Police officers in North Carolina have been instructed to start cracking down on speeding drivers for going even 1mph over the posted speed limit. The strict enforcement is part of a campaign called “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine.”
Drivers on highways across the country are used to being able to drive a bit faster than the posted speed limit. As a general guideline, most drivers feel that as long as they’re within 9mph of the limit, they’re usually fine. In fact, in some states, even the automated ticket cameras aren’t allowed to issue tickets within a “buffer zone” of 1-9mph over the speed limit.
“Many Americans believe they won’t be ticketed if they drive within a ‘buffer zone’ above the posted speed limit,” said a statement on the NCDOT website. “But now, law enforcement will be targeting and ticketing speeding drivers. When it comes to speeding: Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine – the posted speed limit IS THE LAW.”
According to the Highway Safety Program, the goal of the initiative is to remind people that regardless of how much over the speed limit you are, if you’re driving faster than the speed limit, you’re breaking the law.
Jim O’Neill, the District Attorney for Forsyth County, noted that it might prove difficult to process the huge increase in speeding tickets that would result from letter-of-the-law enforcement. According to O’Neill, it will be up to each individual DA’s office whether or not to prosecute someone for driving 1mph over the limit.
Source: nbc4, citizentimes, wtkr, myfox8, journalnow, tucsonnewsnow, ncdot
Image: stocksnap
“After talking it over we all came to the conclusion that we liked money and big fat budgets so sticking it to drivers like we’re anal hall monitors with revenge on our minds just seemed like the natural course of action.”
I drive the I-26/I-40 stretch of NC between SC and TN six times a week – 3 eastbound, 3 westbound. This is going to suck. I’m not any kind of speed demon, but 62 in a 60, 56/57 in a 55 – doing that I almost always was still one of the slower vehicles in the pattern, but looks like that might not equate to anonymity now.
many ,many years ago,when Ct. started enforcing the 55 limit for trucks.I was awarded one of the first tickets for 128 dollars.I found out later by a friend from Ct. that its a 100 dollar bond and a 28 dollar fine if you show up at court,they give you the hundred back. But yeah ,I got nailed for 56 in a 55 .
The highest fine in CT for speeding is $310.00 Ask me how I know. Went to court and pled out to.. pay lesser amount and have points or pay full amount and it will nolle with no points, in 6mos it will fall off my record.
I run that same section of highway Monday- Friday nights . All I can say is get ready for the accidents and the traffic congestion these people drive like maniacs on that stretch between 240 and exit 54 take the people who will run the speed limit plus the impatient speed demons that don’t care and it’s a recipe for disaster
Someone should do a study of highway collision statistics, before, during and after this “enforcement jamboree”. Accidents happen when changing lanes, not when exceeding the speed limit 4-5mph going down a hill to get up the next…
1996 ticket in Lady Lake Florida US highway 441/27, 47 mph in 45 mph zone, device that clocked me had a accuracy rating +- 3%, ticket thrown out without me even having to argue past that point. If every one that got one of these tickets for doing 1 mph over the posted speed and contested based on the accuracy of the device i guarantee those jurisdictions that are doing this will feel a backlash really fast.
What a waste of everyone’s time, not to mention how unsafe it actually is when you are not moving with the flow of traffic… Maybe we should all spend the next month driving 10mph below the speed limit in NC to see if they like that better…
I know speedometers can also vary due to tires aged and i dont have a digital speedometer
Drivers just stick it back to em. Stay out of the truckstops, don’t spend any money there, at all. I promise you, they will change their tune after 3 or 4 weeks of it. Ask Indiana and Ohio if trucker boycotts work or not. They lost millions in revenue, not counting all the unemployment they had to pay out because businesses had to lay folks off because of no business. I’ve been retired since June of 2010.
I had 36 years out there. I started back when there was iron men and iron trucks. Boycotts work and they are legal.
Uhmmm..I wonder what’s the plan when professional drivers proceed to fulfill other occupations?
I wonder what the accuracy of the radar guns are these days hmm pluses or minus 1 MPH……Nice North Carolina why don’t they just put up a donation station at there rest area’s
Check your state statue, in Minnesota the radar is supposed to be certified, every 30 days, counties and cities normal only certify once a year due to cost.
And you ask a officer when the last time he had it certified, normally they’ll tell you when they started there shift. Using a tuning fork is not a certified calibration.
Actually a police friend told me + – 3mph!
The speedometer on cars are far less accurate. Radar/laser guns get calibrated very often
And, therein lies the problem. The ticket suggests that you intentionally drove over the posted speed limit, but given the inaccuracies of speedometers, due to many variables including TREAD DEPTH, you might not actually may not be doing it on purpose. THAT’S WHY cops usually give that buffer, because they are giving folks the benefit of the doubt. Any cut rate attorney will be able to get a one MPH ticket thrown out, and a countersuit for lost time and expenses would probably help get this brilliant idea tossed, in no time.
Not always. A breathing device in nebrSka wasnt adjusted for a long time. Several appeals are starting to happen
Not so true Tami,, radar and laser guns are not as accurate as you may think and it is up to the individual jurisdictions to have those devices calibrated on a regular base’s, which they don’t always do. I have never seen any detection device laser gun or otherwise that is 100% accurate. Manufacturer’s always put that + or – sign in there for a reason. Case in point, 1996 ticket in Lady Lake Florida US highway 441/27, 47 mph in 45 mph zone, device that clocked me had a accuracy rating +- 3%, ticket thrown out without me even having to argue past that point. If every one that got one of these tickets for doing 1 mph over the posted speed and contested based on the accuracy of the device i guarantee those jurisdictions that are doing this will feel a backlash really fast.
Everyone wants their own police state. Also, this sort of nanny/police state tactic is great for revenue and control. Ticketing someone for speeding is usually not a safety issue. When government spouts “safety”, it means revenue and control. When companies talk “safety”, it means reducing liabilities.
You are not free, and that driver license represents a contract with the state–you will comply with all of the rules, or you will pay the price.
Speeding has been repeatedly shown to increase accident, and therefore safety, risks. What you’re suggesting is nonsense.
