So, if you don't know, its snowing pretty hard in the Buffalo/Rochester area today, and its all coming down between 7-10 so the plows can't really keep up because of all the traffic on the roads.

Anyways, I'm working on my 100 mile commute today ('cause I was at my girlfriends in Frednoia) and got about 10 minutes from work. There was a state trooper in the left lane of a two lane highway going about 50 mph, and I had been averaging about 60 (in a 65). I slow down 'cause I didn't want to just blow by him. Well, he's not moving over, which isn't really cool, but whatever. I decided that I'll pass him on the right. As soon as I go to do so he turns his lights on. Knowing that I can't pass a cop with his lights on, I back off and he turns his lights off. Not cool.

So, we eventually come to a turn in the highway (where the 490E meets the 531 for anyone who knows) and he's in the left lane still. He slows down to about 35 (for those of you who don't know, cops out here drive Crown Vics, which are RWD of course). I stay in the right lane and pass him going about 45 or 50, nothing unsafe for the Max in these conditions.

He follows me for about a mile and turns his lights on and pulls me over. License, registration, blah, blah. I politely ask him what the problem is and he says that I was driving too fast for the conditions, and more importantly that I can't passed a marked patrol vehicle. Since when?

He askes me if my license is clean and I explain that the only thing on there is a ticket from 9/99. He asked me if I'm wearing contacts (need corrective lenses) and I say yes. He askes me where I'm going and I tell him to work. "Are you late?". Yes, but they already know that I'm going to be and its not a problem. "Well, I'm going to go check your license and let you slow down by sitting for a bit, then I'll decided if I want to give you a ticket".

He goes back to his car. I knew I wasn't getting a ticket, so I wasn't really worried. 5 minutes later he comes back with my license and explains that I should slow down and that he was letting me off this time. All in all it was actcually as plesent as that kind of exchange could be. He was polite (although I don't really agree with what he said) as was I. No yelling, no names, no harrasment.


Now, is that true? Can you not pass a cop under any conditions? Anyone would know that a FWD sedan will do countless times better than a RWD one in the snow, and I don't feel that I was going too fast for the conditions.

 

no its bullsh!t i do it all the time

 

Not true, I have done it plenty of times. Although he was polite, he was an idiot.

 

I don't think he was an idiot. If that's not the law I'm sure he knew it and just was trying to scare me into slowing down and not passing them. He seemed like a knowledgable guy. He even cited the law by number, but I don't recall what it was. Too bad, it would be interesting to look up.

If I would have gotten a ticket I would have gotten his badge number and looked into it further, but seeing as he let me go, I wasn't going to question things.

 

he cited something remotely close.. thats why he couldn't write you a ticket.. because you could go to court and the judge would throw it out because their is no such law

 

Well, you can get a ticket for driving too fast for weather conditions, etc. He could have given me a valid ticket, just not one for passing him.

 

giving you a ticket.. and the ticket holding up is another story..

unless you got in an accident during rain or snow.. that ticket doesn't hold up..

what is travelling too fast for conditions? their really isn't any set limit as to how much slower than the speed limit you should go for certain conditions.. and do you go slower for light flurries than blizzards? it won't really hold up..

and since its snowing.. you are not going a constant speed so he can't pace you

 

I know, I wasn't worried about it. That's why I passed him. He knew how fast I was going though, 'cause he had his radar gun on. I just chose to ignore it.

 

I have been pulled over in CT for that. A Statie was driving 40 and I decided to pass him gong 45 and he pulled my over. "You are going too fast for the conditions of the road", he said. I thought it was funny because I had driven 70 in the snow with my fwd 92 Sedan Deville. Car is incredible in the snow.

 

he was BORED

 

You got it right, you can not pass an emergency vehicle with lights AND siren on, but one on a non-emergency response is passable. He was just f'in with you. Kinda sad actually.

 

I don't think so. There were tons or accidents (more like people in ditches) all the way from Buffalo to Rochester (60miles) because people just can't drive in the snow. I think he was trying to "save me from myself" and keep me from getting into an accident. Not that I needed saving, but I think he honestly was just looking out for me and other drivers.

