Ohio Clocks 1,416 Speeders Driving Over the Ton
I'm not quite sure why police and members of the judiciary consider anyone driving above 100 mph the automotive equivalent of a child abuser– when speeding per se doesn't top the list of accident causation (unless the stat gatherers lie), but they surely do (both lie and consider 100mph+ speeding beyond the pale). The Associate Press (via the Coshocton Tribune ) carries the SHOCKING NEWS that Buckeye State Troopers cited 1416 motorists for speeding offenses above the toxic ton in '06. "Most of those ticketed were driving high-performance automobiles such as BMWs, Audis and Acuras. However, troopers say even compact family cars like Kias can reach triple digit speeds." The poster child for this speedo-related recklessness: a motorcyclist clocked at 167 mph. Municipal Court Judge David Picken threw the book at the bad boy biker. Luckily for the miscreant (if not road safety), it was a relatively slender tome: a $440 fine, six-month license suspension and a court-ordered driver's safety course. The scofflaw should count himself lucky he wasn't caught in Virginia, which, like the UK, is quite happy to jail drivers cresting the ton. Or Hawaii, which also offers a little alone time with Bubba in the hoosegow or community service for any driver caught driving over 80mph.
More by Robert Farago
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Here is the original Columbus Dispatch story Ohio is a cop ridden hell hole for drivers. The cops have the politicians over a barrel. They would rather run speed traps than bust crack houses, so that is what they do. And no-one in power will tell them to go do something important. Here in Columbus the cops have it in their union contract that their assignments cannot be changed without union consent. The Chief of Police is civil service and cannot be fired. So all they do is eat donuts and run speed traps. The State Troopers get 2% of the sales tax, whether they have any need for it or not. No wonder our schools suck. My advice to you is, if you have to drive through Ohio, don't re-route your-self. If you still have to go through Ohio. Use your cruise control and don't go over 70 mph.
Steve_S: Good for you! After the last $445 ticket for doing 70 on an interstate highway (sunny day, light traffic) outside of Atlanta (where you'll be run over going less than 75), I happily spent the money (Escort Passport 8500 X50), and have been speeding ticket free ever since. Much cheaper than the random taxation method, as well.
One good place to start would be regulating the speeds of the heavy trucks and buses like they did in Italy when I was stationed there. The speed limit for the cars was 80 mph more or less but they did not enforce it between cities. You BETTER not cause an accident though b/c they would throw the book and the jail at you... We regularly ran ~100 mph in my mid-80s Rabbit 'vert (US spec 1.8L with 90HP - who says you've got to have a big V-8 to drive fast???) In the cities you had better watch your speed. The big vehicles (trucks and buses) were regulated as I recall to a strict 60 mph. I think it was 60 mph. Around here (I-40 mid-TN) the big trucks run as high as 80 mph fully loaded and it is simply dangerous to drive a small car at the speed limit ('97 VW Cabrio). I rush past traffic clusters to stay more or less away from the big vehicles. I'd like to see more freedom for cars to run hard and fast, with speed limits enforced for SUVs and minivans, and the big vehicles restricted to about 60 mph or 65 mph. My last trip to east TN I was passed at nearly 80 mph by two LARGE motorhomes with pusher-diesels towing fullsized SUVs. That is NUTS! Chris