Speeding implies exceeding the posted limit, reality is too fast for conditions is what increases the safety risk.
1000%.
You sound just like me.
We must be blood brothers.
You know we are on their list.
Sounds like a great reason to stay the hell out of NC. If all tourist would avoid NC like the plague then they would change that plan as “it’s all about the money”.
I would like to inform my fellow drivers my sister drivers it is against the law a federal law that any law enforcement official to willfully endanger the life of a private citizen in the line of duty in any such form or manner including routine traffic stops but not limited to you as a private citizen of this country when they stop you on the side of the road they take it upon themselves to willfully endanger your life in the line of duty when this happens contact the occupational safety and health administration and file a criminal complaint against the officer you have every legal right to do so as a past civil servant I know what I’m talking about they do not have a legal right to willfully endanger your life in the line of duty no such form or manner you can legally sue the officer for it number 2 radar is an inaccurate form of speed measurement you can sue them for that do not let them pull the wool over your eyes complain to the occupational safety and health administration and the Fair Trade Commission don’t take it lying down sue them for it you have every legal right to and possibly if they willfully endager your life in the line of duty you can base it on how many people have been killed out here in the last 20 years and yes president William Jefferson Clinton allows us to do that don’t take it lying down sue them…remember they stopped you you did not stop them……
Just another tax. Wake up sheeple!
LOL…I had to chuckle at your comment
Couldn’t have said it better, Pete! Wonder if the police will “police” themselves?? I’m sorry, dumb question…. Yes, not their call and the hand is being forced to some of them. However, I hope drivers either commercial or not will call the local news or police or whoever they want to inform if a trooper passes them on the roadway. A video on YouTube would be great publicity too because we all know this will happen. The state wants to be in the spotlight so why not help them. I’m not trying to make the police look bad but everyone should be held accountable, even those writing the tickets.
Don’t feed the bears!
It’s not a safety issue it’s a revenue issue they need money so there going to become jerks about everything they see
It won’t just be difficult to prosecute at 1 mph over…it will be IMPOSSIBLE to prosecute.
Even the state’s don’t have the money to go after manufacturers. And that’s where it will end up.
The buffer zone as referred to in this article is due to the difference in calibration the of the speedometer in different vehicles and/or the calibration of the radar detection device used by law enforcement is speeding cases.
NO judge is going to allow his courtroom to become a battle ground over just a few (1-5) mphs that an officers device read verse what the gauge said in a Mercedes-Benz or any other manufacturer.
Now…for us hands out here daily…we need to be mindful that they CAN stop us if there device says we are speeding. And in doing so, we open the door to MANY and ANYthing they can find up to and including a full DOT inspection.
This is laughable and whoever came up with this lame excuse to make up a financial shortage in the state’s budget by this new tactic did NOT thinK about ALL that will come with the attempt to actually make it work.
They are banking on people just bending over and taking it.
Please…do NOT take this as I condon speeding. I don’t.
BUT…I will NOT be part of any state’s game to collect money so they can live better than I do.
So…IF you receive on of these tickets for 1-5mph over the posted limit, so not just pay it. I know it may be tough to get back to a court date. But you’ll need to try…and if possible take an attorney.
This will make local and even national news and probably cost N.C. more than they ever thought.
But always remember…the posted limit is the law. It’ll just prove impossible to prove that the defendants new $65,000 Cadillac had a faulty gauge…and then bring General Motors and the rest into play. … … …
Like I said…NO judge is going to allow his courtroom to suffer through all that…for a speeding ticket.
Stay safe out here…
I wonder if they – law enforcement – are going to start holding their selves liable as well? I was passed last week by a TN trooper that nearly peeled the decals off my truck. He had to be approaching 100 mph. I saw him exit way up the road and by the time I got up there by the exit I saw him in a gas station pumping gas. Made me wonder how many times he has to hit the pumps a day driving like that.
I hope for 2 things.
1. I live to see the day when truckers strike nationwide.
2. The strike has a snarky, snot nosed rhyming name like “Stop the freight, till you stop the hate”
I hear that. It’s really long overdue in this industry.
That will NEVER happen, although i wouldn’t call it strike, lets call it taking a vacation, to enjoy a few days off, go fishing enjoy the sun so to speak, a nation wide truck drivers week or something in that manner.
if that ever happens, which it wont, you will find a police officer dragging you out of bed and put you behind the wheel telling you to go to work, and accuse you of ruining the country and its economy for your own selfish act of looking out for yourself and the future of this industry and other drivers.
So, i wonder if truck drivers were that important, then why are they treated like shite.
Lets face it, we have no rights whatsoever, but the right to work and live to work.
You are right but truckers will never do it, they are affaid of loosing job or not making payment on truck. They need to all take 34 hr. Break at same time. Trucker KYFLYBOY..
never happen
Truckers will never strike….They refuse to ever stick together….If they ever did strike they would all scab their own strike….Drivers give away more work than they get paid for every day…
That is the truth. I can’t believe how many drivers still do flat bed; for an example. I am pulling a reefer now. I get more sleep. I don’t get dirty. I don’t break a sweat. I make the same $. I worked for 3 different flat bed companies. I did like Arrow though.
Arrow Trucking out of Tulsa? You liked a company that ended up being run by drug taking corrupt son Doug Pielsticker that ran a company there father Jim Pielsticker built into the ground in less than 8yrs? Are you insane or mad? They put driver “manager” in between and unless you made a good sucking sound in there presence were sure to make your life driving for them unbearable. When you see ‘Million Miler’ drivers leaving the company it isnt because they couldnt do a damn good job servicing the customer, it was based on the adopted new business model of dishonesty and deception initiated by the son and passed on to supervisors and management. I started my career with them right out of driving school at Central Tech in Drumright, Ok., and watched all the good coworkers and people I knew get starved out of there leases before a year was out… I made it 1yr and 3 days. I only stayed that long because I had a goal to show I wasnt a job hopper, even at the worst company I ever worked for in my career… period!
