Ticketed in Louisiana

[tswiczko]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

It is a very new law........this year's law, I believe.
It is really annoying for someone to drive right beside another vehicle, effectively blocking the highway. However, being a new law you would think a warning and short lecture might be in order.
JBJ

It was a law when I took drivers ed.

That was in 1983

Left lane is for passing and emergency vehicles, you may pass another vehicle if it is going slower than the posted speed limit. If she was driving next to the truck for 3 or 4 minutes then the truck wasn't going so slow that it required her to pass. It would annoy me to see someone trying to pass a vehicle by going less than 1 mph. faster than the vehicle they were overtaking.

Little math here(and I mean little)

at 1 mph you travel 5280 ft./ 60min=88 feet traveled in 1 minute. To pass a semi truck that is less than 80 ft. and take 3-4 minutes you are probably only going about a 1/4 mph. faster than the truck

Why even bother to pass ?????

I asked an officer why he was giving me a ticket for a moving violation. I didn't like his answer but I will never forget it. Now when I get pulled over I know why they are giving me a ticket..

Oh his answer was.....

"Because I can't write you a ticket for being stupid"

I was 16 at the time, I didn't know what to say, I stared at him for a few seconds with my mouth open and he turned to his partner and said "There it is,Thats the look, I told you we need to get stupidity on the books as a traffic offense"

I went home and told my dad I got a ticket for rolling stop at 3AM. and other than the police car sitting in a parking lot shooting radar there was no one on the street. Then I tod him what the police officer said and he couldn't stop laughing.
Some lessons are harder to take than others but hopefully we learn from them.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

You ignore the fact that it has been stated that she was traveling at the posted speed limit.

If this is true, every car behind her would have to break the law by speeding, in order for her to cause any congestion at all. Further, since the truck was traveling at the same speed that she was, even if she weren't there, none of the following cars would have been able to legally pass and they should have been in the right lane too. The end result, is use of one lane only (most highways in Louisiana are only two lanes) and a 50% reduction in usable roadway. That, by definition, results in a reduction in capacity.



???

I quoted the law above. It makes it quite clear that in cases where there is congestion, one may use the passing lane. There's no reduction in capacity because as soon as capacity becomes a problem, the law goes out of force.

As to whether other cars need to break the law to pass her, that's really none of her business. She doesn't have a badge. It's not her place to enforce the law. Sometimes the road is a safer place if folks who want to break the law by driving slightly over the posted limit are allowed to do so. Blocking them creates road rage, tailgating, unsafe passing etc.

I'd also like to know when was her speedometer last calibrated, and by whom? If she's going to argue that she was preventing others from speeding she'd better be absolutely sure that she was driving at exactly the posted speed limit.

One last thing--LEOs are allowed to exceed the posted limit without using their lights or sirens if a situation calls for it. In this case we don't know why he needed to pass, but there's a good chance that he was on his way to a call and she was in his way. It would have to be a less important call than pulling over a driver blocking the passing lane, but you never know.

I stand by the idea that if you're driving the same speed as someone in the far right lane, you should stay in the far right lane.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

You ignore the fact that it has been stated that she was traveling at the posted speed limit.

If this is true, every car behind her would have to break the law by speeding, in order for her to cause any congestion at all. Further, since the truck was traveling at the same speed that she was, even if she weren't there, none of the following cars would have been able to legally pass and they should have been in the right lane too. The end result, is use of one lane only (most highways in Louisiana are only two lanes) and a 50% reduction in usable roadway. That, by definition, results in a reduction in capacity.



???

that's a great argument if in fact we are only speaking in legalize and not actual scenarios. the fact is very few people go right on the speedlimit and when someone does the limit while "parked" next to another vehicle it jams an entire road system sometimes for miles. generally it seems to be done intentionally by those who think "I can be in this lane, I'm going the limit" and sometimes it's done by morons who honestly don't know any better. either way the result is the same, a jammed freeway. inevitably it leads to road rage and possible accidents. everyone knows what happens, and by moving over the freeway again begins to move along at it's normal speed.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

Unless the girl was driving an old "hoopty," its highly unlikely that her speedo was off. Try driving the average automobile that was built in the last 20 years, with a handheld GPS in your hand. I've done it with my ten year old Chevy - the speedo is exactly correct throughout its range.

As for cops speeding, yes they are allowed to do that, if they have an official and necessary reason to do so. I know this to be true in the state of Louisana, because we have a police department in my area, that actually writes tickets to other cops, even ones in marked police cars, if they speed in that particular department's jurisdiction.

