Just Got My 2nd Speeding Ticket

UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
25,715
10,471
136
Lets see, my first speeding ticket came approx. 12 months and 3 weeks ago, while I was coming home to Charlotte from Chapel Hill. I was in Davidson county, doing 80 in a 70 zone (on cruise), in the far left lane of a 6-lane interstate, in light traffic with no one ahead of me. Officer D. R. Wood of the NC Highway Patrol tagged me as he was merging from an on-ramp.

2nd speeding ticket, came today at 3:10 PM. I was coming back from Chapel Hill and driving through Davidson county, supposedly averaging 81 in a 70 zone (though my cruise had the needle set below 80?), in the far left lane of a 6-lane interstate with very light traffic and no one ahead of me. Contrary to last time, I had actually had my cruise set at or below 80 for a good 60 mile stretch beforehand. Officer....D R WOOD OF THE NC HIGHWAY PATROL saw me pass him in the left lane (he was in the middle in an unmarked Caprice) then paced me for about 2.5 miles before deciding to pull me over.

I complained that the whole of NC on this particular highway had been doing 80 in the far left lane the whole day. He said he didn't care. I said it wasn't fair. He asked "what's not fair about it?" I really didn't know how to respond to this so I said NC patrol really should do a consistent job of pulling people doing 80 in a 70 zone because EVERYONE DOES IT ALL THE TIME! He didn't agree, but he then told me that IF I GO TO COURT I WILL MOST LIKELY GET IT DROPPED!!!

When I pulled back onto the highway, about 5-10 miles further ahead the highway reverts to a 4-lane with construction and the speed limit drops to 55. I proceeded to drive at 80 in the left lane here too, in order to keep up with traffic. When drivers behind me got pissed off with me doing 70 in the "80 lane" I then put my citation in the little parking ticket clip mounted on my windshield for all to see (bright pink, standard form, can't miss it!) People didn't seem to care, so I sped up with them.

Am I missing something here???
 

UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
25,715
10,471
136
Yea, slowing down is the easy way out...but I prefer raising the speed limit!!
 

crt1530

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2001
3,194
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<< Am I missing something here??? >>


Learn how to speed without getting caught. There is safety in numbers.
 

TRUMPHENT

Golden Member
Jan 20, 2001
1,414
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You were speeding on an Interstate in Labor Day Holiday weekend? You IDIOT! Florida, where I live, has been advertising that 4 times the normal patrols will be on the roads. You sir, are busted. Get a lawyer. Good Luck!:D
 

AgentZap

Senior member
Sep 1, 2001
730
0
0
Get a lawyer and fight it so your insurance doesn't go up through the roof and the cop probably won't even show up in court which means no ticket for you. And then I would say it is time to invest in a good radar detector like the V1.
 

UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
25,715
10,471
136
LOL!!! I just noticed that in the Fine/Penalty and Court Cost section he left it BLANK!!! Is it safe to assume that there are no fines/penalties for me?
 

UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
25,715
10,471
136
Oh about the speeding without getting caught--I have a decent radar detector but this unmarked car had its gun off. He was pacing me. That's why he had me doing 81 when I was doing 78. I passed him and he had to speed up a bit to catch up...He was almost at my bumper when I moved to the middle lane. He then moved with me and only THEN did he put his lights on.
 

prodigy

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
14,822
1
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Whenever I speed, just make sure you are not the car in front and you're following 2 or 3 cars. Never be the lead car, let that guy get the ticket. ;)
 

UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
25,715
10,471
136
Prodigy, that's what my mistake was. Traffic was much too thin so I was seen as the 'lead car'. I then proceeded to pass cars in the middle lane, including the unmarked Caprice. It was a ticket waiting to happen. It's still really ironic how the same guy stopped me over a year later to give me my 2nd ticket. I'm pretty sure he won't show up in court, since he didn't even write up a fine.
 

Yo Ma Ma

Lifer
Jan 21, 2000
11,635
2
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Not sure about there in NC but in Michigan the far left lane is (ideally) used for passing only, not traveling - if you're going 70mph, not passing anyone and stopping 80mph traffic you're creating a hazard I'm sorry to say. I've found if I stay in the right lane as much as possible I do not get pulled over/tickets even if I'm going as fast as the left lane travelers :)

BTW I've also noticed NC is takes their traffic awfully seriously, we've had to make a couple of 'donations' ourselves :Q :(
 

Cyberian

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2000
9,999
1
0


<< I proceeded to drive at 80 in the left lane here too, in order to keep up with traffic. When drivers behind me got pissed off with me doing 70 in the "80 lane" I then put my citation in the little parking ticket clip mounted on my windshield for all to see (bright pink, standard form, can't miss it!) People didn't seem to care, so I sped up with them.

Am I missing something here???
>>


Uhmmmmmm, move out of the left lane if you are not passing?
Sorry about your ticket, and that is quite a strange coincidence.