Try to get 2 truck drivers to agree that the sky is blue, exercise in futility
They say that every driver has a different opinion…Well…When you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired…The drivers will finally do something about it!!
Truckers strikes never work. Why? Plain and simple, most drivers live paycheque to paycheque and most O/O are only 1-2 payments away from a repo.
Besides, if you get 10 truckers in a room, you’ll get 12 different opinions.
A nation wide strike will never work in the USA. Besides the number of individual businesses in the industry, a strike as a labor tool is against a company, not government. The only segment that could shut us down is fuel delivery. I’m not sure it will help. We need more drivers supporting OOIDA and the like, and voting. Just Say No to Cheap Freight is a slogan but, define Cheap Freight. The only way to get changes done, run 100% to the letter of the regulations and speed laws. We would be cutting our own throat in the short run but, in the long run, maybe it will create enough problems naturally without a strike.
Love this! Right on point!
I am waiting on the same thing.Seems like everyone is coming up with ways to keep trucks off the road.A Nationwide Strike for a few days will probably bring everyone to the Negotiating table.Find a solution to quit targeting/blaming drivers for everything and quit using us to pay for everything
Cannot be just a few days. It must be open ended to work, which is why it will NEVER happen.
It’s just some states you wish didn’t exsit, those Andy Griffin ass state with laws that benifit the city officials pocketbook and deterate the citizens of those states to little known criminals without hesitation of taking their poor weekly earnings being it’s a poor state as it is…..
Good reason to NOT go to N.C.
Let their freight SIT.
Governments, local, state and federal are becoming increasingly predatory upon the population. Time to push back.
Look out for the small towns too, when not taking a toll road. (ie…Kansas… going around I-35 toll) The small towns are changing their signs to say “No Truck Route” and routing trucks only one or two blocks and then back to their main road. Police sit just down from the signs because it doesn’t show up as a No Truck Route on your Garmin. Just a sneaky way to screw over truckers also. It doesn’t effect your CSA score just puts money in that municipality’s pocket.
How do you propose this to happen? It’s real easy to say let the freight sit! But are you an transportation owner? If you are are you going to refuse freight for your trucks. If you don’t want to take freight to North Carolina and make a statement, turn in your truck and your CDL. Now that’s making a statement!
Good more for me
That’s exactly what’s wrong with truckers. Thanks Tami for pointing that out with your comment. The “more for me” attitude doesn’t help the cause.
I like it and all for it
Exactly right. Tami is one of those “all about me” drivers. She is a fine example of why the trucking industry is rapidly going down hill. Go ahead Tami…. Keep driving your speed limited POS company truck in the center lane like your the only person on the road.
You got that right
I wish that we would make a stand. Truck only tolls. Extra taxes. Bullying by law enforcement. Hours of service. No place to park. Heavy fines. Sleep apnea. The list goes on and on.
Why can’t you just abide by the law of speed limits? It’s pretty simple, driving is a privelage, not a right. As someone who drives his truck at the speed limit at all times, I get really sick of drivers blowing past me like their time is more important than mine. Abide by the rules or get a ticket. I’m OK with that as my part of fulfilling my privelage to drive.
I guess speedometers better be spot on also. I thought that was why they gave the 1 to 4 mile per hour leeway in the first place.
Have you ever heard the saying, Give them an inch and they will take a mile. Well the police give a couple of miles over, then the drivers take an extra 5 to 10 above the limit. If they would lower the limit instead of raise it. They would get the speed limit they want drivers to drive, problem solved.
” it might prove difficult to process the huge increase in speeding tickets that would result from letter-of-the-law enforcement ”
Means money coming in.
” it will be up to each individual DA’s office whether or not to prosecute someone for driving 1mph over the limit.”
means yes we’re going to waste your time to get to court if you elect to fight it, either ways you’re going to end up paying it, and possibly put it on your driving record too.
I wonder if this goes for speeding cops and gov officials?
Hey, maybe this means they will enforce the immigration laws to the letter now !
Your kidding, hallucinating, Right? With all the chicken, furniture in NC
That doesn’t help them so they won’t care about that…
Good luck there. Too many Mexicans crossing our borders taking our work away already. I think mexico trucks needs to stay in mexico. We sure can’t go into mexico!!! Out butts would end up in their prison due to their corrupt law enfarcement. Yes I spelled it that way on purpose.
. . . uh, actually, YOU wouldn’t work for what Mexicans get paid in the US, and neither will the vast majority of other Americans. THAT is why Mexicans, or any immigrant for that matter, can come to the US and get work. So who are the cheap pricks running the companies that pay so little? Americans. If all the immigrants were forced out, tons of businesses would come to a grinding halt and just about ALL the prices you pay, for everything in your life, will immediately go up. Time to lose the narrow minded racist glasses and go put on some reality glasses.
I hate our immigration problem as much as the next guy, if not more, but they’re not taking our jobs. No American wants to spend 12 hours a day in a humid field picking fruits and vegetables, or mowing lawns. If you’re going to target immigration, at least target the correct issues.
The Supreme Court has spoken about this before and said it’s impossible to be that accurate.
Just another reason why I am looking into other areas to make money haven’t driven since November.
Starve the industry of great drivers as much as possible and watch America fall one mile at a time.
Thank you! When will drivers wake up and realize ‘there’s power in numbers’!!!??? We drivers could shut the industry down. Today. So, what’s the hold up!?
You mean ‘old school’ drivers. The new breed of drivers could care less IMO. There is no more courtesy out there. Drivers can’t get along. I was off the road for 14 years from ’96-2010 and lost my business in the recession. Had to reluctantly climb back into a truck after a 14 year hiatus to pay the bills and the industry is nothing like it used to be. Way more morons driving now than ever before. Absolutely clueless and zero common sense. That’s just for starters. The majority of attitudes suck, the morale is pathetic. Micro-managed to the minute on a daily basis. I’m already looking for greener pastures and I’m finding out it’s not an easy task in this industry so I’m taking my 2 million miles of experience with me by the end of the year and doing something else besides this nonsense.
