View Poll Results: What speed do you typically drive when you suddenly notice a cop is driving near you?
I slow down to the speed limit to make sure the cop is at least as fast if not faster that me
20
46.51%
I maintain my speed which is typically a few mph above the speed limit possibly passing the cop
18
41.86%
I speed up to his noticeably faster-than-limit speed. Heck he's not above the law
5
11.63%
Voters: 43. You may not vote on this poll
What speed do you drive when you suddenly notice a cop is driving near you?
#17
If I'm in grey, invisible Lexus ES, I may slide past a cop doing 5 to 7 over the speed limit.
If I'm in my heavily-modded 2GS or my 4GS, I NEVER PASS A COP. They look at my GSes and simply want to make a statement, and pull me over for doing 2 mph over.
If I'm in my heavily-modded 2GS or my 4GS, I NEVER PASS A COP. They look at my GSes and simply want to make a statement, and pull me over for doing 2 mph over.
#18
I typically go about 10 over in normal traffic - that's the speed of traffic in the left lanes. When I see cops, I usually ease off the gas and go about 5 over instead. This has led to me slowly passing the cops a few times, and I've never had any issues with that.
It does bug me when people instinctively brake when they see cops, since almost everyone does it and the sudden deceleration often creates unsafe situations. If the cop was trying to catch people for speeding, then by the time you saw him, he would have already had your speed. Braking at that point does nothing to reduce your chance of a ticket and instead forces people behind you to react to your sudden change in speed.
Most of the time, he's already giving someone else a ticket and wouldn't be able to pull you over anyway.
It does bug me when people instinctively brake when they see cops, since almost everyone does it and the sudden deceleration often creates unsafe situations. If the cop was trying to catch people for speeding, then by the time you saw him, he would have already had your speed. Braking at that point does nothing to reduce your chance of a ticket and instead forces people behind you to react to your sudden change in speed.
Most of the time, he's already giving someone else a ticket and wouldn't be able to pull you over anyway.
#19
On the highway in Atlanta the left two lanes are expected to run 70-80 mph with a speed limit of 55-65mph. I know I have been radar/lasered many times and wasn't pulled over. If I run over 80mph I am concerned when I see a cop...Side streets 10mph over the limit is the norm.
Pet peeves, a cop that runs the speed limit and no one is willing to pass him so there are no cars in sight ahead of the traffic jam he created.
I did pass a cop and was pulled over and told him politely that there was to much congestion around him and I just wanted to get out of it, no ticket
Pet peeves, a cop that runs the speed limit and no one is willing to pass him so there are no cars in sight ahead of the traffic jam he created.
I did pass a cop and was pulled over and told him politely that there was to much congestion around him and I just wanted to get out of it, no ticket
I haven't been stopped yet for passing a cop when he is riding with traffic. Long as you don't fly past them on the highway, they don't care in most cases. They want people who they can give the super speeder ticket too.
#20
Now that I am older and no longer an idiot behind the wheel (meaning I no longer want to be the fastest car on the road), 10 mph above the posted limit is my target IF I am riding without a pack of cars. I have found that is a great way to really limit the chance of a speeding ticket on the routes I travel. I too dont use the brake when I slow down on seeing a CHP. I am usually in cruise control, so I simply turn it off and my speed decreases almost naturally. I wont hesitate to pass a cop on the side of the highway 5-7 mph over. In the city I am about 5 over.
Here in California, the highway travelled matters. I5 vs 99 vs 152 vs 101 vs 580/680 etc. The "acceptable" speed travelled varies, with I5 having a speed limit of 70. My last ticket was 82 in a 65 back in 2011, passing to get over on the 680/580 exchange in the east bay. Bad timing.
And YES, absolutely people brake too hard when they see a cop, and it is dangerous, especially when pack speeding. Dangerous because most people tailgate and dont follow at a safe distance. People dont want to lose their place in line, so there is a nice domino effect. Tailgating at 80 mph is not my cup of tea anymore. Following at a safe distance will get you passed and cut off by the car behind you, sadly. I speed safely these days because usually I have my family with me!
Here in California, the highway travelled matters. I5 vs 99 vs 152 vs 101 vs 580/680 etc. The "acceptable" speed travelled varies, with I5 having a speed limit of 70. My last ticket was 82 in a 65 back in 2011, passing to get over on the 680/580 exchange in the east bay. Bad timing.
And YES, absolutely people brake too hard when they see a cop, and it is dangerous, especially when pack speeding. Dangerous because most people tailgate and dont follow at a safe distance. People dont want to lose their place in line, so there is a nice domino effect. Tailgating at 80 mph is not my cup of tea anymore. Following at a safe distance will get you passed and cut off by the car behind you, sadly. I speed safely these days because usually I have my family with me!
Last edited by GSthe4th; 07-14-14 at 07:52 PM.
#21
Not sure how they are now, but back in early to mid 2000's (before i moved away) the cops in the phoenix/tempe/scottsdale area didn't seem to care about speeders unless it was way up in the criminal range (20mph or more over in AZ). I did a ride-a-long one night with a Scottsdale cop and while sitting at a red light we watch a car zoom through the intersection, clearing way over the 35mph speedlimit. Cop didn't do ****. When I asked why his response was, "Guy probably has somewhere to be."
edit: Also cops in the phoenix metro area never carried speed guns (guessing they still don't). Only cops I ever saw with radar/ladar guns were the state highway patrolman on motorcycles.
edit: Also cops in the phoenix metro area never carried speed guns (guessing they still don't). Only cops I ever saw with radar/ladar guns were the state highway patrolman on motorcycles.
#24
Yesterday. Speed limit 60 km/hr. Cop was going at about 55 kph in the left lane. I was on the right lane and passed him at 65 kph with my IS, 35% tints so he did notice my car . No issues, but I would not go any faster.
#25
35%? lol down here in FL cops usually mess with you for your tints but Ive been having good luck (knocks on wood) my 535i has 5% all around and 50% on the windshield and ive never had any trouble. I got pulled over for 84 in a 65 and got off with a warning the cop didnt mention the tints.
#26
its funny how people will claim they drive at a set speed. LOL I drive until I feel like I am moving at a good pace and rarely look down, BUT I live in the middle of the Sonoran desert.
#27
#28
35%? lol down here in FL cops usually mess with you for your tints but Ive been having good luck (knocks on wood) my 535i has 5% all around and 50% on the windshield and ive never had any trouble. I got pulled over for 84 in a 65 and got off with a warning the cop didnt mention the tints.
I usually roll down my front window when I see a cop since the black interior makes the 35% look darker and I've heard of folks getting stopped with 35% tints up front.
#29
#30
It's one of those things where I understand the GS gets it, as does the RX and HS did too but why not the sporty IS or other luxurious Lexus models. Doesn't seem fair