Author Topic: Driving In The Us (Read 3008 times)

blarneyman · « **on:** December 18, 2007, 02:11:52 PM »

Just a warning for all you north folk. There are some new and revised laws in Washington.
1) One person driving the HOV lanes $1068.50 for a first offense. It doubles(2nd) then triples(3rd) then you lose your license for a year.
2) As of Jan. 1 no sending/reading/texting while driving $285
3) Using a cell phone in a construction zone $570
4) Incorrect lane change (cutting someone off or no signal $380
5) Blocking an intersection (stopped at red light) $485
6) Driving on the shoulder of the road $450

Here is the one that is getting a lot of people:

You will get a ticket for driving more than 3 mph over the posted speed limit (used to be 5 over)

Watch your speed!!

GRK · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2007, 03:25:35 PM »

Not sure what the part of highway is called , but here's my question. Coming North on the I 5There is an HOV lane in Seattle that goes underground by passing a few of the off ramps. If I have 3 people in my truck with camper and car trailer can I use this lane?

Thanks

Gary

Chris W · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2007, 03:38:40 PM »

I saw that a while ago. It all makes sense except the 3 mph over the speed limit thing. If you are going over the posted limit they can pull you over. It does not matter how much, and there are very few cops that will get you for anything around 5 over.

blarneyman · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2007, 05:16:43 PM »

Quote

Not sure what the part of highway is called , but here's my question. Coming North on the I 5There is an HOV lane in Seattle that goes underground by passing a few of the off ramps. If I have 3 people in my truck with camper and car trailer can I use this lane?

Thanks

Gary

That section of I-5 is called the Express Lanes. It goes from Northgate to about Safeco Field. That is open to all traffic (alternating north and south depending on traffic volume). It is there for the people who are traveling through Seattle and not getting off the freeway. You can use that even if you are alone and/or towing a trailer. The HOV lane does go in there but it's open to all (just watch the signs which lane to be in). If you find yourself between 2 solid white lines in the left lane (anywhere on I-5) you are in the HOV lane.

blarneyman · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2007, 05:24:25 PM »

Quote

I saw that a while ago. It all makes sense except the 3 mph over the speed limit thing. If you are going over the posted limit they can pull you over. It does not matter how much, and there are very few cops that will get you for anything around 5 over.

Up to this time, most cops would let you go 5 to 7 over, sometimes even more. The Wa. State Patrol has been told to crack down and start issuing tickets after 3 over the posted limit. This is due to higher than normal accidents, road rage and dangerous driving by the majority of people in the state. That is why the push on ticketing people cutting off other drivers and not using turn signals for lane changes.

I work for the state and we have been told that we will be set as examples if we violate.

GRK · « **Reply #5 on:** December 18, 2007, 05:30:24 PM »

Thanks for the info on the express way .

What are the HOV restrictions on the HOV lane? Cars only, Trucks with campers or moterhomes can you tow a trailer, min # of people in your vehicle?

Gary

Chris · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2007, 05:46:48 PM »

From the Washington State HOV FAQ

Who can use HOV lanes?

Drivers can use HOV lanes whenever there are two or more people in their vehicle, including the driver. There are two exceptions to this rule:

SR 520, west of I-405. This is the only place on the HOV system where three or more people are required. The 3+ occupancy requirement on this segment has to do with safety concerns.

I-90 Express Lanes, west of Island Crest Way. Single occupant vehicles traveling between Seattle and Mercer Island and vise versa are allowed to use the I-90 HOV Express Lanes. This has to do with a Memo of Understanding between Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, WSDOT, Sound Transit, and the Federal Transit Authority. Solo drivers may use the I-90 HOV Express Lanes between Exits #3 and #7 in both directions. They cannot use the HOV Express Lanes east of Exit #7 on Mercer Island.
The definition of \"people\" is not limited by age or licensing status. Single-occupant hybrid and other green vehicles are not allowed to use the HOV lane. There is no weight limit for recreational vehicles. Towing is allowed in the HOV lanes as long as an adequate speed can be maintained. Public buses, emergency vehicles, and motorcycles can use freeway HOV lanes at any time, regardless of how many people are on board.