Hmmm, I think it’s you old school drivers that created this mess in the first place. 20-30 years ago, the image of the industry was that of methed out, outlaw drivers. Cooking your logs and causing terrible accidents. Being fat, greasy and unhealthy. Us “New school” drivers are still looked at that way and until CA 2010 weeds out all you “Old Schoolers”, things will be slow to change.
You sound like steering wheel holder.
You are right it’s nothing like it use to be
No one will stand together. I was in the industry back in the late 70’s & 80’s when they tried to shut down and strike. It didn’t work then and now there are what….. Three times as many trucks on the road or more? You can’t even get a new generation steering wheel holder to let you out at an on ramp anymore.
And they won’t move over if you are on the shoulder
Never. They wouldnt be signing these outrageous lease purchases if they understood number power.
Wow, what a bunch of whiners in these comments.
Or, you all COULD just slow down to the posted speed for a few months until they relax again.
Well I hope they will finally be pulling over 4 wheelers, I am constantly being passed
Just a tip from a retired cop, who is now a trucker, laser and Radar are only accurate + or – 1 to 2 mph, it’s a fact you can fight and win a ticket for 1 over no question… All NC is gonna do is clog the courts in a ticket they can’t win…..
Most police….work for “their’ forty years til retire, are in familial jobs, that they could care less about….they couldn’t do anything else; due to lack of education….unfortunately, like most truck drivers.
Cops/Police whatever,….are Sheeple too, run by the Trickly down Illuminati,…who want to take and take and take…without giving back. America is a false Democracy. Most people know this. The Judges, the Cops, the money collectors…have HUGE stress to collect funds to “validate their’ menial jobs.” Yes,….menial. They do as little as possible to make as much money in “collected monies as possible”, without ever arresting or “f*cking each other.”
Do you wear your tinfoil hat when you spew that garbage?
Frank lives in NY. SO do I. That is how it is in NY. NY has a lot of pull in DC so they can screw their people & get away with it.
LOL…that’s funny…that’s a good answer. I get a chuckle out of some of these zingers.Thats one thing about drivers, ya gotta crack up by some of the things you hear or read out here on a daily basis or you’ll go crazy. Nothing compares to a truckers sense of humor that’s for sure.
Unless they belong to cult!
They can’t become a cult. A cult all does the same thing. You can’t get THREE drivers to do the same thing let alone enough to be a cult.
You’re an idiot Tommy boy
Look out for the small towns too, when by-passing a toll road. (ie….El Dorado, Kansas) They are changing their signs to route truckers around their main thorough-fare, just to bring us right back to the same road in a block or two.
The drivers that get these 1 to 5 MPH tickets all need to contest them in court,when they have to pay overtime to all the Officers to be in court several times a week and in some cases adjust the shift schedules (you cannot have an Officer who works all night then be in court all day) unlike trucking.The city councils will change their minds.
It’s an interesting thought I was not aware of… This is brought up on my radio station last night as a matter of fact as the guests on the show was a judge who informed us that a speedometer is not required in a vehicle.
Despite that little fact, in less you had your speedometer certified, even though it might say you’re doing exactly the speed limit it could actually be off by one, two, 3 miles an hour. How many people out there have certified speedometers?
Just more revenue enhancing tactics
hers another trick they use.turn the fan on for the heater,shoot the gun into the airflow,and you now have 88 mph. I was told this by a state cop.
Lol…we’re all screwed if that cop is having an anal day
You believe that? I think officers lie a lot, it seems to amuse them.
Talk radio is typically opinion based; even if they are a, so called, expert of some sort.
20‑123.2 Speedometer.
(a) Every self‑propelled motor vehicle when operated on the highway shall be equipped with a speedometer which shall be maintained in good working order.
The tolerance level for most radar guns including laser is 1-2%. Keeping that in mind, all radar guns have to be checked for accuracy and recalibrated every so often. Most tickets within the 1-2 mph over speed limit are unenforceable. Another retarded state trying to rip off people, hoping they will just pay the fine and go on.
Everyone should drive about 1-5 miles per hour less than posted… This away it slows everyone down to a crawl…let’s see trucks running side by side and no one can get around them….sorta like a work slow down….how many times a day do we see trucks on the interstate that are set at 65 mph..stuck beside each other and can’t pass…and traffic backed up…. Any cop that would enforce this law isn’t much of a cop… IMO
I’m sure we all remember when Ohio and Indiana did this. Till they got squashed by the Feds, the law states that our speedometers only have to be accurate within 5 mph +or-. So long as you are within 5 they can pull you over, but are not supposed to ticket or even give warning for speed.
DOT requirements are for a speedometer to be accurate to within 3%. So at 55 mph, the speedometer could read 53 to 57 So a driver could be pegged right on 55 with cruise control on, and really be going 57! We all know wgawhat this is about. Most trucks are on a speed governor these days.. and not really capable of speeding under a reasonable application of the speed limit. So truck fine revenue dries up… that’s what the unreasonable application of speed limit restrictions… gotta pay those fat cat pensions for State Employees!
Radar and laser guns are not as accurate as you may think and it is up to the individual jurisdictions to have those devices calibrated on a regular base’s, which they don’t always do. I have never seen any detection device laser gun or otherwise that is 100% accurate. Manufacturer’s always put that + or – sign in there for a reason. Case in point, 1996 ticket in Lady Lake Florida Northbound US highway 441/27, 47 mph in 45 mph zone, device that clocked me had a accuracy rating +- 3%, ticket thrown out without me even having to argue past that point. If every one that got one of these tickets for doing 1 mph over the posted speed and contested based on the accuracy of the device i guarantee those jurisdictions that are doing this will feel a backlash really fast.
I was on a ride along with a dupry sheriff in Texas one time when he was running radar. We did clock a 4 wheeler speeding north on Hwy 287. When we went through the middle the radar blanked out. I said oh no he got away with that speed. The deputy replied no way. We got up to speed and he shot the radar at the guard rail and look the number showed up and the ticket was issued. We were going 78mph when he did that, which is the speed the 4 wheeler was going when he passed us going the opposite direction.