The simple fact of the matter, is that cops speed when not on official business all of the time, They do it, because they think no one will tell them not to. In many places, this problem is more frequent than it might be elsewhere, because the cops involved are driving "take-home cars" and are off duty. One of the cops stopped by the department I am talking about, was a sargeant with one of our local Parish Sheriff's departments. The dash cam footage of the stop was posted on a number of websites and he was basically having a fit and making all sorts of statements to the other cop about, "wait until you get in my jurisdiction," etc.

Now, do you really think that the cop who wrote the ticket that we are talking about, was responding to any situation that required him to speed? Do you think that he took the time to stop a young woman and write her a ticket, if his presence was required somewhere else on an urgent basis?

The simple fact of the matter, is that people like these laws because they want to speed. In this case, there was a cop who wanted to speed and it is extremely likely that he wanted to misuse his authority to do so. Even if he really was responding to something, he should have put on his emergency light and sounded his siren, which would have allowed the young woman to deviate from the posted speed limit, to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle.

I wouldn't mind these laws if they were specific enough to indicate that they apply to situations where the vehicle blocking flow in the left lane, is moving at less than the posted limit. What I do object to, is a situation where a driver who is obeying the law, may not drive in a particular lane and make full use of a roadway. Even more so, I object to a law that turns a person who is obeying the law, into a "criminal" (moving violations are criminal), so that others can break another law.



???

 

[avenger79]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

i got pulled over for speeding AND impeding traffic in South Carolina. At the same time. the law is very clear. if you are in the left lane and not progressing past the vehicle next to you then you are impeding the flow of traffic. there was no one behind me at the time. cop was on radar. he pulled out and pulled me over. i asked him to explain it and he did. my reason for being there was I was driving next to a buddy of mine. no one behind me so I wasn't worried about traffic.
I wish they'd ticket people up here for it.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

I wouldn't mind these laws if they were specific enough to indicate that they apply to situations where the vehicle blocking flow in the left lane, is moving at less than the posted limit. What I do object to, is a situation where a driver who is obeying the law, may not drive in a particular lane and make full use of a roadway. Even more so, I object to a law that turns a person who is obeying the law, into a "criminal" (moving violations are criminal), so that others can break another law.



???

But she ISN'T obeying the law. The law states that if you want to move at the same speed as traffic in the right lane, you stay in the right lane.

How is she inconvenienced by having to drive in the right lane behind the truck if they're both going the same speed? How is she inconvenienced by other drivers going slightly above the limit? In fact, that would be a safer situation for her, as there wouldn't be as much congestion. There was no reason for her to be driving in that lane, and no reason for her to not have noticed that a car (especially a police car) wanted to get by. At best, she's an inattentive driver. We keep coming back to this, but she is not law enforcement officer. She has no right to enforce the speed limit.

As to whether cops speed for no reason, I have no idea why he wanted to pass but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. He may have been pacing a speeding car in front of him, or going to back up another officer, or trying to get to a turnaround to get a speeder going in the opposite direction--things that are important, but perhaps less important than pulling over someone who is flagrantly breaking the law. In the end, we don't know and there's no point in speculating either way.

There are times when I'm on a motorcycle and I go over the speed limit for various reasons. I'm imagining myself on that road, stuck behind a diesel truck and hemmed in by traffic behind me. You can bet that I'd want to use that passing lane to get in front of the truck, away from the fumes and the congestion. I'd be irritated like you wouldn't believe if someone was blocking my access to the passing lane.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

You have your opinion, I have mine. I've stated the reasons why. I'll leave it at that.



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[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

They need to enact and enforce this law in NJ as well. And ESPECIALLY enforce it on the PA drivers coming down route 78 that just cruise along in any lane they want.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

Ok. After asking her a lot of questions a clearer picture. She was on the right lane trying to over take the truck but at the posted speed limit and the cop car (unmark, no light on top) came up to her tail and she was trying her best to stay at speed limit and over take but I think (and she does too) the cop was in a hurry to go somewhere and saw that the car in front of him is too slow to over take and pull her over and gave her the ticket for being in the right lane for too long. I told her not to fight it but suck up and mail in the fine. She is still in college and already had 1 ticket for speeding and therefore was very much aware of the speed limit she is travelling at. Now the insurance will go up because of this (I think!!). Anyway, we live and learn and so does she.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

I would guess that you meant "left lane" several times in the above explanation where you said "right lane"?

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

They need to enact and enforce this law in NJ as well. And ESPECIALLY enforce it on the PA drivers coming down route 78 that just cruise along in any lane they want.

Well, we already have this law in Pa and it doesn't stop NJ drivers from coming across 78 and just cruising along in whatever lane they want.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

I wouldn't mind these laws if they were specific enough to indicate that they apply to situations where the vehicle blocking flow in the left lane, is moving at less than the posted limit. What I do object to, is a situation where a driver who is obeying the law, may not drive in a particular lane and make full use of a roadway. Even more so, I object to a law that turns a person who is obeying the law, into a "criminal" (moving violations are criminal), so that others can break another law.



