I always thought there was a general, unwritten rule that police try not to run speed traps during morning/afternoon rush hours? Over the last several months ACPD has been running morning rush traps at least once a week on George Mason southbound between Washington and Fairfax and also on Glebe southbound between the Pike and Walter Reed.
For the record – I’ve “participated” in two of about twenty of these traps doing 40 in a 30 (which in all honesty is slower than I’m usually going in those two stretches of road).
I guess my rationale was that it seems a little bit punitive to pull over your own residents for speeding when they are rushing to or from work/school? I would understand a ticket for excessive speeding like 60 in a 30, but 40 in a 30 seems a little bit excessive to me on ACPD’s part. But maybe I’m crazy and just made this up?
You got caught speeding? Certainly not YOUR fault…
Just because people are habitually late to work doesn't mean they're allowed to speed. They should get their lazy asses out of bed earlier. There isn't any rule that prohibits police from setting up speed traps. You get caught, you deal with it.
Yes and no. If they ran one on Washington between 395 and clarendon, they could give out enough reckless by speed to pay for the streetcar in one week. Same goes for 66 WB where 55 mph means at least 70. But they don't, and it's assumed they won't. So the pack mentality, anecdotal experience, regression to the mean, etc. clearly dictates that it is ok to speed in these areas (or else 100% of cars wouldn’t be doing it).
While this is true on the roads that truly qualify as arterial (by this I mean access-controlled), I am not surprised to hear that they are cracking down on more local-type roads that are often used as arterial thoroughfares – e.g. Glebe and G. Mason, which have lots of businesses and some houses and schools on them.
I do think that the ACPD officers could probably use up their entire ticket books in one shift frying bigger fish than 40 in a 30 – for example, pulling over anyone from Maryland would be a good start. But it’s their prerogative.
Why is speeding to work/school more legitimate than speeding to any other function? For some reason, I just can't imagine anyone being sympathetic to the complaint “but I was going to be late for work!!!!” since it's something we all find ways to deal with.
This isn't baseball. Unwritten rules aren't rules. They're complaints.
100% agree it is my fault. And I'm not sure why I feel like it's more justifiable to be speeding to work? I just always felt that way. I must take enough meaningless trips in my car that going to work somehow feels more noble.
I definitely was breaking the law, I just feel like 90% of the general population could get a ticket for doing 40 in a 30 at some point heading to work. Both of these specific traps are setup in locations where it's like taking candy from a baby (4 lane road with usually no traffic). I think 40 is reasonable in those spots. ACPD is cherry picking locations where it's easiest to make quotas. Just like how MD/DC put speed cameras in the sneakiest spots where they produce the most $, and then spin it like the cameras are there for safety reasons.
Datadass:
What data can you provide/cite to support your assertion that “…MD/DC put speed cameras in the sneakiest spots where they produce the most $, and then spin it like the cameras are there for safety reasons.”?
I don't have data, but my observation in lower Montgomery County is that the speed cameras I've observed there are placed where concern about speeding drivers is well justified. My observation is also that signs are posted with the info that speed cameras are in place. Bottom line: Obey the speed limit. Then no problem, and no revenue contributions.
dabadass said:
I always thought there was a general, unwritten rule that police try not to run speed traps during morning/afternoon rush hours?
Do you know what a speed trap is? It's not just speed enforcement.
No, they may enforce speed limits at any time. The way to handle it is to slow the f**k down. Just FYI.
Handouts that liberals use to buy votes don’t grow on trees. That’s for doing your part to secure democrat monopolization of Arlington. If the state allowed speed cameras, the alrlibs would have one on every block, and the libs will just be in heaven with all the extra money they could buy votes with.
The logic that one is in a 'rush' and it should be okay to speed is flawed.
The person who hit the motorcyclist on 395 a few weeks ago might have been in a rush, and that's why they cut into the HOV lanes.
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The real issue here may be artificially low speed limits.
b0rk said: “They should get their lazy asses out of bed earlier.”
That about sums it up.
This is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. Slow down! I am begging them to do do speed enforcement on my street. Would you rather I start hurling rocks at the cars instead?
ACPD regularly runs speed traps on Lee Hwy around the Overlee pool, and I'm glad to see them. Too many people think the speed limit on Lee Hwy is 55. If you don't like being pulled over for doing 40 in a 30, then do 35 in a 30. They'll leave you alone.