Sign of spring: the bears are coming out of hibernation, and they’re HUNGRY!
Please, don’t feed the bears.
I am a trucker my self and I have done my part of A BIT OVER THE SPEED LoL Why don’t they change the SPEED when the change the time FALL BACK/SPRING FOWARD…… DRIVE SLOWER THEN HELL SPRING FORWARD AND DRIVER FASTER WHEN IT IS SAFE…
Simply drive 50 mph then take turns passing each other at 51 mph 🙂
I swear…the sign says 55, 60, 65….whatever….That is the posted speed limit…that is the law! For generations, drivers here, me included have been blatantly breaking the law. Speed limits have become a joke. This aint Germany folks. It’s about doggone time someone began enforcing the letter of the law. I know it’ll keep me honest. I wish more states would do this as well. Damn, I’m an unpopular guy now. For years I’ve driven 55 in CA and it amazed me that I WAS THE ONLY ONE! But a nice sized fine for doing 60 in a 55 taught me a lesson that “Oh CA will allow ya 5 over slong as yer not changin lanes(in my best drive slang)” B.S. GO NC!
There is on the books a Federal regulation that states that the speedometer on a commercial vehicle only has to be accurate to within 5 MPH at 50 mph. I have found no where that it has been modified, changed or deleted.
Look it up.Not easy to find but it is there. Beat a ticket , show the judge the regs. Fight it . Enough is enough.
You are correct sir. Someone else stated has to be within 3%, INCORRECT. Must be accurate within 10%, so a speedo @65mph can be off 6.5mph and still meet fed regs. 30 years in the auto industry….. Lots of things can affect speed readings in speedometers such as temp and humidity and how worn are your tires. About the only thing that’s consistently accurate is GPS because your being triangulated by satellites, sometimes 6-7 at a time.
Gordon A, Radar and laser guns are not as accurate as people may think and it is up to the individual jurisdictions to have those devices calibrated on a regular base’s, which they don’t always do. I have never seen any detection device laser gun or otherwise that is 100% accurate. Manufacturer’s always put that + or – sign in there for a reason. Case in point, 1996 ticket in Lady Lake Florida Northbound US highway 441/27, 47 mph in 45 mph zone, device that clocked me had a accuracy rating +- 3%, ticket thrown out without me even having to argue past that point. If every one that got one of these tickets for doing 1 mph over the posted speed and contested based on the accuracy of the device i guarantee those jurisdictions that are doing this will feel a backlash really fast.
IMHO…the article does not specifically target trucks! Get over yourselves! In my estimation, one has a better chance of being struck by lightning, than receiving a speeding ticket. Seems to me there are about a gazillion vehicles, most traveling 80+ mph, and can count on one hand the number pulled over
Poor, poor truck drivers!
NC Revenues must be down so where do they go for quick money…Big Trucks. The Trucking industry brought Indiana to its knees back in the 70’s…We can do the same to NC too!!
§ 393.82: Speedometer.
Each bus, truck, and truck-tractor must be equipped with a speedometer indicating vehicle speed in miles per hour and/or kilometers per hour. The speedometer must be accurate to within plus or minus 8 km/hr (5 mph) at a speed of 80 km/hr (50 mph).
So how about when traveling through NC you do 5 under the posted speed limit. If enough do it. it might send a message. At least no tickets for 1 mph over the limit.
This is what I planned on doing, and that is 5 miles less then the posted speed limited. Pain in the ass to be honest, and I’m sure I will piss some ppl off
Yes this action taken is about money. What goes around comes around . The officers will be so busy giving tickets the real criminals will be having a field day. There are always other ways to make revenue, besides riding the same cow.
Everyone knows that cops are DISHONEST period ! I have never in my 68 years met an honest police officer,but the sad part is…the public is REQUIRED to show them respect. Really ? Joe Bartman above has got the right idea.“Stop the freight, till you stop the hate”.We aren’t supose to hate cops,but what about their hate for us ? A police officers does’t have to use a gun,or stab you with a knife,or tazer you to wreck your life….all they just have to lie about you on a ticket,or in court,and your life is ruined. I was accused of “Vehicular Manslaughter” on Fostoria Ohio in 2005. Not one person in Ohio was brought in as a witness to testify on my side of this. An Ohio state employee running a red light into the side of my truck killing HIS passenger. Ohio has a “rigged” court system against people from another state. Ohio has been writing 56 in 55 for years. “failure to have your vehicle under control” is their excuse to write you up.Since when did the court system become a “money making business”? The court system is suppose to be about your guilt,or innocence ? Equal Justice under the law, Yea right..tell me another lie officer.
The problem is, the high courts have determined that law enforcement radar is only accurate to within 8mph of a given value. That’s why most police forces allow for up to 8mph over, because you can’t win a speeding case in court for less. Apparently, someone in NC hasn’t been told about that. They’ll have to waste a lot of taxpayer’s money before they find out, unless they are using lidar, which can also bring in some tricky questions in court.
Wow, kinda stupid of them. First off, to the best of my knowledge speedometers are still based off of the speed of the drive shaft. So, the tire’s rolling distance per revolution is the big fudge factor here. Put a different sized tire or even different air pressure and tire temperature and you change the distance a tire rolls in a revolution. So, the speedometer varies. Less rolling distance, slower indicated speed, greater rolling distance, higher indicated speed. Under ‘reasonable’ conditions, this inaccuracy is not of any real concern. But, if law enforcement is going to push the speed tolerance this tight. Well, you vehicle simply doesn’t have an accurate enough instrument to abide by the given tolerance!
btw, if you have a GPS device that can give you your speed. Try maintaining a constant speed in a straight direction for a while and see what the GPS device tells you your speed is. It will be much more correct as it is actually based upon distance traveled in time, the actual definition of speed.
Wonder how this turns out for the law enforcement folks. I doubt they’ll be able to keep it up for too long. Somehow someone somewhere is going to fight on the basic Physics of this.
I agree 100%. Of all the vehicles I own, they all get checked by a cop friend of mine and all are off. I just won’t go there and avoid the hassle. Hope everyone else does the same. Let them starve.
