Cops that Speed and ride your tail......

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kg4fxg

kg4fxg

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Let's say I am not a fan of Cops. On the one hand glad it was a Cop behind me, they do know how to drive.

I recall one time at 3PM I was driving a new truck not 30 days old. Was T Boned by a drunk and truck was totaled. The guy walked back across the street to the trailer park and the Cops did not arrest him. His girlfriends insurance did cover the damage. Police were not very helpful but then everyone has a story or two. In this day and age I tend to record everything. With sexual harassment and all it is just better. Same with driving. Trust but Verify!

Oh yeah, was out on the same road at 4:30AM the other day. I was in wife's car (Mini Countryman). Four deer 1 foot from the edge of the road. I looked down and damn, I was under the speed limit again by 5 MPH. I am not a fast driver at 3 or 4 AM. We have lots of trees down at times or animals in the road. Not unusual to see a pack of possums. Fortunately, the cows keep out of there road here and horses as well.
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lightthief

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It goes both ways, my friend. I'll be the first to admit that I'm too impatient when driving and I need to change. But I still stand by what I said. You can't know how much time other people have. When you take your sweet time, you take everyone else's, and that's just as selfish.
The problem being , all you lose is a very small amount of time. The problems for the reverse stack up to a much much larger issue.
The safety aspect is hopefully already known so I’ll skip that.

What you may not be aware of is that tailgating , quick lane changes, and basically anything that sometimes causes hard brakes is essentially the snake that eats itself and is the single largest thing we individually have control over that creates bad traffic to begin with.


So if you actually want to get some place faster over all the solution is to actually drive more like those people you hate because the problem is disruptions to traffic patterns that come from waves of reactions to a hard breaks, whether there is an accident or not. We all benefit from it, including yourself.
 

lightthief

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It goes both ways, my friend. I'll be the first to admit that I'm too impatient when driving and I need to change. But I still stand by what I said. You can't know how much time other people have. When you take your sweet time, you take everyone else's, and that's just as selfish.
As for other drivers being selfish.
That ascribes a specific malicious intent to a situation that likely has a million variables for their behavior. The vast majority of which probably have little to do them just feeling like hoarding the road for themselves that day.
 

Design

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I wouldn't really call that illegal. Our law enforcement (OCSD) has a similar program in which they take several cars to local events to bring awareness to local issues (street racing, DUIs, illegal modifications, etc). We see a few of these vehicles quite often on our local streets as well. Presumably to emphasize the notion that these cars can be quick, street legal, and driven responsibly. Though I'll be the first to admit that not all of them can be driven on public roads.

Those of you in Florida are probably aware of the Beat the Heat Challenge. Similar outreach program using Asset Recovery funds from drug busts and seizures to help fund several of these cars (which require frequent mechanical attention lol).
https://jalopnik.com/5236317/drag-race-a-cop-in-beat-the-heat-challenge

I do think you were being a tad paranoid. The license plate readers are only available on select vehicles. And they're incredibly expensive. If a cop is pulling up fast on your tail, they are either manually reading your plate or looking for anything suspicious inside (usually on the dash). Something that's difficult to do from a distance.

Keep in mind that the law gives officers a lot of flexibility to bend the rules if a reasonable suspicion is there. The may have been looking for a suspect in a similar vehicle, or you may have unknowingly raised their suspicion driving slow (DUI offenders tend to drive slow as well). I wouldn't take it personally; 999/1000 times they're just doing their job. It's the one occurrence where a cop acts unprofessional, unethical or from a lack of training that makes the headlines.

If it makes you feel any better, I was rolled up by a cop late last Thursday around midnight. I gave my Si a little extra gas accelerating from a light. Nothing illegal, just enough to catch his attention. He pulled up quick with his headlights off, hung out for a few seconds, then pulled off on a nearby street (turning his headlights on in the process). I shrugged it off knowing I was in a typically quiet area late at night.

YMMV.
 
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CVTsport18

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No issues with how the OP drives. It's early morning and nobody is around, do what you want. People driving under the limit only bother me when they do it in the left lane, especially when it's in town with traffic. I just want to go the posted speed. Let me get around you or at least get up to the posted speed. Bottling up traffic is dangerous. Increasing the number of cars around you purposely means increasing the odds that one of them makes a mistake and causes an accident.
 


