The Vent and Rant Thread

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by devilsadvocate

Most states have something like a Basic Speed Law wherein the speed limit for that road is whatever is reasonable for the prevailing conditions. If the flow of traffic is doing 70, the speed limit is then 70 regardless of what the sign says.

Many people think this, but they are wrong. Have you checked your states statues? The truth is closer to:

the speed limit for that road is whatever is reasonable for the prevailing conditions NEVER to exceed the speed limit.

If you can show me in a statue that you are allowed to exceed the posted or statuary limit just because everyone else is which makes that the "prevailing conditions" I would appreciate it. I know I have checked Florida statutes.

BOb

[Wetdogeared]

Remember this zebra crossing?

[pilotbob]

I never heard it referred to as a "zebra crossing" either but I figured you meant a cross walk.

BOb

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I never heard it referred to as a "zebra crossing" either but I figured you meant a cross walk.

BOb

We also have Pelican, Puffin, Toucan and Pegasus crossings!

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/transp..._crossings.htm

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

We also have Pelican, Puffin, Toucan and Pegasus crossings!

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/transp..._crossings.htm

That's just weird!

I'd never heard them referred to as "zebra crossings" either Bob...

[pilotbob]

<anti-rant>

WOO HOOO!!!!

Lastpass will now be adding book mark sync... but acquiring Xmarks.

http://blog.lastpass.com/2010/12/las...es-xmarks.html

I couldn't surf the web without last pass. It easily lets me have a unique and strong password for every web property I visit.
</anti-rant>

this is an anti-rant because I complained above that Xmarks was going away.

Now the question.. do I go back to Xmarks or stick with Google bookmark sync. I hope they combine the plugins into a single one.

BOb

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

<anti-rant>

WOO HOOO!!!!

Lastpass will now be adding book mark sync... but acquiring Xmarks.

http://blog.lastpass.com/2010/12/las...es-xmarks.html

I couldn't surf the web without last pass. It easily lets me have a unique and strong password for every web property I visit.
</anti-rant>

this is an anti-rant because I complained above that Xmarks was going away.

Now the question.. do I go back to Xmarks or stick with Google bookmark sync. I hope they combine the plugins into a single one.

BOb

Wonderful!

[Williamlk]

I come here to vent whenever my karma is uneven...some of you guys are mean! I hate uneven numbers!!!

Anyhoo, I really wanna rant about the fact that I haven't sold a book yet in December...YES, I know it's only December 2nd...But I still wanna rant...

Ok, I'm better now...

[LCF]

Originally Posted by dsvick

I just hope the chicken can find whatever it is he's looking for down there before the lizard gets tired of holding his mouth open for him

I would never, ever give poohbear a lizard ant tell him it's a hat!!! Sheesh...

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Many people think this, but they are wrong. Have you checked your states statues? The truth is closer to:

the speed limit for that road is whatever is reasonable for the prevailing conditions NEVER to exceed the speed limit.

If you can show me in a statue that you are allowed to exceed the posted or statuary limit just because everyone else is which makes that the "prevailing conditions" I would appreciate it. I know I have checked Florida statutes.

BOb

I was once stopped for speeding while traveling with the flow, and the excuse that I was just driving the same speed as everyone else didn't cut it with the officer. He gave me the old, "If everyone else is driving off a cliff, would you do that too?"

Funny thing about that word "Limit". Everywhere I've been, the legal definition seems to be identical with the dictionary definition.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

We also have Pelican, Puffin, Toucan and Pegasus crossings!

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/transp..._crossings.htm

We have pegasus crossings now?!

(Seems a daft name for crossings with buttons at a higher height for riders (*) - surely a pegasus could just fly over the road...)

(* How high? And wouldn't it depend on the size of both horse and rider as to whether it would be easier to push? The yeti on something like a Shire will find it quite hard to press something that a sprog on a Shetland could reach (to go for extremes) )

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by LCF

I would never, ever give poohbear a lizard ant tell him it's a hat!!! Sheesh...

Wait a minute, my hat is moving!
Is there something you're not sharing with me?

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

We have pegasus crossings now?!

(Seems a daft name for crossings with buttons at a higher height for riders (*) - surely a pegasus could just fly over the road...)

(* How high? And wouldn't it depend on the size of both horse and rider as to whether it would be easier to push? The yeti on something like a Shire will find it quite hard to press something that a sprog on a Shetland could reach (to go for extremes) )

Must admit I'd never heard of that one either.

Here's a picture;

[devilsadvocate]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Many people think this, but they are wrong. Have you checked your states statues? The truth is closer to:

the speed limit for that road is whatever is reasonable for the prevailing conditions NEVER to exceed the speed limit.

If you can show me in a statue that you are allowed to exceed the posted or statuary limit just because everyone else is which makes that the "prevailing conditions" I would appreciate it. I know I have checked Florida statutes.

BOb

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I was once stopped for speeding while traveling with the flow, and the excuse that I was just driving the same speed as everyone else didn't cut it with the officer. He gave me the old, "If everyone else is driving off a cliff, would you do that too?"

Funny thing about that word "Limit". Everywhere I've been, the legal definition seems to be identical with the dictionary definition.

Ordinarily I'd agree, and the law here does in fact include that little "not to exceed the posted limit" clause. Real life works a little differently in IL, however:

1. I've heard the go-with-the-flow defense given by a defendant, and he got the same "lemming" response. I've also heard that same defense given by an attorney. Changes everything. It also changes depending on how you act toward the judge; almost every kid, after getting his/her first speeding ticket, will insist they were "just going as fast as everyone else" (I used it myself when I was 16 ) and judges get tired of it being a boilerplate response. They also get tired of those who come in and try to explain the law to them, those who act as if the judge should be honored in his/her presence, etc. If you're that person, or you're up right after that person, you will likely get a literal interpretation of pretty much everything.