Traffic laws are more for the theft of funds than for safety. The servants have become the oppressors. Local and Federal Law enforcement has replaced local gangs, robbing the citizens.
I was radar certified as a police officer in SC. Until 2015. The NHTSA approved curriculum mandated to pass the practical exercise that you measure speed without the device plus or minus 3mph. All of the radar/ lidar operators manuals provided to me gave a accuracy threshold of plus or minus 4 mph. There is no federal requirement for agencies to certify officers in use of radar/lidar. It is a best practice certify radar units annually though not a requirement. I agree that targeted enforcement of speeding vehicles in reduced speed zones reduces accidents. Enforcement to 1mph is ridiculous, Even a speedometer is a mechanical device incapable of accuracy to plus minus 1.
Well, there’s a thought. Why don’t we just enforce the laws currently in place, like posted speed limits, and save ourselves a lot of dough by letting go of all the legislators creating new laws.
Simple solution. Don’t go there. Let the bastards who elect these idiots starve till they get smart enough to elect someone other than morons.
Thank you! When will we drivers stop paying other peoples’ salaries only to be ‘horrifically’ abused by them. It makes no sense!
Kinda like that governor in Rhode Island that wants tolls ONLY on trucks, huh?
And I don’t go there. Can is 55 for trucks and them are cool gals and gents.Drive 62 and they pass right on by, for the past 12 years
This will ultimately fail. Why?
1. Vehicles speedometers are simply not that accurate, they are usually 5-10 mph out of calibration
2. They obviously have not considered how badly this will clog up their justice system as more and more people contest the tickets.
3. This seems to be a cash cow to buffer the state’s coffers
4. British Columbia, Canada tried this years ago, didn’t work as voters made their voices known
Just another way to screw people over, Ohio did that for yrs and everyone knows even brand new trucks and cars has the potential to be off by a couple mph, absolutely ridiculous, how about we all just stop driving and let you worthless bastards starve.
It should come as no surprise when states become bankrupt that they inflict a more punitive environment on drivers.
Discretion and Fairplay goes out the window when it comes to generating revenue.
It is just a way to get tax revenue from people who very likely are not NC voters. Politicians are always looking for ways to get more money to spend to please their voters to get re-elected. That is why hotel and car rental taxes are so high, too. Once they reach the limit on what they can get with taxes, borrowing and regulatory fees, they turn to penalties for revenue.
Theres plenty of freight to haul..They want to punish us with this bs tickets and fines and there crazy toll rates to provide there state with necessities and conveniences then we should punish them by not bringin them there goods! Let them know who really has the power! We never punch back!? They just pummel us over and over and like dum dums we get right back up and deliver another load right to them only to get punched again..We just do our jobs and stock there state and they hate us so F em! Same with no truck towns..starve em until they realize where there necessities come from.
The radar guns usually have a manufacturer error of 1 mph, calibrated or not. This is simply a case of abusing a truck driver that will incur over 10 times the costs to defend himself than it will be to pay the ticket.
As others have said, this BS is purely about revenue enhancement for the almighty State.
There is nothing “safe” about it, especially when you consider the increase in roadside ticketing and the resultant last-minute lane change panic when Freddy Four-Wheeler says, “OMIGAWD! Cherries and berries! I gotta give the precious government agent his safe space!”
I drive a truck trying to make a living, but it seems like they’re trying to make it as difficult as possible at every turn. They’d better hope that truck drivers never get PO’d enough to shut things down for 2 or 3 days. Without trucks rolling everyone would see how important the trucks are to every aspect of making things work.
Let us waste more taxpayer dollars. The cops will need overtime to handle this load and then the courts will in all likelihood, through the damn thing out! Then that will flood the courts.
Economic bad every state
But money need always including police .
Now police like criminal .every officer must make money for police department becouse from any ticket, , police department get $%.
They don’t give a sh!t about you or me. They know you are getting paid by the mile, and they just don’t care about it. They don’t care when mexican trucks are running hazmat inside our country, with trucks in bad conditions. They don’t give a dime about nothing, they just care about them.
Wow, wonder how in the long run this will work out for them. Here is a scenario:
There are 100 vehicles on a 2 lane section of I-85 traveling northbound in NC with all trying to obey the 0 tolerance 55mph rule.
The first vehicle is cruising along at 55mph(cruise control enabled). I reckon it wouldn’t make sense for a vehicle to be in the left lane for passing the first vehicle since doing so would require you to exceed 55mph. However I am pretty sure both lanes will be occupied with all vehicles in single files while maintaining a safe following distance. Cars 2-3 seconds with trucks at 8 seconds.
Let’s say we have 50 vehicles each in both lanes and they are all trucks and it so happens on this particular day all these drivers are the most safety minded drivers on the planet that are following their 8 seconds following distance practice.
Could you please explain the speed of the last driver in the chain of either lane. What would be the speed of the 15th and 25th driver in either lanes?
It’s all a money grab, nothing to do with safety.
if you can NOT obey the posted speed limit, you are NOT a professional driver. Drive 5 miles below the posted speed and have no issues.
I don’t think they will target 4 wheelers. Angry 4 wheelers vote.
Get a dash cam and record all the vehicles passing you and present it to the judge if you get stopped. Proof positive you were targeted and grounds for a lawsuit.
I also use my GPS to judge my speed.
As long as they target everyone I’m good with this within reason, 1 mile over is just stupid. People feel like they can drive any way they want and go as fast as they want, combine that with idiots using cell phones, tablets, and such is a recipe for disaster. And they wonder why accident fatalities are increasing. Hell, nobody is driving the speed limit and lets be honost we are not talking 3 miles or even 5 over I have people that blow past me like I’m barely moving when I’m doing the speed limit.
They’re just still mad about all the bets they lost on the Super Bowl !!!
Prove that your speed recording device is 1000% accurate.. 1 mph is as bad as giving a ticket for being 34,001 lb over weight.. Looks like this revenue enhancement will back fire on them…
Someone make sure to inform Jim O’Neill, the District Attorney
for Jorsyth County…to pass the word around the Court Houses:(
“Crap like this puts the Whole State of North Carolina and The
Law Enforcement Officials & Police Officers in a Very Bad Light.
