So what year did he return from?

Doesn't Britain use the metric system like all good socialists?

added that one sign was under a street lamp.

No, it was placed thered by a UFO.

I just got my first speeding ticket, so I'm getting a kick...

/ :(

the_sidewinder: In Canada, there is a Max speed that you can drive at when no speed is posted, surely there exists something similar in the US?

No not really, but depending on where you drive, the speed limit is just regarded as a suggestion anyway.

/Use your turn signals douchebags!

Uh, if he was transporting a prisoner wouldn't he be on duty and be allowed to speed? Course, this is the UK, so who the fark knows?

the_sidewinder: In Canada, there is a Max speed that you can drive at when no speed is posted, surely there exists something similar in the US?

In New York, the state speed limit is 55 mph (88 km/h) unless otherwise posted.
Cities, villages and towns can have their own speed limit for the entire municipality, usually around 30 mph (48 km/h).

7th Son of a 7th Son: Uh, if he was transporting a prisoner wouldn't he be on duty and be allowed to speed? Course, this is the UK, so who the fark knows?

This.

I believe him. Obviously, police have no need to know complicated, obscure laws like basic traffic regulations to successfully execute their god-given rights duties.

/Is there anywhere where the speed limit IS 98 mph?

the_sidewinder: In Canada, there is a Max speed that you can drive at when no speed is posted, surely there exists something similar in the UK?


Yes..



and to the usual person saying the UK shouldn't be using MPH.. well we do.

Good morning, The Worm, Your Honour,
The Crown will plainly show,
The prisoner who now stands before you,
Was caught red-handed going speeding.
Going speeding and too much acceleration.
This will not do.

7th Son of a 7th Son: Uh, if he was transporting a prisoner wouldn't he be on duty and be allowed to speed? Course, this is the UK, so who the fark knows?

Even the police aren't allowed to speed unless its a emergency and they have the sirens/lights on.

/we do use the speed limits as a suggestion until we see the police or a speed camera.
//98mph will get your license suspended usually.

Wanted for questioning.

FTA: Llandudno magistrate

orbitalfreak: Driver has no business driving if he doesn't know the rules of the road.

I plead "Not Guilty"
I've never been to England.

/and... I've never been to Spain
but I kinda like the music...

PPL_Wannabe: So what year did he return from?

Redisplay/refresh comments

Back in 1992 I was in "ticket school" in Florida and some dude there got tagged for going 90-something in a school zone while the school zone signs were flashing.

He told us how he tried to fight the ticket in court since it was a $500 fine. The judge told him "you really don't want to argue this." The dude kept it up and the judge said "fine, why do you think this case should be dismissed? Dude said "At that speed I couldn't read the speed limit signs." BANG! Judge then said "guilty, $900 fine."

He was upset that we didn't see the validity of his excuse.

In the UK signs have to conform to regulations that define how they are constructed etc, otherwise they do not count and can be ignored.

The driver was a Police Officer on duty with an exemption from all speed limits 'if the observance of that (speed limit) would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it was being used on that occasion.'

It's a common defence to show that the signs do not conform - something we learned from the USA. The speed limit then becomes 60mph instead of 50mph and the penalties are much less.

I'm sorry officer, I didn't know I couldn't do that.



/shouldn't be too obscure...good stand up show...

Evilmogwai:

and to the usual person saying the UK shouldn't be using MPH.. well we do.

Personally I prefer stones per fathom.

alostpacket: Evilmogwai:

and to the usual person saying the UK shouldn't be using MPH.. well we do.

Personally I prefer stones per fathom.

Furlongs per fortnight.

can some american please explain to me why it is a good idea to have traffic laws that are 98 but not 100% the same for the whole country? as in, you can turn right on red in most places, except that you're just supposed to know that you can't in other places. that, and that you can get jailed or something for using radar guns in virginia.

oh, i suppose the explanation will involve states rights, keeping the king of england out of your trou, and the civil war, but, i mean, come on.

Evilmogwai: Even the police aren't allowed to speed unless its a emergency and they have the sirens/lights on.

Pretty much.

skinink: And on top of slowing down, use your farking directionals when you're driving around the patrol car. If you cops are gonna give me hell when I forget to use it, you'd better set an example for me.

One of these days, I'm going to sit on a corner in Hartford with a camcorder, and along with taping a few muggings and murders, catch half the police force not wearing seatbelts, talking on cell phones, not using turn signals, and ignoring all the "NO RIGHT TURN ON RED" signs.

Then, I will proceed to get farked by every single one whenever I am in that city.

National speed limit in the UK is 70 MPH.
police are only exempt from speed limits if they are speeding in pursuance of their duties.

It is not correct to say the limits have to be posted and visible; I recall a recent case where a guy was convicted of speeding when he went into an area with a lower speed limit, which was not signed. The police claimed he should have known the speed limit had changed because the lampposts were less than a certain distance apart

Bomb Head Mohammed: can some american please explain to me why it is a good idea to have traffic laws that are 98 but not 100% the same for the whole country?

General rule of thumb: Right turn on reds are alright unless otherwise posted (usually at each intersection, or when entering the city limits there may be a sign posted that says "no right turns in city limits"). As for speed limits, it all has to do with how populated the area is. Might depend on a people/mile ratio of the area, I dunno.

