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New Law passed in Texas

Discussion in 'Texas' started by Free, Jan 6, 2005.

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  1. Free

    Free Karting

    Oct 26, 2004
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    Duane Baker
    #1 Free, Jan 6, 2005
    New law passed recently requiring all vehicles traveling down the freeway to move over from the lane adjacent to any emergency vehicle sitting on the side of the road with it's light on. Includes ambulances, wreckers, fire trucks and police cars.

    Failure to change lanes will warrant a ticket of "passing an emergency vehicle".

    My wife just received a ticket for this violation.
     
  2. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    #2 GrigioGuy, Jan 6, 2005
    It's not new, it's been around since 2003.

    http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/78R/billtext/SB00193F.HTM

    Now YOU try slowing to 30 MPH in the fast lane on I35 when there's a cop on the inside shoulder. Guaranteed chaos, especially since most drivers don't know the law. I understand the intent (who wants to be buzzed by someone doing 90?), but the implementation is junk.

    In Houston they were using pairs of patrol cars to trap people. The first would have it's lights on and be parked on the side of the freeway, the second would back up to the nose of the first to hide and then pull over people who didn't slow enough.
     
  3. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 BigTex, Jan 6, 2005
    20MPH slower, and they mean it!

    My 2005 Resolution:

    Front license plates on EVERYTHING!
    Even the racing karts.....they say:

    TEXAS TEXAS
    SCOTT AMANDA

    Hand me those TEK screws over there!
     
  4. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 BigTex, Jan 6, 2005
    Enjoy the DDC movies, try to find the class in a good restuarant.....

    I use Stockman's Cafe in Waller, Texas. Sometimes AJ Foyt will duck in and say "Hello"............
     
  5. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #5 rob lay, Jan 6, 2005
    I wish all people were smart and had common sense, we wouldn't need laws like this. I think the dumb people this law targets might be the same ones too dumb to obey. So the rest of us pay the price with higher taxes and "traps". I think we need to bring back the law of the west and 6-shooters.

    Also can't believe how many slow traveling cars stay in the left lane, even after passing a "Left lane for passing only" sign. Maybe we need signs with larger letters for the old folks and at least Spanish/Hindi/Redneckish too.
     
  6. FarmerDave

    FarmerDave F1 World Champ
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    #6 FarmerDave, Jan 6, 2005
    On a similar note, I read in DMN this morning that Dallas PD Chief Kunkel is in favor of returning to the Quota System. He favors returning to quotas as a "crime fighting tool" because criminals have to drive from point a to point b. Pulling people over lets officers see inside a vehicle and detect criminal activity. He says that the law against such practices wasn't intended for cities like Dallas, but for communities that make a significant amount of revenue from issuing citations.

    WRONG. If the law which banned ticket quotas is ever repealled, it will be another significant reduction in our basic individual rights.
     
  7. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 BigTex, Jan 6, 2005
    "Quick!......put this out and throw it out the window!"




    ROTFLMAO!
     
  8. FarmerDave

    FarmerDave F1 World Champ
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    #8 FarmerDave, Jan 6, 2005
    Why bother to put it out first? Worried about starting a "grass" fire?


    bump bump bump.... is this thing on? :)
     
  9. Free

    Free Karting

    Oct 26, 2004
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    Duane Baker
    #9 Free, Jan 6, 2005
    That is what happened to my wife. It was a trap scenario in Crandall, Texas.

    2 police cars were on the shoulder with lights flashing. No reason whatsoever. No vehicles were pulled over. Down the road another police car was sitting on the side of the road to get the ones who did not change lanes.

    There was other traffic on the road and my wife said she couldn't change lanes because of vehicles in the adjacent lane. The police officer told here she was supposed to slow down 20 mph when passing the flashing light PC's.

    On the ticket, it just says in the violation " passing emergency vehicle". No speed is stipulated.

    It happened on New Year's Eve so I suspect they were trying to nab drivers who were drinking.