GRK · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2007, 10:19:05 PM »

Thanks chris for the info

Gary

Batan · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2007, 11:13:33 AM »

Quote

Just a warning for all you north folk. There are some new and revised laws in Washington.
1) One person driving the HOV lanes $1068.50 for a first offense. It doubles(2nd) then triples(3rd) then you lose your license for a year.
2) As of Jan. 1 no sending/reading/texting while driving $285
3) Using a cell phone in a construction zone $570
4) Incorrect lane change (cutting someone off or no signal $380
5) Blocking an intersection (stopped at red light) $485
6) Driving on the shoulder of the road $450

Here is the one that is getting a lot of people:

You will get a ticket for driving more than 3 mph over the posted speed limit (used to be 5 over)

Watch your speed!!

I think those are great. Aside from the speed, I hope police everywhere enforced those!

As for 3mph, that's a bit tight, lots of speedo's might not be accurate enough...

blarneyman · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2007, 05:10:33 PM »

Most, if not all, of the radar guns have an accuracy of +- 3 at 100mph. So, at 70mph it would be +- 2. I think if I was doing 64mph and got a ticket, I'd be fighting it. B)

I have been looking into this whole thing on-line. Some of the info may be a false. The cell phone laws are definitely true, but the fees can not be confirmed right now (I'm still looking into it). The rest of the stuff is unconfirmed. I know some people in high places :ph34r: and I will keep on it.

egspot · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2007, 06:08:12 PM »

Quote

Most, if not all, of the radar guns have an accuracy of +- 3 at 100mph. So, at 70mph it would be +- 2. I think if I was doing 64mph and got a ticket, I'd be fighting it. B)

I have been looking into this whole thing on-line. Some of the info may be a false. The cell phone laws are definitely true, but the fees can not be confirmed right now (I'm still looking into it). The rest of the stuff is unconfirmed. I know some people in high places :ph34r: and I will keep on it.

So if you got 195 50 15 on the front and your speedometer reads 70 mph. what would your actual speed be?

silas · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2007, 07:51:35 PM »

Quote

So if you got 195 50 15 on the front and your speedometer reads 70 mph. what would your actual speed be?

your speedo will be reading 10.7% faster than usual.

punch in the #'s here....

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

stock tire size is 165/80 15

blarneyman · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2007, 09:19:46 PM »

SO if I figured this correct, 185/70/15 is as close to stock diameter you can get without going very much wider.

Bruce · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2007, 12:37:09 AM »

Quote

So if you got 195 50 15 on the front and your speedometer reads 70 mph. what would your actual speed be?

About 60 mph.

el_flechador · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2007, 11:28:41 AM »

Just out of interest, what is the deal with Canadians getting speeding tickets etc in the US? i am resident of a few countries and usually give my most obscure license when stopped mostly for speeding, and i have never been given a ticket ever, always a warning. I dont like to waste time when abroad so its usually a lot more than a 5 or 10mph difference.
most recently i was down in Texas where the speed limit is 70mph, after a days enthusiastic driving, i promised my honey to keep the speed down as i was sure they had a Hardon for speeders down in these parts.......anyway i was in texas about 10 mins...and got to meet Officer Gomez, now im going a couple of miles per hour under a ton and this guy looks like he is really pleased to see me, so i choose to give him my Canadian license, hes arleady said hes going to give me a ticket im driving a car on AZ plates (rental)and disapears back to his cruiser, returns back to my car and issues me with a warning???
So what gives?

blarneyman · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2007, 02:15:43 PM »

If you don't have any priors in that state, you're not driving like a mad man and your a foreign citizen, most of the time they will let you off. It's to hard to collect the fines from foreigners, as I found out in Scotland

. I was clocked by photo radar doing 42 in a 25 zone. The car rental company notified me they charged my credit card a clearing fee for the ticket but I never heard from the police.

piercedvw · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2007, 04:03:06 PM »

So if I'm pregnant with twins (using HOV of course), texting the flag girl to check if it's ok to drive up the shoulder to get to the hospital faster what kind of fine with I get? And.. yes I'd be speeding... give or take 10+ or - with my speedo.

blarneyman · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2007, 06:28:16 PM »

:lol: :lol: If it were me, I'd give you an escort to the hospital while calling my freinds to let them know what's going down :ph34r: