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Traffic Question

DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
As I drive on the interstate, I take the exit for the nearest village.
At the end of the off-ramp, if I look to the right, I can see a 30mph sign as I would be entering the village.

But, if I look to the left, I can clearly see a 55mph sign.

I turn left. I accelerate. What's the speed limit where I'm at as I pass under the interstate?
I discussed this one night with a police officer (he and I were chaperoning at a high school dance.) He said that he could give me a ticket because since I live in the area, I should know that as I drive through the village, it's 30mph, and it remains 30mph until I reach the bridge. I didn't buy that argument and said I didn't think it would hold up in court, because it would be equally logical to assume that the speed limit actually turns to 55 when I reach the village limits at the underpass, but there's no place to actually place the 55mph sign due to the on-ramps and off-ramps, and visibility problems."

diagram.JPG

Sooooo, looking at the diagram, and me following the blue path, do you believe I could justifiably receive a ticket for going over 30mph before reaching the 55mph sign? (I'm usually up to about 45 by the sign)
 
Grey area. You will get a ticket if the cops don't like you, and not if they do, simple as that.
 
mwtgg, why would it be 30mph until the sign? Once you get to the end of the off-ramp, there is NO indication that the speed limit on that road (which is a state route) is only 30.
 
Originally posted by: Atheus
Grey area. You will get a ticket if the cops don't like you, and not if they do, simple as that.
Click to expand...

The ticket really isn't what matters... I'm asking because this seems like a gray area. I'm just wondering what the legalities actually are in this situation.
 
Wow, ticket threads usually draw more traffic than this...
At least I didn't lie and claim I received a ticket... I'm just trying to decide if I should be careful or not.
 
Next time you get to that STOP sign, make a right and travel 1/4 down the road and then make a U-turn heading back toward the interstate. Is there a posted speed limit sign stating the speed limit before you get back to the interstate? I'd venture a guess that it says 55, the same posted speed as on the other side of the interstate, and I'd agrue that you'd be okay to turn left and drive over 30mph after the stop sign at the end of the off-ramp.

 
I'm not too familiar with NY laws, however, are village speed limits universally 30 unless posted? Therefore, I think one should know this and follow that speed limit until instructed otherwise by a sign.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
As I drive on the interstate, I take the exit for the nearest village.
At the end of the off-ramp, if I look to the right, I can see a 30mph sign as I would be entering the village.

But, if I look to the left, I can clearly see a 55mph sign.

I turn left. I accelerate. What's the speed limit where I'm at as I pass under the interstate?
I discussed this one night with a police officer (he and I were chaperoning at a high school dance.) He said that he could give me a ticket because since I live in the area, I should know that as I drive through the village, it's 30mph, and it remains 30mph until I reach the bridge. I didn't buy that argument and said I didn't think it would hold up in court, because it would be equally logical to assume that the speed limit actually turns to 55 when I reach the village limits at the underpass, but there's no place to actually place the 55mph sign due to the on-ramps and off-ramps, and visibility problems."

diagram.JPG

Sooooo, looking at the diagram, and me following the blue path, do you believe I could justifiably receive a ticket for going over 30mph before reaching the 55mph sign? (I'm usually up to about 45 by the sign)
Click to expand...
Speed limit changes at the point of the sign. Always. Most would let you off with a warning if you'd just come off the interstate and had no way to see any of the 30 mph signs.

ZV
 
55, because that's the first limit you see. What you "know" based upon living in the area doesn't matter. it's the signs you actually SEE based upon your route (opposing signs don't count) that determines it legally speaking. In PA, anyway. Read the traffic code, I did. It's pretty cool.
 
Originally posted by: mwtgg
I'm not too familiar with NY laws, however, are village speed limits universally 30 unless posted? Therefore, I think one should know this and follow that speed limit until instructed otherwise by a sign.
Click to expand...

Ironically, the "welcome to the village" sign is to the right... and I'm turning left.
 
I believe the speed limit would be whatever the "default" speed limit for the type of road is until you hit the speed limit sign. I don't believe a speed limit is enforcable unless there is a sign indicating it within a certain distance of an intersection. Since there is no sign indicating the 30 mph speed limit in the direction you're traveling, I don't believe 30 mph is enforcable.

In NJ the default speed limits are 25 for residential and 50 otherwise.
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: DrPizza
As I drive on the interstate, I take the exit for the nearest village.
At the end of the off-ramp, if I look to the right, I can see a 30mph sign as I would be entering the village.

But, if I look to the left, I can clearly see a 55mph sign.

I turn left. I accelerate. What's the speed limit where I'm at as I pass under the interstate?
I discussed this one night with a police officer (he and I were chaperoning at a high school dance.) He said that he could give me a ticket because since I live in the area, I should know that as I drive through the village, it's 30mph, and it remains 30mph until I reach the bridge. I didn't buy that argument and said I didn't think it would hold up in court, because it would be equally logical to assume that the speed limit actually turns to 55 when I reach the village limits at the underpass, but there's no place to actually place the 55mph sign due to the on-ramps and off-ramps, and visibility problems."

diagram.JPG

Sooooo, looking at the diagram, and me following the blue path, do you believe I could justifiably receive a ticket for going over 30mph before reaching the 55mph sign? (I'm usually up to about 45 by the sign)
Click to expand...
Speed limit changes at the point of the sign. Always. Most would let you off with a warning if you'd just come off the interstate and had no way to see any of the 30 mph signs.

ZV
Click to expand...
Depends on the state, though...in some cases, they can't issue you a ticket within a certain distance of a speed limit sign indicating an increase (unless you're already above that speed, of course)
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Wow, ticket threads usually draw more traffic than this...
At least I didn't lie and claim I received a ticket... I'm just trying to decide if I should be careful or not.
Click to expand...

Hah.
 
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