CHP: What is my SAFE Speed?

[jlh95811]

Is there any allowance?
I feel I'm a very competent driver. I'm comercially liscensed and highly trained. But I'm talking about in my Personal Vehicle. On my off days I drive a '95 Toyota Avalon. Sadly I've got 19" Chrome Rims and Dark Tint; I love it but I say sadly because I think it draws more attention. I've gotten speeding tickets for 78/65 and 84/65 and was givin a PA warning by a city cop to slow down at 75/65.

Honestly, I see soooo many terrible drivers in my line of duty that I don't want to be near them. I know just how dumb some drivers are. I want to pass them up and be away from them asap. I don't jerk lane changes and I NEVER tailgate. I've been told I drive "quite smooth" by an issuing officer.

So is there a secret? Can I get away with 73/65? What do you normally allow? And the BIG QUESTION....(and I don't know if you are at liberty to discuss it) Is there a set # of MPH over the limit that officers are told not to bother with?

[SmokinMr2]

Not a Chippy but I have asked that question before.
I'm told that it's whatever road and weather conditions allow for up to the maximum posted limit. I doubt you will get anyone to tell you it's legal to speed

[Eckolaker]

Anything over 7 miles over posted speed limit and you run the risk of getting a ticket for speeding. Most LEO's will give you that 3-5 MPH buffer.

[r08ert209cali]

with almost every county and city including the state going broke due to the economy you're not gonna get away with much.

[mecam]

Get a radar detector with the latest technology or just drive the speed limit. I think what attracts the CHP also are the constant lane jumpers.

[yzErnie]

I would suggest that before anyone calls a location a "speed trap" that you know exactly what a speed trap is. Hiding behind a sign, bush, rocks, on a down hill grade or even being camo'd out sitting in a tree is not a speed trap. The California Vehicle Code defines a speed trap.

I know none of my troops or myself condone citing anyone under the conditions of a trap. The only thing that happens is we would look foolish in front of the magistrate and we're not going to do that to ourselves.

As far as any "grace area" for writing a speed ticket...I doubt you'll get anyone to say there is one. The bottom line is, don't speed and you won't have to worry about a speeding ticket.

[jafount]

When I was assigned to the traffic unit and worked a radar car, my personal policy was no stop until you're 15 over on any main artery, 10 over in any 25 zone. There is no policy or set number as it's up to the individual officer's discretion.

[scr83jp]

Get a radar detector with the latest technology or just drive the speed limit. I think what attracts the CHP also are the constant lane jumpers.

Don't get caught with a radar detector or jammer it's against CVC in calif & you'll be in trouble.LE can p/u your signal if you have one.

[mecam]

Don't get caught with a radar detector or jammer it's against CVC in calif & you'll be in trouble.LE can p/u your signal if you have one.

Radar detectors are legal in CA. Jammers are illegal. Show me the PC/CVC.

[Eroland7]

Don't get caught with a radar detector or jammer it's against CVC in calif & you'll be in trouble.LE can p/u your signal if you have one.

[scr83jp]

Radar detectors are legal in CA. Jammers are illegal. Show me the PC/CVC.

My error they weren't always legal.

[Eroland7]

It deffinately varries by state. Detectors are legal here. There are certain jamming devices that are illegal in CA, but legal in many other states.

[mecam]

My error they weren't always legal.

I think they are illegal on commercial vehicles weighing more than 10k-lbs or something like that.

[BigDogatPlay]

Going back to the OP.... commercially licensed (I presume your on duty record is spotless?) and in your opinion (as a profesisonal driver) 75+ in a 65 was safe. That is the standard... was the speed safe for prevailing conditions, assuming that is what you were cited for.

If, on the other hand, CHP cited for exceeding the maximum allowed speed, that's a whole different violation which has nothing to do with what is safe.

Not trying to sound harsh here, but the safest and most careful drivers I know, on duty or off, are professionals... and the hazmat guys are even more so. It makes me wonder why your "professional" status doesn't carry over to behind the wheel of your own car.

My suggestion is to slow down before you take a suspension for negligent operator which might affect your ability to make a living.

[jlh95811]

Going back to the OP.... commercially licensed (I presume your on duty record is spotless?) and in your opinion (as a profesisonal driver) 75+ in a 65 was safe. That is the standard... was the speed safe for prevailing conditions, assuming that is what you were cited for.

If, on the other hand, CHP cited for exceeding the maximum allowed speed, that's a whole different violation which has nothing to do with what is safe.

Not trying to sound harsh here, but the safest and most careful drivers I know, on duty or off, are professionals... and the hazmat guys are even more so. It makes me wonder why your "professional" status doesn't carry over to behind the wheel of your own car.

My suggestion is to slow down before you take a suspension for negligent operator which might affect your ability to make a living.

My ON DUTY record WAS spotless until recently.
Long story short:
I was caught going 71 (officer wrote 65+) going up hill in the rain hauling a set of doubles in a Truck that is governed at 62mph. It is 100% impossible to accelerate past 62mph. Going up hill with doubles you lose speed. I won't lie. I was speeding. (hate CA truck speed laws) I was doing 60mph passing a car that was doing about 50!!! I'm thinking the officer saw me passing rapidly and assumed I was cookin'! I did Trial by Written and Trial De Novo. Lost both. State is in need of money. I will say it. They robbed me! Nothing else I can do as I can't afford to miss anymore $175 work days to fight a $290 ticket. Just not worth it.

As for the 2 speeding tickets in my car. I do feel they were safe for conditions. Both dry road, sunny day, open FWY. Both by officers hiding under overpasses.

As for the "professional" status. It does carry over to my personal vehicle but in a way I'd rather it did not. It works against me. My tickets are about 30% more than a Class C liscensed individual in their car. It really hurts.

Currently I am down to doing 72-73/65. Would anyone here write me a ticket for that?