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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Speeding in the US?
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10/05/2012 05:54:55 AM · #1
A slightly odd question I know but how strict are the police when it comes to speeding on out of town roads? I was in the Boston area a couple of years ago and in the 60mph limit everyone was doing 57mph

In the UK most people would do about 80mph on the motorway (70mph limit) and police would virtually never pull you over for 75mph

I'm driving from Vegas to the Grand Canyon next month and renting a Camaro SS and want to know if I need to have a "speeding fine fund"!! Are there on the spot fines, if so how much? It's not like I'm going to go crazy or anything and I always strictly drive to the speed limits around town but I may like an occasional "little blast" on the highway/freeway/motorway or whatever you guys call the main out of town roads!!
10/05/2012 06:10:17 AM · #2


its all about familiarity, commuters know where the speed traps are.

that said if you arent driving reckless and mildly driving in excess of the speed limit in a rural area and safe conditions i doubt many cops would give you a hard time.

10/05/2012 08:03:56 AM · #3
Nevada
The maximum speed limits in Nevada is 70-75 mph on rural freeways, 65-75 mph on other rural divided highways, 55-70 mph on primary two-lane roads, and 65 mph on urban freeways.
I-15 is posted 70 mph south of Las Vegas to match California's 70 mph posted limit.
US 95 north of Las Vegas is 70 mph.
I-15 northeast of Las Vegas to Arizona is 75 mph.
I-80 from Reno to Utah, varies 55-75 mph.
US 50 Lake Tahoe to Ely and Utah is 65 mph.
US 395 north of Carson to Reno is 70 mph.
US 95 through downtown Las Vegas is now 65 mph.
Construction projects significantly reduce speeds. All other interstates within any city limits still 55 mph.[112]
Prior to the imposition of the 50/55 MPH speed limit in late 1973, Nevada also had a "reasonable and proper" speed Limit (non-numeral) on most of its rural highways; both freeway and others.

A good bit of common sense, keeping up with the flow of traffic, etc. should keep you from getting pulled over for speeding.

Message edited by author 2012-10-05 08:05:31.
10/05/2012 09:15:34 AM · #4
Arizona was odd, I traveled at about 78 in 75 zone and passed almost all other cars, when the limit changed to 65 I would slow down to about 70 and everyone would pass me, it was really strange. Must be a big penalty for being above 75!
10/05/2012 09:25:52 AM · #5
If the Camaro SS you are renting is red or yellow or has racing stripes, I'd be pretty careful about sticking to the speed limits. The problem is that the car stands out from the herd, and some cops just make it a point to not cut a "hot car" any slack at all - not even 2 over. Otherwise, unless there is something else going on (erratic driving, drifting over the center or side line, a light out, etc.) usually cops don't bother with you up to 10 over.

Another thing here in the states that will almost guarantee a pull-over is failure to wear your seat belt. In some states, that is a "primary offense" - they can pull you over for that all by itself - no other reason needed.

I'm not sure if your route crosses any Indian Reservations, but if it does, be aware that the reservation is, in many aspects, like a separate country. Some have their own police, with cars that are marked differently from the State Patrol cars. Also be aware that on the reservations, police sometimes drive very fast (think 120-140 in a 55 mph zone), so be aware that they can come up from behind you very quickly.

If you are going by Bryce Canyon National Park, and can spare a bit of time (1-2 hours), stop and look. It is absolutely amazing. Lots of hoodoos - almost like a forest of stone spires.

If you've never seen the Grand Canyon, you are in for an experience. It defies words, and pictures do not even come close to doing it justice. At the East entrance is Navajo point. Back in the day of film cameras, I stopped there and took two pictures - one through a 40X photo quality lens telescope, and one from right beside the telescope. When I got the pictures developed, I couldn't spot the one I took through the 40X. I had to compare pictures to finally find it. The only difference was that some of the rock features along the edges of the picture were missing in the 40X picture.

Also, if you have a chance to see the canyon under a full or mostly full moon, do it. It is almost magical.

Oh, and spot fines - not to my knowledge, unless the cop is looking for a bribe (which is illegal, but you may not be in a position to argue that one). Generally, unless you are arrested, you can mail in the fine (and in some states, court costs).

My father taught me that if you are stopped by the police, your vocabulary reduces to two phrases - "Yes, sir." and "No, sir."

