Welcome, stranger. Here's a speeding ticket.

[snopes]

Whether police officers in some towns are motivated by fundraising as well as safety when writing traffic tickets has been examined systematically. Michael D. Makowsky, a doctoral student in economics, and Thomas Stratmann, an economics professor, both at George Mason University, studied the issue in a recent paper, "Political Economy at Any Speed: What Determines Traffic Citations?"

They examined every warning and citation written by police officers in all of Massachusetts, excluding Boston, during a two-month period in 2001 — more than 60,000 in all. Their conclusion wasn't shocking to an economist: money matters, even in traffic violations. They found a statistical link between a town's finances and the likelihood that its police officers would issue a speeding ticket. The details are a little sticky, but they show that tickets were issued more often in places that were short on cash, and that out-of-towners received tickets more often than drivers with local addresses.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pb.../1011/BUSINESS

You do wonder how many 'out-of-towners' feel less inhibited outside there own locale so do actually speed more.

[Bee]

... and how many may make genuine mistakes. I know that sometimes in a new town I miss a speed limit sign, whereas in more familiar territory the correct speed becomes instinct.

B

ETA: although now I see they at least partially considered that

[Towknie]

There are countless "speed zones" in the smaller towns throughout Texas, many of which sit along state highways, and are unavoidable.

The speed limit will quickly drop from 65 to 25 (A 10mph drop about every half mile or so). Although the signage is there to alert the reduced speed, one must maintain constant vigilance. One missed speed limit sign, and a mere 1 or 2 mph over the posted limit, can easily garner a citation.

I got followed all the way through a 25mph town by a police cruiser once. I pulled off into a convenience store, and he pulled off with me and waited for me to leave. He followed me to the city limits. The only thing I can think of that I was doing suspiciously was actually adhering to the posted speed limits, and having an out of town dealership tag on my car.

I keep my GPS turned on at all times specifically because it gives me a digital readout of my speed as a backup to the analog speedometer on the car's instrument panel. I do this because I've visited traffic court once, and on almost every case, the officers cited when their speedometers had been calibrated.

[ButterscotchCat]

I think that speed limits should be posted more frequently. I drive from my office to the post office everyday. It is a 6 block drive, and there is not one speed limit sign. It is in the downtown area. So, I assume the speed limit is 30 mph. Although, everyone drives about 20 Then, near my house the speed limit on one street is 40 then it switchs to 35 and the sign is conveniently posted right behind a tree.

[me, no really]

Originally Posted by ButterscotchCat

Then, near my house the speed limit on one street is 40 then it switchs to 35 and the sign is conveniently posted right behind a tree.

Here, photographic evidence that a speed sign is obscured has been enough to get people off speeding fines.

me

[KirkMcD]

Another reason, out-of-towners tend to get more tickets is that the police know they won't/can't come back to fight it in court.

[Mr. Furious]

Originally Posted by KirkMcD

Another reason, out-of-towners tend to get more tickets is that the police know they won't/can't come back to fight it in court.

Yeah, that makes plenty of sense; when I've gotten speeding tickets, I've always gone to traffic court to try to get it reduced or thrown out, but I was always local. If I got one while I was visiting the in-laws in Pennsylvania, though, it likely wouldn't be worth the time, inconvenience, and expense to drive all that way for my day in court.

This study is a big "Duh?" for me, but I guess it is good to see my suspicions verified. With all the driving I've done in Texas & Florida (seemingly the capitals of speed traps)....

Originally Posted by Mr. Furious

...when I've gotten speeding tickets, I've always gone to traffic court to try to get it reduced or thrown out, but I was always local.

My one experience with "local" traffic court starts with walking to the courtroom and hearing the judge give this speech (more or less):

"I'm in a bad mood tonight, so if any of you eally want to fight your ticket, not only will I find you guilty, I will give you jail time. Now the clerk is there for a bout another 15 minutes. If you don't want to spend the night in jail, I suggest you go see her and pay your fine, NOW!"

We all filed out to pay our fines....

Yes, what he did was wrong (at so many different levels) and what I did was also wrong, but I wasn't going to be the martyr that night.

[Mr. Furious]

Originally Posted by Doug4.7

My one experience with "local" traffic court starts with walking to the courtroom and hearing the judge give this speech (more or less):

Wow. I'm glad I never got a ticket in Alabama.

[Eddylizard]

My car had picked up speed coming down a hill, and a police officer pulled me over.

Sorry Judith Chevalier, you broke the law, you got caught and you faced the penalty. What have you got to moan about?

For future reference, when descending a hill, to maintain a constant speed, slacken off the accelarator, downshift use your brakes, or a combination therof. The relationship between gravity and acceleration is kind of related to rocket science, but still within the grasp of most people.

[Elwood]

There are countless "speed zones" in the smaller towns throughout Texas, many of which sit along state highways, and are unavoidable.

Pennsylvania is bad about that, too. I was reminded of some of this absurdity this weekend when driving up there to see her parents and grandparents. In a three-mile stretch, the speed limit goes from 55 to 40 to 50 to 45 to 35 and then to 45. Some of the changes only last for a half-mile or so. I cannot for the life of me figure out why the limit is not simply set at 40 or so for the duration. At least then cruise control could be of some value. It's a straight road, for cryin' out loud.

Of course, here in WV a lot of the two-lane roads are 55mph up until the road hits a residential area at which point it drops immediately to 25.

Originally Posted by Elwood

Of course, here in WV a lot of the two-lane roads are 55mph up until the road hits a residential area at which point it drops immediately to 25.

When I was driving out to Key West, I was told to watch out for the speed traps along US 1. There were a number of sections of that road that were divided 4 lane highways out in the middle of nowhere...where the speed limit would drop from 55 (or was it 65?) down to 35 and the only living person around was the cop with his radar gun behind the bushes.

Some towns in Michigan put reduce speed signs on top of steep hills and then the lower speed limit sign is down at the bottom of said hill. Steep hills effect a vehicles ability to slow quickly without hitting the brakes. 9 times out of 10 there is always a cop sitting near the bottom of the hill waiting. The reduced speed signs also means that a blocked speed limit sign defense will not get you out of a ticket. At least here in Michigan.

[lord_feldon]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

Sorry Judith Chevalier, you broke the law, you got caught and you faced the penalty. What have you got to moan about?

I would still moan if I had broke the law, got caught, and faced the penalty. Certain knowledge of illegality doesn't remove annoyance.

[Debunker]

This thread reminds me of the most infamous speed trap town of all, New Rome, OH. RIP.

I heard a US comedian a while back bemoaning UK motorways. He pointed out that nowhere on the UK motorway is there a sign indicating that the speed limit is 70mph. I can't speak for every patch of motorway in Britain, but I think he could be right. There's the odd place where the limit drops to 60 or 50mph, and that is marked, but otherwise, visitors to this country appear to be relied upon to study the highway code before they leave the airport. Not a sensible assumption, that.

Does anyone know if the motorway speed limit is posted on entrances to motorways near airports/ferry ports? I've never noticed it.

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by Neffti

I heard a US comedian a while back bemoaning UK motorways. He pointed out that nowhere on the UK motorway is there a sign indicating that the speed limit is 70mph.

I thought the sign with a black diagonal line meant 70mph. I've not seen one on a motorway though, but I haven't exactly been looking.

Originally Posted by Tarquin Farquart

I thought the sign with a black diagonal line meant 70mph. I've not seen one on a motorway though, but I haven't exactly been looking.

That sign means "National speed limit applies" (see page 12 of this leaflet).

So on a dual carriageway/motorway, 70. On a single carriageway, 60.

Again, not very helpful if you haven't read the UK highway code.