Still mad about traffic stop

[marcmax]

I was out riding going to a social gathering at one of my favorite spots, Ton Up Jacksonville, yesterday. Since turning my R65LS into a sidecar tug I have slowed down considerably. I think the fastest I have had it is about 65mph. I enjoy a nice leisurely ride with the chair alongside.

From where I live I have two options to get to Jacksonville, FL. I-95 is a four lane, divided superhighway that people routinely drive at 80-85 mph even though the speed limit is 70 mph. Hwy 17 is a two lane secondary road that is mostly 45 mph with a few sections posted at 60 mph.

I was stopped yesterday for doing 50 mph in a 60 mph area for "impeding the flow of traffic". The only reason I was stopped is because some idiot tried to pass me on a double solid center line because they were in a hurry. The police pulled them over and me as well.

The officer told me I should have seen that I had 4-5 vehicles backed up behind me and should have pulled onto the shoulder to let them pass since it was a 60 mph zone. Really! He said after all it was a 60 mph zone. Really! When I told him I thought that was the maximum I was allowed to due and not required to do that speed he informed me he could right me a citation for impeding the flow of traffic.

He pissed me off and I told him to go ahead and write me a citation if he wanted to. Riding an antique vehicle, under the maximum allowed speed limit, and with nothing better to do with my time I would be glad to see him in court for the next 6-8 months until this was settled.

What an a$$

[Barry]

That amounts to saying antique vehicles are not allowed on the road What if it was small capacity machine that couldn't do 60pmh. Surely he was out of order and the case will be thrown out.

In theory there are supposed to be be minimum speed limit signs in the UK although I've never seen one and never heard of anyone been taken to court. It's understood that 50mph is the minimum speed on motorways but vehicles not capable of that speed are still permitted e.g. a 70cc motorcycle. Roads other than motorways are generally considered rights of way which means you can walk on the road, pedal cycle or ride a horse if you want to take the risk.

[montmil]

I can neither speak for Jawja nor England, but the Texas traffic code states that any vehicle traveling at 10% below the posted speed limit on a public roadway can be, at the LEO's discretion, cited for impeding traffic flow. Also, traffic code prohibits mopeds, small scooters, and similar under-powered machines, from riding the Interstate highways; where some of us Texans take advantage of our 85mph speed limits.

Sorry for your situation, Marc. I wish you good fortune with da Judge.

[thrang]

Sounds like the copper was being a bit of a prat, and looking to increase his vehicle stop and check quota. The term over here for such behaviour off the plod is 'being a bit of a tosser!'

[marcmax]

Luckily one of my neighbors (who just happens to be a motorcyclist as well) is also a local defense attorney. I mentioned it to him and he said don't worry about it, just give him the citation. He said every time it gets on the docket to go to court he will file a request to change the venue, from municipal court to civil court, civil court to magistrates court, magistrates court to superior court, etc, etc. He said it will be tied up in paperwork for at least 12-18 months and they will dismiss it because it is too costly.

one for the little guys

[k_enn]

Since you already have spoken with an attorney, you don't need legal advice.  But for any others that have a similar problem, check the local motor vehicle laws.  Like Monte said, some states do have laws addressing how slow you must be going before you can be ticketed.  Other states may have a law that says if you are going below XX miles per hour, you are to use your flashers.  From this latter type of law, you can argue that are allowed to go XX mph and even less.

[Bob_Roller]

Getting a ticket for going too slow, is not an uncommon complaint here in the Phoenix area .

We have a large group of older drivers, being a retirement area, drivers going 20-25 mph slower than traffic is a common sight .

It's scary watching someone doing 40 mph, trying to merge into a 70 mph traffic flow on the expressways, then watch them stop on the entrance ramp because they can't merge in .

[nhmaf]

I recall driving around the Olympic Penninsula area in Washington State - there were numerous signs on the road - presumably for sight-seers I guess - that indicated if one had 3 or more vehicles in line behind you, you were obligated to pull over and let them pass.   This was regardless of the speed limit, which seemed a bit odd.    some of the roads were posted at 55 MPH and quite curvy (with HUGE trees close to the road's edge) and some were posted lower speed.    In general it seemed to be followed, for the most part.

[Ed Miller]

I recall driving around the Olympic Penninsula area in Washington State - there were numerous signs on the road - presumably for sight-seers I guess - that indicated if one had 3 or more vehicles in line behind you, you were obligated to pull over and let them pass.   This was regardless of the speed limit, which seemed a bit odd.    some of the roads were posted at 55 MPH and quite curvy (with HUGE trees close to the road's edge) and some were posted lower speed.    In general it seemed to be followed, for the most part.

I remember those signs from when I lived in east WA, though there the higher speeds are more justified with better visibility.  I thought it was 5 vehicles behind you, though.

If it's the law here in Oregon I've never seen it enforced.  Luckily I've never had more than a couple of cars behind me on my bicycle before they found a safe place to pass.