Hope you have an absolutely great visit!
10/05/2012 10:16:26 AM · #6
Meh.

Get out on the open road and open that machine up..

Vegas cops are authoritarian assholes, but get out of the city, go 50 miles, and you probably couldn't get a speeding ticket if you tried. (spare area, no cops no population to speak of)...

Jaywalking is another big money maker in Vegas, be sure to watch out for that on the Strip (although, admittedly, I did it dozens of times without getting busted)

The Wholefoods past the airport on Las Vegas Blvd (the strip) is pretty much the only place I found that was good for daily eating, although there are a few restaurants that are pretty good (but price does not match service or quality - South Beach is a better value)...

There's single shoe blackjack over at the Golden Nugget as well, if you're sharp enough to count.

ETA: My qualification is essentially the fact that I've spent over a month on the strip in hotels this year alone.

Message edited by author 2012-10-05 10:17:30.
10/05/2012 10:17:59 AM · #7
There is, or at least there used to be, a 100+ mile long section of I-15 in NW Arizona between St George UT and Vegas that doesn't have any exits that are actually in Arizona and is not really patrolled by anyone. It is/was sort of a Mad Max free-for-all zone.

Last time I was there, my girlfriend was driving about 120mph and we got passed like we were standing still by some red car.

As to the color of the car affecting the chance of getting a ticket...I say hogwash. It's the speed that attracts the attention of the police, not the color.

I don't think they do "spot fines", but, baserd on my experience in California, if you're going fast enough to warrant a charge of "reckless driving" the officer can, at his discretion, place you under arrest. Similarly, if they think you'll leave the country without paying the fine, the officer can take you in to the court to make you pay before you leave.

Another concern, not related to law enforcement is the rental company's use of GPS tracking to monitor your driving. Ostensibly, they place GPS tracking units in their vehicles in case they need to recover them and to keep track of their fleet. Some rental companies have used the technology to add surcharges for things like speeding or taking the vehicle beyond a certain range... In high performance cars, they may have speed limiters or other devices in place to keep you from getting too crazy in their ride.
10/05/2012 10:40:11 AM · #8
Oh, and here's a link and some good advice on Arizona speed limits...
10/05/2012 10:41:53 AM · #9
There is a law in Colorado that makes it illegal to drive in the left lane of a multi-lane highway, except for passing. It is legal to exceed the speed limit in order to pass "slower" cars and return to the right lane. This is to clear the road for the Autobahn-like drivers. This is expecially true on I-70 between Denver and the ski resorts on the western slope.

Locally, speed traps are common. Mostly, the speed enforcement is used as community revenue enhancement and a net for illegal immigrants. But, that's Colorado.

Back in Iowa, where I spent my first 50 years, I was never ticketed for driving +5 MPH in any zone.

Message edited by author 2012-10-05 10:42:31.
10/05/2012 10:47:53 AM · #10
Originally posted by Spork99:

As to the color of the car affecting the chance of getting a ticket...I say hogwash. It's the speed that attracts the attention of the police, not the color.

Not sure I'm buying Snopes on this one. The "study" they cite is, to put it kindly, flawed. It would be interesting to see the results from a good, solid study on the matter.

My point was that a car that is more likely to catch an officer's attention (for whatever reason) is more likely to be stopped for a violation - just because the officer is paying attention to it. Speeding (noticeably significantly faster than the flow of traffic), erratic driving, sudden lane changes, failure to stay in a lane, seat belt, etc. will draw an officer's attention. But, so will an unusual car or a car the office would like to have - like a red/yellow/racing stripes Camaro SS.

I've driven a red Ford Taurus for about 8 years, and never even been pulled over in it. But I have been stopped in my son's 1978 yellow Ford LTD - it is now an unusual and noticeable car. My son has been stopped in it three or four times in the past two years. He's also had a deer run into it, but I'm not sure what that proves... ;-p

Message edited by author 2012-10-05 10:57:21.
10/05/2012 11:01:22 AM · #11
Originally posted by dtremain:

Originally posted by Spork99:

As to the color of the car affecting the chance of getting a ticket...I say hogwash. It's the speed that attracts the attention of the police, not the color.

Not sure I'm buying Snopes on this one. The "study" they cite is, to put it kindly, flawed. It would be interesting to see the results from a good, solid study on the matter.