Surely, they realize that anything that gets on a CB Radio of a Trucker
goes Nation-Wide !
The Buzz Around The USA is that North Carolina,
is not very Friendly to Truckers. Even though N.C., knows that Truckers are
the ones who labor overnight to bring them their ‘ Bread & Butter ‘ …Shity-Way to reward Truckers North Carolina .
Its ultimately up to the cops. I know a lot of cops that wont waste their time on that crap.
I can’t wait to go to NC and get a ticket for going 1 over. Its going to cost that jurisdiction more to collect the fine from me, than what the fine is. If more people would fight the citations, jurisdictions wouldn’t be pulling this “Bovine Feeces”
Knee-jerk idiocy, NO speedometer is precisely accurate, the only way I’ve been able to make sure I’m ON THE POSTED SPEED is to use my GPS.
Sounds highly to me like North Carolina is looking to pad their coffers with trucker money!!!
Does this mean that the police will have to do the speed limit to
Don’t eat the bait. This applies to everyone, and the law is the law. There should be no reason for people to take advantage of a system because they feel the law does not apply to them. We have a voting process for that. Get involved…
But, for those who haven’t seen the statements. They have actually said that it would be up to the officer to decide if 1-2 over was risky enough to pull someone over. So, the world isn’t ending tomorrow, some people just need to get up a few minutes early to get to work on time…
It’s a real shame that law enforcers are above the law. How many times have you seen a cop getting pulled over for speeding? Sure it has happened but all they have to say is “I was on a call”. When cops stop breaking the law then and only then should they be allowed to enforce it.
Amen. I was told by a NY State Trooper that they speed because if they drove the speed limit they would hold up traffic…well damn! Shouldn’t law enforcement “set” the example?
The F.M.C.S.A book states that a CMV speedometer must be within + or – 5mph the police crown Victoria “p71” has a speedometer that says certified calibration. For accurate speed reading, we as CMV. Drivers don’t meet that standard and should not be heard accountable… my Mac says 64 on the dash my GPS says 62 who’s right?
Number one rule when getting a speed ticket is always fight it. I do.
Wheres the uproar? Who made this decision to ticket 1 mph? Have the guy fired or recalled, after all, we the people are the bosses, not them.
I say follow these dudes around with video cams blazing and show how they speed around at least 10 mph in the fast lane everywhere they go. Cops are notorious speeders. I have yet to witness 1 single cop obeying speed limits, using turn signals as well as talking on a cell phone while driving, entering data into their computers while driving, idling their engines in NO IDLE zones and running errands on duty.
We the people have looked the other way for far too long and allowed focus groups and outside third party contractors to decide our fate regarding traffic laws when it isn’t their job to decide in the first place.
Common sense laws and common sense rule need to be reflected on when committing resources to enforcing the law.
These same people are putting sensors into the roads and cameras on poles and drones in the air which is completely nonsensical and a misappropriation of funds.
It’s out of hand people.
It needs to stop!
Revenue Enhancement, that’s all this is.
No semi loads accepted to n Carolina for 2 weeks would fix that problem…
Because we can’t tax billionaires and giant corporations, but we can screw the hell out of working people.
OK then 55 on I-26, I-40, I-85 when we have 40 miles or so of two travel lanes or even three trucks going 55 in both lanes and 10 miles of traffic behind them all complaining and making them phone calls to the right people and it will be stopped as it was in Atlanta, Ga. Them 4 wheelers matter, and them gov. Officials will listen. So 55 I will go in left lane when 2 lanes and middle lane when they are 3. Sorry drivers, and go along with me and make that statement, it want take but a couple a weeks, it will be back to normal. Be safe , God bless us all
When enough truckers drive 5mph less than the speed limit I guarantee that things will change rather quickly. I remember a trucker doing something like that down in the Florida Keys a while back. It’s not against the law to go 5mph less than the speed limit although traffic does get a little congested.
These tickets would be relatively easy to beat. Never hold court on the roadside….never offer up an explination, they’ll just use it against you/manipulate your words, if asked, “do you know how fast you were going?” Only respond with, “The speed limit.” Only ask what was the device used to measure your speed, i.e., LIDAR, Radar (Doppler) or bumper pace…FIGHT YOUR TICKET!
When you report to the court clerks office to post your bail (fine), request a hearing to subpoena the cop and a request a “Dueces Tacum.” This is a legal term to force the officer to bring in the certificates to the equipment he/she used to measure your speed. If he dosent, you win….if equip not calibrated, you win….the cop is required to explain how he used the equipment too. This pretty much works in most states. Do your homework! Retired Sheriffs Deputy, Corporal, Traffic, Southern Ca…
I wonder what would happen if all truck drivers got together and refused to pickup or deliver freight in North Carolina.
I agree but as a company driver many of us don’t have that choice. However companies could make that decision not to pickup/deliver there. Also add Rhode Island to the list
So who issues a ticket to the stupid cop who is not obeying the speed limit. If i catch it on my video recorder..rest assured I will submit it to the state for those cops who think they are above the law…
I so can’t wait for a September 12th 2001 moment. You remember that day, when law enforcement officers were out protecting we citizens from the terrorist attack and not writing tickets for Truckers doing 56 in a 55? Axxholes
Not to go off topic about NC being among the biggest revenue sharks out there, but Joe Bartman I agree 100%. Ive thought about that driver strike for awhile now.. What if every driver in the entire US said, on a set date…Say NOV 1st 2016 as an example (right when holiday freight is booming) ALL drivers just strike. And stay on strike until a lot of driver issues are fixed. Im thinking a two week minimum shut down of all freight hauling trucks. Truckers CAN take back the industry IF they all set out to complete the same goal, and ALL drivers are onboard with the strike. Drivers should decide why they are going to strike, what terms they want in order to end the strike, and set a date for the start of the strike. Drivers must realize that this would need to include a minimum of 80% of the entire US commercial driving industry to be quickly effective. (Which might be an issue if a large % of drivers refused to shutdown) When truck drivers realize, that shutting down trucks as a whole, dead stops the economy almost over night, they will realize how much power DRIVERS actually have. But some would have to, no doubt, accept a few dents in their record for late loads or undelivered loads. They could refuse all loads that would not be delivered prior to the strike to avoid this.. and every company cant fire every driver nationwide, so job loss due to strike would be the minimum, if any, considering its country wide. At some point, truck drivers need to demand what they deserve, and put forth the effort and sacrifice to have it. I wouldn’t know how to go about it, but Im sure someone does. And I know a lot of drivers that are willing, if its a country wide shutdown. I know we would. Just a thought.