 

i know EXACTLY how it feels to drive in a snow.. atleast in atlanta

 

no you don't..

Atlanta snow is maybe 3 inches..

Buffalo snow on a good day is like 4 feet

 

I agree. Last night alone I must have passed 3 cop cars because they were out everywhere.

 

shhhhh

 

We only get up to a foot in KY. All you need is 2-3 inches to have some fun. Ever locked up the brakes and cut the wheel at 45 in an inch of snow and an inch of slush/ice? It's a GREAT way to learn how to recover or at least survive a bad sitchy-ation. Plus it's fun, as long as you do it on a deserted, straight road with no trees on the side.

 

I passed a fully outfitted AL State Trooper patrol car on the way to work this morning. He was going 40 in a 55 zone. Apparently I was the only one who was willing to pass him.

 

I always decide not to.. you never know waht BS they can come up with... if nothing else.. i know i can get a ticket for my 20% window tints..

 

yea i have passed a cop once or twice but i rarely do that due to the fact that he will find something to nail me against the wall with and at this point i really can't afford it.

 

hahah.. i see that all the time.. i usually just lock my cruise at the speed limit and go right by them.. as everyone sits behind the trooper

 

Ditto, I try to give 'em a wink or a smile too. Really winds up the redneck cops back home in KY.

 

i like sprints point about "what is too fast for the conditions" also you can pass them, we were in a 65 zone and this cop was cruising the left lane at 50, passed him, no prob, then 30 seconds later he trns around and goes after someone, he was scanning the other direction, btw the cops here dont like to get out in the weather unless they absolutely must, but we dont get snow

 

You could always argue that it's too keep people from seeing any valuables in the car and breaking in to steal them (i.e.- PS2 in the backseat)!

 

You could always argue that it's to keep people from seeing any valuables in the car and breaking in to steal them (i.e.- PS2 in the backseat)!

 

you can argue but it won't hold up in court...

 

"Driving too fast for conditions" In court, it's basicly your word against the officers. So you lose.

Unless it was a clear sunny day with temps at about 45 deg and above. "Too fast for conditions" is a subject term and it's a judgement call by the officer.

Note: If it's raining hard, foggy, snowy or even dark, "too fast for conditions" doesn't mean the posted speed limit is okay. It means you should be going slower than the speed limit.

 

But it's still illegal...

 

depends how many law classes you have taken

if my posts here havn't told you already.. i took 3 years of law classes in college

 

So, you still arent a lawyer either...

 

Well that clears it up. "Your honor, I motion to dismiss because I took 3 years of law in college".

Care to explain how you get out of it other than a technicality?

 

No i am an IT Proffessional.. i wanted money quick.. didn't feel like going to school that long for it.. and then become a public defender for a couple years .. yuk ..

 

I know, I should use the search but I'm too lazy. I got to ask................































What's snow?

 

would you take your shirt off for some beads(sp)

 

=> =>

 

I've tried, it just doesn't work for me. Of course, the correct syntax is "Show your t1ts!" It's amazing what some half-drunk girls will do for a $0.25 made-in-China trinket.

 

You sure know how to avoid a question like a lawyer.

 

Basically "Too fast for the conditions of the road" is when the traffic advisory goes out due to winter weather, the speed limit will drop to 45 on ALL roads. If you are caught going over the advisory speed limit, you can be sited for going over the speed limit but not for "going too fast for the conditions of the road".

 

Too fast for conditions, whether we like it or not, is a real violation that carries real points. Get one, and the insurance premium goes up in a real way. When one sees a cop I think one should be mature and go about one's business, plain and simple. Like betting with your head not over it.

 

Ouch. IT reminds me a car that can do 0-60 in about 7 flat, but tops out at 125 mph. I love analogies!

Case in point, Verizon Wireless is not hiring too many telecom or datacom people, yet they are growing--their work is in merging various billing systems ie cobol and bean counters. You didn't say if you took law classes in undergrad or you went to law school--big diff. Starting salaries here in philly for top law grads are in the 110k-120k range, and that's not bad for someone 28-30 years old. You'd need some serious experience to get that in IT and you'd be managerial not staff. Right now law would be better money imho and CPA would be 2nd to that my .02