    While we both drive safely, and slow down when we see police cars flashing lights or not, just the fact that she didn't move over to another lane (whether there were cars there or not) didn't warrant receiving a citation for it.

    Most of the people who fly by cops and hit them, or their open car doors are either drunk or on something anyways. I don't think implimenting this law to change lanes will reduce the accidents caused by drunk drivers or drivers who don't pay attention. Seems more like another way for Police to increase city cash intake.

    My brother, who works for Dallas PD, says they look at it as a bogus law and they don't really try to enforce it, but that suburbs use the law to increase cash flow to their city.

    With the way the ticket is written, I would bet a lawyer could get it thrown out in court.

    We'll see.
     
  10. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 jimpo1, Jan 6, 2005
    Just FYI, Crandall is WELL known for their speed traps, and any other kind of police trap. They are the classic example of a town that makes it's revenue from speeders. I have to drive through there every time we go to the lake, and there are cops there 75% of the time. It's just habit for me now to hit the brakes when I drive through.
     
  11. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 BigTex, Jan 6, 2005
    This is called behavioral modification, on the part of Law Enforcement agencies........

    On two lane roads it isn't possible to change lanes, so they are really looking for a 20MPH reduction in speed as an instinctive reaction...


    (It is for me 'cuz I'm usually 40MPH OVER, LOL!)

    Like my front plate experiences, after enough time wasted downtown clearing thru the metal detectors, you'll modify your behavior.

    I agree that the 'traps' are not a wise idea, as that implies these guys have time on their hands.....also agree that on that date, it was most likely a fishing expedition!!!

    Call me a scofflaw Farmer Dave but you can NEVER accuse me of starting a forest fire!! :)

    Well actually I did once, as a child, but that's another story...........
     
  12. vlamgat

    vlamgat Formula Junior

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    #12 vlamgat, Jan 6, 2005
    as a former Euro type I cannot agree with you more but ... on having this argument with a well exercised right coaster, he made 2 points:
    1) they are called freeways because you are free to drive anyway you want, within the law ...and
    2) there is no "rule of the road" in the US as there is in Europe where you are required by law to "keep right" (or in the UK "keep left") at all times unless permitted by sign or because you are overtaking. So by right any one in the US can stay in the left lane at any speed and overtaking using the inside lane is quite acceptable - as is moving from lane to lane. Obviously if you do it too fast and your overtaking speed differential is too great you can be had for aggressive driving - but the law allows you to undertake that manouver unlike many other countries.

    Of course since the wall came down, the Euros have had their driving ethics seriously undermined by the Trabant crowd !
     
  13. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #13 rob lay, Jan 6, 2005
    There are still a few old farts around that are just doing this to be jerks. Stuff like "I pay my taxes too" - "I'm driving the speed limit".

    Most just don't know the rules of the road or at least etiquette. Hard to get mad at them, but someone needs to educate them. The jerks need to be at the loosing end of a 6 shooter.

    Luckily many states, including Texas have started putting up signs to warn drivers.

    Every car I have to pass on the right, I will point with my hand they need to get over.

    Just saw a show that the autobahn is safer than American highways and they go twice the speeds. Pisses me off that a major risk of me or loved ones dying without natural cause is from a car accident. When people do stupid things that endanger my life on the road, it really gets me going. I think there are just a small number of drivers that are causing the most problems.
     
  14. TOM B

    TOM B Formula 3

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    #14 TOM B, Jan 7, 2005

    Sad but true. So many laws and regulations are put into effect to "protect" the lowest common denominator of intelligence. We have laws that require wiper use when it's rainng. Lights on when it's dark. Duh !!! Are people really that dumb?......There's a reason that the label on a Preparation-H tube says..."not to be taken orally". :)

    Tom
     
  15. ralfabco

    ralfabco Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #15 ralfabco, Jan 7, 2005

    My Corolla has no front plate. Why ruin the front view of the car ?

    As far as passing new laws ?

    ... It is simple. They just want more of your money !!
     

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