Over time, I've come to the conclusion that it all depends on the judge. They're aware that it costs you more to appeal than it does to just take the fine, so if you get one who shot over par last weekend, your day won't end well.

2. There is, in fact, a law on the books here which determines you to be obstructing traffic if you're driving too slow. This doesn't help if the person driving too slow isn't pulled over (though people have; see http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/lo...-65.html?yhp=1), and you're not likely to prove anything to a judge with your knowledge of it, but for the record if you're driving significantly slower than everyone else thereby impeding traffic, you're still the problem. That speed will be just as arbitrary as the going-with-the-flow speed, which brings me to

3. "Under 9, you're doing fine. Over 9, your a** is mine." Most of the time, unless the cop is really bored, he/she doesn't want to get out of the car. If you don't get stopped in the first place, you don't have to explain anything to the judge. Following this rule on an IL interstate will often result in the cop passing you. Note: I'm basing a lot of this on highway/interstate travel, where the accidents get a lot more painful. Surface streets have rules which can change by local jurisdiction and no one should really be going that fast there anyway so I won't get into that.

I'm not a lawyer, I don't play one on TV, and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night. However, my last speeding ticket (second of 2) was in 1990, when I was 19. The bottom line is, in almost every state (and certainly in IL

Spoiler:

(d) Upon an Interstate highway or fully access controlled freeway, a vehicle may not be driven in the left lane, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle.
(e) Subsection (d) of this Section does not apply:
(1) when no other vehicle is directly behind the
vehicle in the left lane;
(2) when traffic conditions and congestion make it
impractical to drive in the right lane;
(3) when snow and other inclement weather conditions
make it necessary to drive in the left lane;
(4) when obstructions or hazards exist in the right
lane;
(5) when a vehicle changes lanes to comply with
Sections 11‑907 and 11‑908 of this Code;
(6) when, because of highway design, a vehicle must
be driven in the left lane when preparing to exit;
(7) on toll highways when necessary to use I‑Pass,
and on toll and other highways when driving in the left lane is required to comply with an official traffic control device; or
(8) to law enforcement vehicles, ambulances, and
other emergency vehicles engaged in official duties and vehicles engaged in highway maintenance and construction operations.

), the law says slower traffic keep right, and I've seen no room for ambiguity on that.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by devilsadvocate

Ordinarily I'd agree, and the law here does in fact include that little "not to exceed the posted limit" clause. Real life works a little differently in IL, however:

1. I've heard the go-with-the-flow defense given by a defendant, and he got the same "lemming" response. I've also heard that same defense given by an attorney. Changes everything. It also changes depending on how you act toward the judge; almost every kid, after getting his/her first speeding ticket, will insist they were "just going as fast as everyone else" (I used it myself when I was 16 ) and judges get tired of it being a boilerplate response. They also get tired of those who come in and try to explain the law to them, those who act as if the judge should be honored in his/her presence, etc. If you're that person, or you're up right after that person, you will likely get a literal interpretation of pretty much everything.

Over time, I've come to the conclusion that it all depends on the judge. They're aware that it costs you more to appeal than it does to just take the fine, so if you get one who shot over par last weekend, your day won't end well.

2. There is, in fact, a law on the books here which determines you to be obstructing traffic if you're driving too slow. This doesn't help if the person driving too slow isn't pulled over (though people have; see http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/lo...-65.html?yhp=1), and you're not likely to prove anything to a judge with your knowledge of it, but for the record if you're driving significantly slower than everyone else thereby impeding traffic, you're still the problem. That speed will be just as arbitrary as the going-with-the-flow speed, which brings me to

3. "Under 9, you're doing fine. Over 9, your a** is mine." Most of the time, unless the cop is really bored, he/she doesn't want to get out of the car. If you don't get stopped in the first place, you don't have to explain anything to the judge. Following this rule on an IL interstate will often result in the cop passing you. Note: I'm basing a lot of this on highway/interstate travel, where the accidents get a lot more painful. Surface streets have rules which can change by local jurisdiction and no one should really be going that fast there anyway so I won't get into that.

I'm not a lawyer, I don't play one on TV, and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night. However, my last speeding ticket (second of 2) was in 1990, when I was 19. The bottom line is, in almost every state (and certainly in IL

Spoiler:

(d) Upon an Interstate highway or fully access controlled freeway, a vehicle may not be driven in the left lane, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle.
(e) Subsection (d) of this Section does not apply:
(1) when no other vehicle is directly behind the
vehicle in the left lane;
(2) when traffic conditions and congestion make it
impractical to drive in the right lane;
(3) when snow and other inclement weather conditions
make it necessary to drive in the left lane;
(4) when obstructions or hazards exist in the right
lane;
(5) when a vehicle changes lanes to comply with
Sections 11‑907 and 11‑908 of this Code;
(6) when, because of highway design, a vehicle must
be driven in the left lane when preparing to exit;
(7) on toll highways when necessary to use I‑Pass,
and on toll and other highways when driving in the left lane is required to comply with an official traffic control device; or
(8) to law enforcement vehicles, ambulances, and
other emergency vehicles engaged in official duties and vehicles engaged in highway maintenance and construction operations.

), the law says slower traffic keep right, and I've seen no room for ambiguity on that.

Being one who firmly adheres to speed limits, you should have seen my face the first time an IL highway patrol passed the car I was a passenger in, and the driver was doing 80 (in a 65 mph zone). I was absolutely positive she was going to get pulled over and ticketed, but noooo... he just rocketed past with apparently not a care in the world.