Every driver starts off with working 2 months straight, to put $ in their pocket. Then we all take 2 weeks off.
And what would it be our demands?
I have some of my own
1 a minimum rate per load on anything les then 300 miles
And a minimum rate per miles over 300
2 mandatory shippers signature in and out
3 mandatory 200 dollars detention pay after first hour at both ends @shipping and receiving
This are some of the issues killing us.
Well you can fight the 1 or 2 mile hr ticket. If it’s windy it can throw a radar gun off and you can always ask when was the last time it was calibrated. If you have time to fight it in court that is. Chances are you’ll get off the hook. Tip from someone I know in law inforcment
Nat, Radar and laser guns are not as accurate as you may think and it is up to the individual jurisdictions to have those devices calibrated on a regular base’s, which they don’t always do. I have never seen any detection device laser gun or otherwise that is 100% accurate. Manufacturer’s always put that + or – sign in there for a reason. Case in point, 1996 ticket in Lady Lake Florida Northbound US highway 441/27, 47 mph in 45 mph zone, device that clocked me had a accuracy rating +- 3%, ticket thrown out without me even having to argue past that point. If every one that got one of these tickets for doing 1 mph over the posted speed and contested based on the accuracy of the device i guarantee those jurisdictions that are doing this will feel a backlash really fast.
This is just a way to generate revenue for the state of North Carolina with the full support of governor Pat McCory I bet. I am a truck driver, and just yesterday, as I crossed from S.C. into N.C., I saw 3 Highway Patrol that had 3 cars pulled over less than a mile from the state line. Give McCory time, and he will have this state a police state!!!
Ok so I get a lot of out of state of NC drivers being upset with this. I am a cdla driver drive these roads daily and what I will tell you is this traffic was flowing freely no accidents very nice as these roads are notorious for accidents and traffic jams.While I do understand the revenue comments dont loose sight of the fact that these same officers you are beating on are looking at reducing traffic congestion. Just a thought.
Here is the federal regulation about speedometer accuracy. Looks like we are gonna need it to fight these tickets.
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/393.82
I have yet to see a standard speedometer that is that accurate!
Just stay 2 under the posted and you will never have a problem. Want to make up the time, it is real easy.
They might enforce it, but it will be a legal disaster for their agencies and legal system. The ticket alleges that you were going over the speed-limit on purpose. There are many variables that could result in your speedometer being slightly off, including tire tread depth and air pressure, transmission replacements, rear end gear ratios, etc. Cops know this, and that’s WHY they give that buffer. They are giving the driver the benefit of the doubt. Any attorney could easily get the ticket thrown out. Throw in a counter-suit for loss time and expenses, and this mess will be a disaster for the state.
it used to be federal law gave a 5 mph adjustment before a penality on an interstate. did that change ? if not fight it. i dont drive any longer commercial, so i dont really care. state routes it does not apply but on the interstate it still should. i was born in north carolina this type of extorsion is embaressing.
This isn’t better law enforcement, it’s called true hypocrisy. Any time you go strictly by the written laws, it leave no room for morals or conscious objections.
It means they’re policing for money.
I totally agree to this as long as the department treat all equally. I am law abiding citizen but I would say we are human beings as well and there is always margin for error. The beauty of our perfect world is its not so perfect. Soon we will see autonomous cars driving on the roads that will bring NC expectation to its peak. All I am trying to say is laws are made to serve humans their best of interest to keep them safe secure and for the convienience not hardhips not other way around. I hope DA will make good judgement on this matter
How about we all start using our right to conduct a citizens arrest and start a program of our own called What’s Good For The Goose Is Good For The Gander. Wherever possible, when law enforcement breaks any law, regardless of how minor, we give them notice, demand identification, then report the offense to the proper authority and demand prosecution, which may be a ticket or even arrest. Once inendated with so many complaints, they might finally take their heads out of their asses.
Truckers on strikes? Back in the old days wouldn’t be possible, but today’s technology can make it possible all we need is somebody to come up with a simple website that you can sing up list your phone no so you can participate in via text message,
55 get ticket if 56mph hahahaha great idea, I’m all for it, just to think that by following speed limits I won’t be giving my money away, and I’ll be saving fuel @ same time awesome.
FMCSA 49CFR section 393.82 Plainly states that Each bus, truck,truck tractor must be equipped with a working speedometer indicating vehicle speed in miles per hour/and or kilometers per hour. THE SPEEDOMETER MUST BE ACCURATE TO WITHIN PLUS OR MINUS 8KM/HR OR (5MPH) AT A SPEED OF 80 KM/HR OR (50 MPH). The FEDERAL UNIFORM CODE already has a safety buffer built into it. Law enforcement cant even write you a warning ticket provided you are within these parameters because it would go on your MVR which would be a violation of their own rule. Good luck to them trying to over step there bounds…..
MUTCD (Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices) Which is adopted by every state and slightly modified where necessary indicates that, driving behavior should be given serious consideration when making laws to direct and control traffic. First consideration is obviously given to safety BUT one example is that if you have a 10 mile stretch of highway with a 55 MPH speed limit and surveys show that 80% of the traffic consistently moves at 70MPH, then it may be safer to raise the speed limit. There is a LOT of information in the MUTCD that everyone should know but in the mean time we are stuck with one person and hie or her temporary enforcement of a seemingly off the wall idea.