Aurelleah

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As for other drivers being selfish.
That ascribes a specific malicious intent to a situation that likely has a million variables for their behavior. The vast majority of which probably have little to do them just feeling like hoarding the road for themselves that day.
Uh dude, you can be selfish without "a specific malicious intent". People are selfish all the time without thinking "Hmm, I'ma be a dickhead today!!"
 

cjackgo

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I recently purchased a 2019 Civic Hatchback Sport Touring. And of course with a new car you watch and drive carefully. I don't speed and actually have not had it out of ECON mode trying to get the best gas mileage possible.

So I am driving through small town (mine) and going about 40 in a 45 MPH zone at 3:30AM. Dark, and I have to be to work as this is normal. I cross an intersection (small roads) and then some time later notice a car far behind me. He must be going 80 mph. I am concerned. New car and all and of course at that hour.

Turns out to be a cop. Sorry, I hate them. Scared me to death. I am 56 BTW. He was really moving. So, I need to install my Passport 8500ci hidden radar and dash cams. I would have loved to post that to You Tube as after he tailgated me and passed my car. No worries I am under the speed limit. But don't police need to obey the speed limit? Or at least have their lights on? My dash cam from the other car would have identified his plate.

At that hour I am more concerned with DUI drivers and deers. I don't speed and if I do it is to get out of the way. I really wish I could get to the point of not needing radar or dash cams but situations like this don't help. Trust no one. Record it all. Yes, I am sure in the end I am screwed no matter what. Sweet to have video proof. Not sure it would help. Wonder what would have happen if I posted that to You Tube? Had I had my front and rear Blackvue installed.

Thoughts? Yes I am over paranoid. Glad it was a cop, at least he would not rear end me. I would like to make it to getting my tag on the car first before that happens. Rear end collision.

I wish with all those cameras on the car they would record. Would make my life so much easier. Need to find my battery Radar Detector (Passport) to use until I can wire in the other one. Which with the wave of my hand would record audio in case I was pulled over. Been there with the last car as the dealer screwed up and until they did something I could not get plates. Another try long story.

I wish I had no need for radar and dash cams. I just don't trust cops and I don't speed. Just watch cops behaving badly on You Tube and no wonder I am concerned.

BTW, new car, 33 miles per gallon in ECON mode so far. Not broke in. I hope to get to 40 MPG. Already better than other car very pleased.

Thoughts.......

Bill
Based on the time and conditions you noted, if I were on duty I would suspect you're driving home hammered hoping you won't get caught, being so careful and under the speed limit. That is the normal at the time and place you describe. Dash cam is good for all. No bias there just the video IF complete and unedited. Sorry you are so paranoid. Go to the cop bar and hang a while.
 

MuffinMcFluffin

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It doesn't matter what your idea of reasonable speed is. If you're driving more than 5mph slower than the flow of traffic (regardless of the posted limit), you're the one being unreasonable and causing more danger on the road.

Where I live, average flow of traffic is 5-10 over the limit, 10-15 on highways. I can't count how many jackasses I've encountered who are putting along in the left lane and refuse to move over, despite having numerous opportunities to do so. If I can change lanes and pass them without having to slow down, I won't hesitate to do so, but usually that's not an option. I try to be polite at first and keep off their bumper, and flash my brights a couple times to ask them to move over. After I do that a couple times they start pumping their brakes and getting all pissy. Only then do I move closer. One time, a woman literally started throwing a fit when I pointed to the right to tell her to move over when she was going 55-60 in the left lane of a 65 zone.

And maybe consider that methods of communicating to other drivers are pretty much limited to horn, signals, brights, and following distance. So maybe they're not always "bullying", but are trying to communicate using the limited available options. There are always exceptions of course, like the people flying up behind you at 90 and ride 3 feet from your bumper. But even then, just move over. You're equally an asshole when you obstruct them with your nose up in the air, as if you couldn't be caught dead respectfully getting out of anyone's way.

TLDR: SLOW TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT. If you're not passing someone, stay the hell out of the left lane.
This should be a law everywhere, but some states still haven't gotten a clue.

This is more a general rant than just directed at you, btw.
Fine, but if I'm going 68 MPH in a 65 MPH zone and going faster than cars adjacent to me in other lanes, then I'm entitled to any lane I'd like.