As for things like radar detectors and such, yeah.. like speed limits, they vary state to state. Dunno why, but anyone driving around with a radar detector in their windshield is kinda asking to get pulled over, or at least get a ticket if you are nailed for speeding. Better to get a detector that has a remote install ability, like in the front grill, and has a display inside the car near the instrument panel.

furterfan 2009-12-26 04:06:32 PM

National speed limit in the UK is 70 MPH.
police are only exempt from speed limits if they are speeding in pursuance of their duties.

It is not correct to say the limits have to be posted and visible; I recall a recent case where a guy was convicted of speeding when he went into an area with a lower speed limit, which was not signed. The police claimed he should have known the speed limit had changed because the lampposts were less than a certain distance apart

The presence of lamp posts at all defines whether or not it is classed as a "built up area" and thus 30mph not 60 or 70. If you want to have lamp posts without changing the speed limit you need speed limit signs on them, hense you see small speed limit signs every few miles on motorway street lights to keep in compliance with this law.

orbitalfreak: Driver has no business driving if he doesn't know the rules of the road.

Amen.

the_sidewinder: Scratch that, in the UK not the US

National Speed Limit - single carriageway 60mph, dual carrigaeway and above - 70mph.

RoxtarRyan: Better to get a detector that has a remote install ability, like in the front grill, and has a display inside the car near the instrument panel.

I disguised mine to look like a handgun laying on the dash.

maidtina: furterfan 2009-12-26 04:06:32 PM

National speed limit in the UK is 70 MPH.
police are only exempt from speed limits if they are speeding in pursuance of their duties.

It is not correct to say the limits have to be posted and visible; I recall a recent case where a guy was convicted of speeding when he went into an area with a lower speed limit, which was not signed. The police claimed he should have known the speed limit had changed because the lampposts were less than a certain distance apart

The presence of lamp posts at all defines whether or not it is classed as a "built up area" and thus 30mph not 60 or 70. If you want to have lamp posts without changing the speed limit you need speed limit signs on them, hense you see small speed limit signs every few miles on motorway street lights to keep in compliance with this law.

This.
Speed limits are marked either by signs or by the presence of street lights less than 200 yds apart unless signed as different. As there were 50mph signs in this case, this is irrelevant. The question is whether the signs are valid.

Kumana Wanalaia: Good morning, The Worm, Your Honour,
The Crown will plainly show,
The prisoner who now stands before you,
Was caught red-handed going speeding.
Going speeding and too much acceleration.
This will not do.





approves!

The presence of lamp posts at all defines whether or not it is classed as a "built up area" and thus 30mph not 60 or 70. If you want to have lamp posts without changing the speed limit you need speed limit signs on them, hense you see small speed limit signs every few miles on motorway street lights to keep in compliance with this law.

Geebus - thank GOD I live in Texas! None such shiate like that here. Of course three years ago I got pulled over for passing a stopped school bus. I honestly didn't see it (was on the phone with my wife's doctor talking about her cancer test results). At first the cop was furious - me being on the phone, etc - then when he heard my wife was going to go through surgery he just said "take it easy". Sometimes it's nice to live in Austin.

I guess the British haven't heard of the term "Professional Courtesy".

If only his car had some type of illumination devices on the front that could light up the surrounding area....

...well until that day I guess we'll never know what the speed limit is at night.

lunkhed: It's a common defence to show that the signs do not conform - something we learned from the USA.

You'll be displeased to know that, while this defense probably worked in the States for a while, the dominant culture has shifted in recent years toward an "ignorance of the law is not an excuse" approach. People routinely face and are convicted on speeding charges in zones that are not marked at all, much less "clearly marked". We even use aircraft for speed enforcement, meaning that the officer who writes you the citation, effectively testifying that s/he is a witness to your transgression, may never have seen the deed, and the judges let this slide.

Traffic enforcement has been a money-making scam here for years. If your system "learns" from us, I feel sorry for what you're going to be going through over the next few years.

Since when did speed signs need to be lit up? I know in civilized North America, we have self-reflecting signs, just like our license plates...

3M US: Traffic Safety (new window)

Bomb Head Mohammed: can some american please explain to me why it is a good idea to have traffic laws that are 98 but not 100% the same for the whole country? as in, you can turn right on red in most places, except that you're just supposed to know that you can't in other places. that, and that you can get jailed or something for using radar guns in virginia.

oh, i suppose the explanation will involve states rights, keeping the king of england out of your trou, and the civil war, but, i mean, come on.

I'd try, but first I'd like you to explain why Boxing Day can be or can not be a holiday in London, depending, apparently, on which side of the street you live on. I have 120 pounds sterling riding on this one, kitten.

Shadyman: Since when did speed signs need to be lit up? I know in civilized North America, we have self-reflecting signs, just like our license plates...

3M US: Traffic Safety (new window)

i was thinking exactly the same thing. in australia, most of the speed limit signs are reflective whiteish/silverish with a red circle around the number



and that's in kmh

btw, the speed limit in the NT for some of our highways is 130kmh, and i've done that on a learner's licence (not supposed to on that licence)

Link (new window)

my best excuse is no officer i did not know how fast i was going the speedometer dos not go that high

beowulf980: my best excuse is no officer i did not know how fast i was going the speedometer dos not go that high

the speedo in my mum's nissan goes crazy when anyone drives it. it'll show 160km when you're doing 40. and the odometer goes in reverse. i hated learning to drive in it