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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 12, 2014 10:15:12 GMT -5
Rocynv,
Agreed, if the scooter had been a school bus, there would have been all-heck raised. But it wasn't. It was a scooter. And "things 2-wheeled, and their riders are expendable". Except for motorcycle cops... And, 30mph and more, over posted limits is the norm. The enforcement mentality here is basically "run with the traffic".
Network news has even reported "obstructing traffic" tickets being given to drivers maintaining 70mph in a 55 zone, when mass-traffic is running  - . When recipients of these bogus citations fight them in court, judges usually dismiss them, but some staunchly defend the officer, citing the fact that "If you don't have the horsepower OR the skills to run with traffic, then STAY THE HECK OFF THE FREEWAYS". Now THAT is COLD... But it's Texas, and that's the way it is. After 40 years, I'm used to it.
As the Duke once said: "It's a HARD life, pilgrim..."
Ride safe, watch yer' six...
Leo |
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Post by rockynv on Aug 12, 2014 11:49:13 GMT -5
Think of the money one could make just with a few speed trap cameras and enforcing the max of no more than 5 over!
Explains why friends from Texas usually end up helping keep our property taxes down thanks to their Highway Contributions to the fund. 20 over posted will get a you $280 citation while 30 over can be closer to $500 and give you enough points to double the cost of your insurance for 5 to 7 years.
My Aprilia would be OK in most parts of Texas and I believe the Scout would have no issues. At least the numbers on the Scouts clock seems to indicate some reserve capacity between the 100 and 200.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 12, 2014 22:51:00 GMT -5
Think of the money one could make just with a few speed trap cameras and enforcing the max of no more than 5 over! Explains why friends from Texas usually end up helping keep our property taxes down thanks to their Highway Contributions to the fund. 20 over posted will get a you $280 citation while 30 over can be closer to $500 and give you enough points to double the cost of your insurance for 5 to 7 years. My Aprilia would be OK in most parts of Texas and I believe the Scout would have no issues. At least the numbers on the Scouts clock seems to indicate some reserve capacity between the 100 and 200. Radar everywhere, mass pull-overs of 40 cars at a time, and the courts get clogged for months until a Texas supreme court throws everything out.... What a HOOT! Then, it's back to "business as usual". You should have been here in the '70's when it was legal to drink while driving... Ride safe! Leo |
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Post by rockynv on Aug 13, 2014 3:56:05 GMT -5
Think of the money one could make just with a few speed trap cameras and enforcing the max of no more than 5 over! Explains why friends from Texas usually end up helping keep our property taxes down thanks to their Highway Contributions to the fund. 20 over posted will get a you $280 citation while 30 over can be closer to $500 and give you enough points to double the cost of your insurance for 5 to 7 years. My Aprilia would be OK in most parts of Texas and I believe the Scout would have no issues. At least the numbers on the Scouts clock seems to indicate some reserve capacity between the 100 and 200. Radar everywhere, mass pull-overs of 40 cars at a time, and the courts get clogged for months until a Texas supreme court throws everything out.... What a HOOT! Then, it's back to "business as usual". You should have been here in the '70's when it was legal to drink while driving... Ride safe! Leo So the problem goes all the way to the top. Thats a shame. How does that impact insurance rates? No wonder folks from Texas have such a high disregard for speed zones when visiting here. Like I said they do help keep my property taxes lower. Guess I will be more wary of vehicles with Texas plates on them. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 13, 2014 10:48:26 GMT -5
Rockynv,
It's a century-old system, compounded by the fact that Texas is still a republic, with the right to secede from the Union. It's run as a country, rather than a state. It's a little on the brutal side, fiercely maintaining the attitude of carrying the law on your hip... and "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do" mentality. Texans have the Alamo in their DNA. Like Travis and Houston, native Texans will give their life willingly to bring justice to someone being wronged. And they'll just as quickly throw their life away over a rude gesture, or sign of disrespect.
It sounds barbaric, but it actually works EXTREMELY well. Texas has very low insurance rates (in part, due to traffic problems often being settled with fists or guns) rather than lawyers. Texas has NO state income tax, and laws are often enforced "regionally" to fit the locale. Law enforcement is dictated more by "common sense" than "letter of the law".
We have more, and better-paying jobs than any other state, and one of the lowest costs-of-living short of the deep-South "poverty states".
In all honesty, I really CAN understand non-Texans being a little shocked at TX drivers in their state. An old-school Texan when stopped for going a few mph over the limit is likely to beat the cop half to death, then get on the cop's radio and ask for a "real" cop to come and clear up the "misunderstanding" they just had over the so-called "speeding" altercation...
Texas used to advertise for tourism using the slogan "TEXAS... It's a WHOLE 'nuther country!" Absolutely true, but after forty years of seeing how well it all works, I wouldn't live any other place. Just me...
I can sum up the whole Texas mind-set like this... "I'm HONEST, I don't LIE, I don't CHEAT, I RESPECT others... and God help you if don't treat me the same way..."I WILL dispense my own justice. Instantly. Without ONE second thought".
Hang in there!
Leo
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Post by wheelbender6 on Aug 19, 2014 19:38:23 GMT -5
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Post by Jarlaxle on Aug 21, 2014 8:50:04 GMT -5
Honestly...for $11K...forget that throwback, I'll take a Burgman 650 Executive!
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. When recipients of these bogus citations fight them in court, judges usually dismiss them, but some staunchly defend the officer, citing the fact that "If you don't have the horsepower OR the skills to run with traffic, then STAY THE HECK OFF THE FREEWAYS". Now THAT is COLD... But it's Texas, and that's the way it is. After 40 years, I'm used to it.