My point was that a car that is more likely to catch an officer's attention (for whatever reason) is more likely to be stopped for a violation - just because the officer is paying attention to it. Speeding (noticeably significantly faster than the flow of traffic), erratic driving, sudden lane changes, failure to stay in a lane, seat belt, etc. will draw an officer's attention. But, so will an unusual car or a car the office would like to have - like a red/yellow/racing stripes Camaro SS.

I've driven a red Ford Taurus for about 8 years, and never even been pulled over in it. But I have been stopped in my son's 1978 yellow Ford LTD - it is now an unusual and noticeable car. My son has been stopped in it three or four times in the past two years. He's also had a deer run into it, but I'm not sure what that proves... ;-p


//onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1993.tb01005.x/abstract

10/05/2012 11:05:07 AM · #12
Thanks all for your replies :)
10/05/2012 01:52:47 PM · #13
I would love to see some of those car color/ticket magnet studies that focused on freeway driving. I believe the safest way to speed is to do it in a minivan, no one wants to stop a mom-mobile. If you can match speeds with a Ferrari, you will not be the one to get the ticket.

A friend who has a heavy right foot used to have a red Porche Carrera. After too many tickets he had it painted grey, and was a bit more cautious, but still got too many tickets. Then he just got a Cadillac CTS and he doesn't get stopped anymore. I would be cautious speeding in a yellow SS, cops would prefer to check out your hot rental than my beat up pickup.

I have driven that direction quite a few times taking various routes and the roads are fast, on I-15 the posted limit is 75 and most of the flow is closer to 80. Here is a link that asks locals where they like to go to blow the dust out.
10/05/2012 01:58:51 PM · #14
The person who passes you is the best radar detector. Always have someone going faster than you. :)
10/05/2012 02:12:57 PM · #15
I say rent a cheaper, more comfortable car and drive the speed limit +5mph. Enjoy the scenery and don't be a jackass.
10/05/2012 02:15:24 PM · #16
I've done 175 mph over here in the uk, that's 105mph over the limit trick is be very aware and don't get caught :), done 100 up through the mohave from la to mammoth they had signs saying speed enforced from the air. Only thing we saw in the air was two f-22 blast past at about 500 feet

Message edited by author 2012-10-05 14:24:22.
10/05/2012 04:15:40 PM · #17
A lifetime ago during a 2 week (fortnight I guess) stay in England, one of the people I was staying with, Mark from Hoddesdon, Herts, had a modified race car- a souped up ... ford escort.

I laughed because stateside escorts were quite a joke, but after going way to fast down side streets in the British countryside, from harlow to St Albans or something like that, on the left side of the car, which felt like I was in the drivers seat without a steering wheel, I was impressed. The cheeseburger joint we drove to at a million km/hr was less impressive.
10/05/2012 04:17:39 PM · #18
One of the places they will lie in wait (with radar) is just over the crest of a long, shallow hill, or around a gentle curve, where radar can check your speed but you can't see them until it's too late.
10/06/2012 12:00:41 PM · #19
If you were a law enforcement officer on the lookout for speeders, which car would first attract your attention?
10/06/2012 12:12:37 PM · #20
Originally posted by GeneralE:

If you were a law enforcement officer on the lookout for speeders, which car would first attract your attention?


The PT cruiser... But that's just because I hate those things.
10/06/2012 12:49:22 PM · #21
Originally posted by GeneralE:

If you were a law enforcement officer on the lookout for speeders, which car would first attract your attention?


The one breaking the speed limit.
10/06/2012 12:58:32 PM · #22
Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by GeneralE:

If you were a law enforcement officer on the lookout for speeders, which car would first attract your attention?


The PT cruiser... But that's just because I hate those things.


thanks man. my car at the roger waters concert.

10/06/2012 01:07:54 PM · #23
Originally posted by FourPointX:

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by GeneralE:

If you were a law enforcement officer on the lookout for speeders, which car would first attract your attention?


The PT cruiser... But that's just because I hate those things.


thanks man. my car at the roger waters concert.



LOL...

Dude, I tried merging onto the interstate in one of those when I worked for the dealership... Worse than a fricken Opal Cadet, genuinely felt like I was going to be run over before I could accelerate.

10/06/2012 01:41:04 PM · #24

Just sayin'....
10/06/2012 01:49:26 PM · #25
Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:


Just sayin'....


Warp Drive...
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