???

Couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks Jay.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

Ok. After asking her a lot of questions a clearer picture. She was on the right lane trying to over take the truck but at the posted speed limit and the cop car (unmark, no light on top) came up to her tail and she was trying her best to stay at speed limit and over take but I think (and she does too) the cop was in a hurry to go somewhere and saw that the car in front of him is too slow to over take and pull her over and gave her the ticket for being in the right lane for too long. I told her not to fight it but suck up and mail in the fine. She is still in college and already had 1 ticket for speeding and therefore was very much aware of the speed limit she is travelling at. Now the insurance will go up because of this (I think!!). Anyway, we live and learn and so does she.

thank you for posting back.

tough luck she happened to be where she was. the texas plates probably didn't help her any.

do they assess points there in texas? being a Louisiana ticket they might not pick it up on insurance.
i know our daughter went to the U of Wyo. and got a ticket in Laramie Wy. that never showed up on our Co. policy

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

Beezee, if you didn't see my previous post on going to the hearing and bargaining the ticket down to a non-moving violation, go read it now. Given that your daughter is young and still on your insurance, this could make a bunch of difference in the insurance rate that you have, or will have in the future. This is especially true, if she has a previous ticket.

BTW, you are not teaching your daughter to be irresponsible, by doing this. The simple fact of the matter, is that she was concious of her previous speeding ticket and was trying to pass without speeding. Its also extremely obvious that this officer was abusing his authority, tailgating and taking his annoyance with not being able to get away with breaking the law, on her. If it were me, I would do everything I could to reduce the impact on my family, in a "New York Second."

Before anyone gets their nose out of joint and accuses me of being a "cop hater," no, that is not the case. I stand behind them frequently and as many of you know, I do volunteer SAR missions frequently - that means that I work with the LA Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries' enforcement officers in doing so. What I expect, however, is that police officers obey the law, just as I have to.



???

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

Beezee, if you didn't see my previous post on going to the hearing and bargaining the ticket down to a non-moving violation, go read it now. Given that your daughter is young and still on your insurance, this could make a bunch of difference in the insurance rate that you have, or will have in the future. This is especially true, if she has a previous ticket.

???

As a fellow Louisianian,
I would agree with Jay on the underlined part if the the ticket is from a local or city PD. But if it's from a state trooper, all bets are off and you may be out of luck.

I don't know if the cop is to blame without hearing his side of the story, but either way, you could save yourself some dough by going to a city "traffic court" if that's where the ticket is from.

I saw a guy in "court" accused of speeding and driving with a suspended license get TOLD by the "prosecutor" (city attorney was the prosecutor) that he should NOT plead guilty because he would lose his license for another 6 months if he did. This was AFTER the guy plead GUILTY to the charge. He changed his plea, and they gave him a ticket for a lesser charge instead. He walked out, them knowing he would be on the road again.
good luck either way,
JBJ

 

[beezee28]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

auto45, thanks. It was left lane.. my bet...

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

Its also extremely obvious that this officer was abusing his authority, tailgating and taking his annoyance with not being able to get away with breaking the law, on her.

Sorry, but that's crap. He was behind someone who was in violation of the law. It's his sworn duty to ticket her. Abusing his authority? By ticketing someone who was creating a dangerous situation on the highway? (Yes, she certainly was! There's a reason that law is in place.)

I still don't understand why she didn't get out of his way. When someone wants to pass, the safest thing to do is to let that person pass.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

Sorry, but that's crap. He was behind someone who was in violation of the law. It's his sworn duty to ticket her. Abusing his authority? By ticketing someone who was creating a dangerous situation on the highway? (Yes, she certainly was! There's a reason that law is in place.)

I still don't understand why she didn't get out of his way. When someone wants to pass, the safest thing to do is to let that person pass.

Its also his sworn suty to obey the law himself. Obviously, he wished not to do that. I'll say it again, a cop who tailgates a driver who is doing the speed limit, causing the the situation that is truly the dangerous one, and then has time to stop that driver, has no place pressing to go. If you can't see the obviousness of this, or refuse to acknowledge it, you are kidding yourself.



???

 

[dave11]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

She was impeding the flow of traffic. She was blocking the highway. It sounds like she is a Darwin Award candidate. A friend of mine blew a tire with a car next to him. The tire disintegrated and the retaining ring blew off. It knocked the car of the road and shattered the windshield and the right side windows.
Your daughter should be thankful that all she got was a ticket!!!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Ticketed in Louisiana

A thousand + posts and you think its OK to describe another member's daughter as someone deserving of "the darwin award."

I think I'll leave this thread. We had one who was not willing to respect the opinions of others and now have we this. Not the iboats that I am used to.



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