Pass by me all you'd like, that's fine... and if I have the chance to get over if I see someone coming up my behind, I absolutely do not mind moving for you. But for the love of god do not honk, flash brights or tailgate. Don't be a fucking dick. I'll be sure to make the rest of your trip that we're on the same road together a living hell afterward.

If you're late for somewhere, don't blame me that you didn't happen to leave earlier. Someday you will get what's coming to you. At the lightest comeuppance, I hope it's a ticket.
 

BlueLdr

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But for the love of god do not honk, flash brights or tailgate. Don't be a fucking dick.
So doing anything whatsoever to get your attention and ask you to let them pass automatically makes one a dick?
 


MuffinMcFluffin

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So doing anything whatsoever to get your attention and ask you to let them pass automatically makes one a dick?
Yes. If you want to pass, change lanes and pass. I'm not going below the posted speed limit. No need to be obnoxious.

I don't even honk when the person in front of me at a green light isn't moving. No matter the extremity of your good-willed intentions, it simply comes off as petty, rude, and impatient. I am by no way absolving the person who is likely on his/her phone.
 

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Yes. If you want to pass, change lanes and pass. I'm not going below the posted speed limit. No need to be obnoxious.
I'm mainly talking about situations where we're in the left lane I can't change lanes to pass them, where they're going less than 5mph faster than the lane to the right, and there aren't gaps big enough for me to overtake them, but there are gaps big enough for them to pop over to let me and others pass. Perhaps things are just different where you live. 70-80 in a 65 is the norm where I live, so 68 is somewhat slow, and is unacceptable in the left lane.

I don't even honk when the person in front of me at a green light isn't moving. No matter the extremity of your good-willed intentions, it simply comes off as petty, rude, and impatient. I am by no way absolving the person who is likely on his/her phone.
Again, maybe it's different around here, maybe it's just me. But I don't really get how the even quickest tap of the horn to get someone's attention is rude.
 

dmitri

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I'm mainly talking about situations where we're in the left lane I can't change lanes to pass them, where they're going less than 5mph faster than the lane to the right, and there aren't gaps big enough for me to overtake them, but there are gaps big enough for them to pop over to let me and others pass. Perhaps things are just different where you live. 70-80 in a 65 is the norm where I live, so 68 is somewhat slow, and is unacceptable in the left lane.
There are actually laws in some states specifically telling people to move over if they're blocking traffic, even if they're already speeding. The problem is that:
a) most people are not aware of them and they aren't even mentioned to the kids in driving schools when they get their license (I asked my daughter specifically about it and sure enough, the instructor never once mentioned to her that she should generally "keep right"), and
b) these laws are barely enforced:
https://www.myajc.com/news/local/bi...ush-obey-slowpoke-law/ZC09A35xFVdPV3iIvRYCAP/
 

BlueLdr

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There are actually laws in some states specifically telling people to move over if they're blocking traffic, even if they're already speeding. The problem is that:
a) most people are not aware of them and they aren't even mentioned to the kids in driving schools when they get their license (I asked my daughter specifically about it and sure enough, the instructor never once mentioned to her that she should generally "keep right"), and
b) these laws are barely enforced:
https://www.myajc.com/news/local/bi...ush-obey-slowpoke-law/ZC09A35xFVdPV3iIvRYCAP/
Yeah I've heard about those laws. Unfortunately, MD isn't one of those states. They even proposed a law for it a couple years ago but it didn't go anywhere. My driver's ed instructor(s) never spoke a word about lane discipline either.
 

MuffinMcFluffin

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That doesn't make any sense. What is the threshold? Am I to believe that every car driving 100 MPH on the freeway provides a lesser danger than somebody going at or just above the 65 MPH speed limit? Break the law to obey the law? That conformist attitude is pure bullshit.

I'm not saying that I don't drive above the speed limit; heck, I averaged probably 82 MPH on a 70 MPH road for well over two hours. But I never for one second was upset if somebody was even going 65 MPH on there. The only gripe I'd ever have is if on that two-lane road that slow is trying to pass by slower and is essentially going the same speed, blocking any sort of pass. I won't flash or honk, I'll be rightfully patient... but that is the only time consideration should be acknowledged from the slower drivers.
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