that. Just gonna be extra careful from now on.
 

dethman

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
10,263
3
76
i just drove i-5 down from northern to southern california today. after having lived in pennsylvania for 4 years and driving routinely to boston, philadelphia, DC, and new york, it sort of didn't hit me til today how differently californians drive than the rest of the country.

on the east coast, people routinely stay on the right, and use the left as a passing lane. this is just a general rule, and i got used to it on the east coast. i also drove cross country twice, and most of the country follows this rule for more or less.

in california, especially on the 5, the LEFT lane is the cruising lane, and typically you have to use the right lane to pass, basically trying to weave between the semis. very rarely do you see a car cruise in the right and pass on the left.

as far as speeds go i'd say 80-85 is routine on both ends of the coast. just an odd observation i made about styles of driving anyway.
 

gwlam12

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2001
6,946
1
71
I got a ticket for doing 82 in a 65 (on the 57 freeway in Socal). I'm guessing if you're going 80+, cops will pull you over.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: NaOH
Originally posted by: Yossarian451
I got mine for 83 in a 70. It is a risk you take if you are speeding I don't really see the problem.

I'm assuming you don't live in California, where people are tailgating you for going 80 on most freeways .

So? Get tailgated. If you are going to drive slow, stick with the right lane.
 

Itchrelief

Golden Member
Dec 20, 2005
1,398
0
71
Flawless driving record just means you haven't been caught yet. I have no tickets ever in 8+ years of driving, and I will be the first to admit I am not a flawless driver.

I'm from California. MOVE TO THE RIGHT!!!

 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Originally posted by: paulxcook
83 in a 70 is kind of lame, but that's why you shouldn't cruise in the left lane. I read some stat that more than 80% of highway traffic tickets are written for motorists driving in the left lane. Either way, speeding is always a calculated risk.

Agreed.

Yup. I've driven that leg of the 5 quite a few times. You NEVER stay in the left lane unless you're passing. Get right back into the right ASAP. 83 is VERY lame on the 5. I've driven 80 many times and people just pass you. Hell, driving 90+ still doesn't mean you're the fastest on the 5.

The only tickets I've heard of people getting on the 5 were when they were above 95.

I believe that getting ticketed on the 5 is pretty random. Well, it's kinda just like swimming in the sea and hoping not to get caught by a fishing boat. It's luck to some point.

Originally posted by: dethman
i just drove i-5 down from northern to southern california today. after having lived in pennsylvania for 4 years and driving routinely to boston, philadelphia, DC, and new york, it sort of didn't hit me til today how differently californians drive than the rest of the country.

on the east coast, people routinely stay on the right, and use the left as a passing lane. this is just a general rule, and i got used to it on the east coast. i also drove cross country twice, and most of the country follows this rule for more or less.

in california, especially on the 5, the LEFT lane is the cruising lane, and typically you have to use the right lane to pass, basically trying to weave between the semis. very rarely do you see a car cruise in the right and pass on the left.

as far as speeds go i'd say 80-85 is routine on both ends of the coast. just an odd observation i made about styles of driving anyway.

Well, I don't know, but I think I've driven the 5 a lot more than you. Most people still cruise on the right lane. I don' tknow how busy traffic was, but if most people are in the left, it's because at certain times, there are just PACKS AND PACKS of semis on the right lane. People all flock to the left because it's the only way to pass them all, and even then it's difficult because semis try to pass semis, causing massive slowdowns in both lanes.

I've driven the 75 on Georgia/Florida several times, and it feels just like the 5.

I think if you drive the 5 at more sparse times, like at night, you will see a lot more people stay on the right.
 

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,715
31
91
I just got back from Cali and you're right. You can't do 75-80 in the far left lane on I-5 without being passed on the right and cut off. I kept to the middle lanes and let the porsches and lambos tear that one up. Plead not guilty and see if they'll reduce it. You can probably get them to drop it to a non-moving or something. Does Cali do points on your license? Otherwise I guess there's no reason to bother pleading not guilty.
 

jammur21

Golden Member
Nov 1, 2004
1,629
0
0
LOL at the NorCal/Midwest people and their 2 lane highways. (Although actually being able to pay off your house some day has its advantages)



Southern California freeway from left to right

Carpool lane 1 - Hybrids cruising at 65 trying to beat their personal best for total mileage on a tank of gas
Carpool lane 2 - HOV Passing lane for people with real cars - 80mph
==================================== Double Yellow line
Fast lane - sets the overall pace for the freeway at 85mph, can also be used as a carpool passing lane for areas with only one HOV lane
#2 lane - Usually around 80, serves as passing lane for fastlane who can't cross double yellow line
#3 lane - 75-ish - gets crowded with people exiting the fastlane at 85 with only 1/4 mile left to go and trucks using it as n extra passing lane
#4 lane - Goody-goody lane 65-ish / Left truck lane - long haul/paid by the mile truckers 75mph.
Right truck lane - paid by the hour truckers 65mph/grandmas driving 55mph
On ramp feeder lane - Speeds vary between 35-80 mph