The 55 mph speed limit

[Falstaff]

Why is the 55 mph speed limit for semi trucks/cars with trailers not enforced?

[audiopro74]

Think it is not.... Every truck driver I work with has been ticketed for 5 over and more.

[VictorFranko]

Why is the 65 MPH speed limit for automobiles and motorcycles not enforced?

[Samuelx]

"Shirley", you can't be serious asking a question like that...

[powerstrokemike]

what about cell phones...

an we have special months to enforce seat belt tickets.. lol

[ZX-10R]

It is enforced. When I was driving back from WA to SoCal I got pulled over...The LEO let me go because I told him I do not drive these things as a career and was not aware of driving at that speed. He was cool and let us go.

[ledman]

Why is the 55 mph speed limit for semi trucks/cars with trailers not enforced?

It is, but the CHP cannot be everywhere at once. I drive a semi for FedEx locally in OC, and constantly get passed by cars and pickups pulling trailers and other trucks too, mostly out of state long haulers or dirt trucks. I keep it at 55 all the time while on the freeway, my commercial license is my job and my livelihood. I cannot risk speeding, fist off, it is unsafe, especially in a big rig, and I am paid by the hour, so I am in no hurry.

Most of the people pulling a trailer/boat in their car/pickup forget that the speed limit is 55 for them, they think it only applies to big rigs, even though there are signs that say the opposite.

I have seen them pulled over, but it is far and few between. The CHP does have times of the month when they have crackdowns on commercial vehicles and cars/pickups pulling trailers and random vehicle inspection points for commercial vehicles.

[ledman]

"Shirley", you can't be serious asking a question like that...

I think he is, and quit calling him Shirley!
BTW...have you ever seen a grown man naked?

[Samuelx]

I think he is, and quit calling him Shirley!
BTW...have you ever seen a grown man naked?

hahahhahaha

[VictorFranko]

"Shirley", you can't be serious asking a question like that...

I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.

[BillCA]

Just go out on any highway that leads to a lake and during the summer months you'll see CHP ticketing a lot of boat haulers for various violations like going over 55 with a trailer.

CHP officers are usually fixated on higher speed violations but if there isn't one handy, a guy going too fast with a trailer will do.

Also note - when pulling a trailer of any kind, your vehicle is limited to the two rightmost lanes only. You cannot get out into the left lane or the 2nd lane from the left (on a road with more than 3 lanes in one direction) when towing a vehicle.
(Note: exceptions apply for exits, turns, etc.)

It really irks me to see some guy with his Silverado towing a boat in the #2 lane of a six-lane freeway. Not only are they usually doing 65-70mph, but violating the lane restrictions too.

[Carsgunsandchics]

It's always nice to see a trailer being pulled in a commute lane during commute hours. I picked up a accident call once when driving for AAA where a mid 80's LTD was pulling a 2 axle no brake assisted car trailer, with a 62 Chrysler New Yorker wagon. Needless to say when going downhill the little car that couldn't "didn't". The trailer wound up pushing the car sideways and jack-knifing. Car and trailer wound up hitting about 10+ other vehicles. And there wasn't even a scratch on the recently installed U-Haul trailer hitch. The driver started off in the fast lane going what was estimated to be 75+ when this all started.

[Falstaff]

Why is the 65 MPH speed limit for automobiles and motorcycles not enforced?

That's my next question....

perhaps i should re-phrase the interogative:

Why is the 55 MPH speed limit for trucks rarely enforced? On a trip down i5/i80 today I noted that not a single semi was going less than 60, many were going 70+. CHP were everywhere...

[Samuelx]

Hey Guys, the whole "shirley/surely" thing was meant to be a humorous reference to Airplane... No disrespect/name calling intended!

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=Qo7qoonzTCE&feature=related

(and to answer the question, there really aren't that many of us LEOs around - you've heard the comparison to a fisherman catching fish, right? also, and I think most of us LEOs have been in the same position - for some strange reason, I'm ALWAYS seeing violations/good stops when I'm otherwise engaged or on my way to handling something else)

(oh and this is for LEDMAN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkiZMFFNi44 )

[Uhhlexxxis]

It is, but the CHP cannot be everywhere at once.

I have seen them pulled over, but it is far and few between. The CHP does have times of the month when they have crackdowns on commercial vehicles and cars/pickups pulling trailers and random vehicle inspection points for commercial vehicles.

THIS!

A lot of people complain when I walk into a coffee shop or break for a quick lunch/dinner - "hey! who's watching the freeway right now?" HAR HARRRRRR

"it's like leaving your children at home. You hope they do the right thing while you're away"

We can't be everywhere and the higher speed violators tend to get more attention then others. If you really have an emergency, reckless driver pulling a boat/trailer, the best thing you can do is call 911. Realize your call is important, but there are other more serious calls to attend to first.

The more people drive, the more time they have on the road, thus the more potential to receive some attention from allied agencies. Their time will come!

You know what's sad is that if we go the speed limit or under we're being A-holes, and if we go above the limit, we're "above the law". There is no winning with the public. go figure.