3 Months of M3 ownership: First speeding ticket

[xxxian08]

In Loudoun County where I live we have a 6 lane toll road called the Greenway which I use everyday for commuting. The speed limit is 65mph and I generally keep it just below 80 and pretty much keep up with other traffic. Because the tolls are pretty high the road is lightly used for the area. Theres a lot of cars but never any backups except at the end toll plaza on some days.

This morning I was passing a slower car and probably hit 85ish and immediately saw a cop where they ALWAYS hang out near an onramp hidden off to the right. I knew he had me with the laser and sure enough he pulled me over. He claimed the only reading he got was at 80mph but was sure I was going much faster but the laser wasn't getting accurate readings. He accused me of having a jammer and tried very hard to find one (I don't have one). In Virginia anything over 80 is reckless and can carry big fines and jail time. Maybe he was cutting me a break with the 80 in a 65 but he seemed like he really wanted to get me for over 80mph. i really don't know how fast I was going because the steering wheel blocks the spedo and I was looking at miles left in the gas tank and not the digital spedo.

Anyway, fighting the accuracy of the laser with a lawyer will cost several hundred dollars and the fine will only be about $130. Plus I didn't get him recorded saying he couldn't get a good reading (stupidly forgot to hit record on my phone as soon as I stopped).

Bottom line: I was stupid for not looking for the speed trap which is there at least once a week. I'll pay my fine and take the safe driving class to offset the points.

[CIFUM3]

And maybe consider changing your steering wheel angle to be able to see all of the gauge cluster?

[xxxian08]

Originally Posted by CIFUM3

And maybe consider changing your steering wheel angle to be able to see all of the gauge cluster?

I know there are threads regarding that. I have an ideal driving position set up and with that ideal position, the top left quadrant of the speedometer is obscured.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285733

[jdamore]

If your speedo was reading 85-86, your ground speed was actually around 80mph. (Assuming factory size wheels)

[jdamore]

Originally Posted by CIFUM3

And maybe consider changing your steering wheel angle to be able to see all of the gauge cluster?

This or at least switch the digital cluster to speed. The digital read out can be coded to show actual speed too.

[CIFUM3]

Originally Posted by xxxian08

I know there are threads regarding that. I have an ideal driving position set up and with that ideal position, the top left quadrant of the speedometer is obscured.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285733

Oh wow.... Maybe I've been driving this car wrong for past three years!!! Hahaha I'm 5'7 and I feel I'm perfectly seated with both hands on the wheel, not locked out and the right distance from my shifter. I'm still able to see my entire gauge cluster.

[rmcard]

Originally Posted by xxxian08

In Loudoun County where I live we have a 6 lane toll road called the Greenway which I use everyday for commuting. The speed limit is 65mph and I generally keep it just below 80 and pretty much keep up with other traffic. Because the tolls are pretty high the road is lightly used for the area. Theres a lot of cars but never any backups except at the end toll plaza on some days.

This morning I was passing a slower car and probably hit 85ish and immediately saw a cop where they ALWAYS hang out near an onramp hidden off to the right. I knew he had me with the laser and sure enough he pulled me over. He claimed the only reading he got was at 80mph but was sure I was going much faster but the laser wasn't getting accurate readings. He accused me of having a jammer and tried very hard to find one (I don't have one). In Virginia anything over 80 is reckless and can carry big fines and jail time. Maybe he was cutting me a break with the 80 in a 65 but he seemed like he really wanted to get me for over 80mph. i really don't know how fast I was going because the steering wheel blocks the spedo and I was looking at miles left in the gas tank and not the digital spedo.

Anyway, fighting the accuracy of the laser with a lawyer will cost several hundred dollars and the fine will only be about $130. Plus I didn't get him recorded saying he couldn't get a good reading (stupidly forgot to hit record on my phone as soon as I stopped).

Bottom line: I was stupid for not looking for the speed trap which is there at least once a week. I'll pay my fine and take the safe driving class to offset the points.

In my limited experience, Virginia is the worst state when it comes to speed enforcement. The citations stay on your record for what seems like forever and the whole 80+ as being reckless is absurd. One of the reasons i was happy to leave Northern Virginia behind many years ago and never look back.

[kb9uwu]

Originally Posted by jdamore

If your speedo was reading 85-86, your ground speed was actually around 80mph. (Assuming factory size wheels)

took me a few months of ownership to figure this out... wondered why I kept getting passed going 85 on the interstate

[spiderspider]

reckless??

[rmcard]

Originally Posted by spiderspider

reckless??

Is that 130 in Texas? I love that road, and I love Texas. You can't find a cop anywhere near that road.

[Rat3d ///M]

Speed limit? That's cute.

[loveskiing]

Originally Posted by spiderspider

reckless??

85? I'm still in 2nd gear...

[Sean_Himself]

I got a ticket this morning for doing 76 in a 55... I was doing a pull with my wife who was driving my E90 M3 and I was in her E90 335i... lol Just so happened to leave my radar detector in my Honda daily driver... :/ bad timing

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by rmcard

In my limited experience, Virginia is the worst state when it comes to speed enforcement. The citations stay on your record for what seems like forever and the whole 80+ as being reckless is absurd. One of the reasons i was happy to leave Northern Virginia behind many years ago and never look back.

+1, Don't miss it one bit either.

[MaximusB]

That is not too bad, still sucks. In Vancouver BC if you go 30km/hr over the posted speed limit is considered obsessive speeding which will result in a $365 or higher ticket and your car will be impounded automatically for a week, so you also have to pay for towing and impound cost.

[crypticc]

Originally Posted by ||||||||||

Speed limit? That's cute.

Derestricted? Lucky chap. But still mental when someone in a beat up wagon goes streaming past like your standing still

[O2ShootTheJ]

Pay your ticket and be happy he didn't write you for wreckless.

I got a wreckless in 2011 in Loudoun County, paid a lawyer $1500 to have it reduced to speeding, paid a $300 ticket, and it's still on my record. And it was my first speeding ticket ever.

[TVMA Doc]

Originally Posted by rmcard

In my limited experience, Virginia is the worst state when it comes to speed enforcement. The citations stay on your record for what seems like forever and the whole 80+ as being reckless is absurd. One of the reasons i was happy to leave Northern Virginia behind many years ago and never look back.

I haven't had a ticket since 1990, but that was in Falls Church, VA. That town must be the center of the universe with respect to speed traps. I was driving down a four lane, divided road in Arlington which was posted at 50mph. As it entered Falls Church it began to drop in 5mph increments.

The signs were all behind luscious, overgrown trees-and I missed the one that went from 25 to 20mph. I got a ticket from a cop with a radar gun sitting in an unmarked Volvo station wagon on the loading ramp of a closed supermarket (JUST visible at ground level) for 26 in a 20.

Yeah, Northern VA is a problem with respect to "enforcement". More like traffic extortion.

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by loveskiing

85? I'm still in 2nd gear...

You doing 10k rpm?!?!

[xxxian08]

Originally Posted by O2ShootTheJ

Pay your ticket and be happy he didn't write you for wreckless.

I got a wreckless in 2011 in Loudoun County, paid a lawyer $1500 to have it reduced to speeding, paid a $300 ticket, and it's still on my record. And it was my first speeding ticket ever.

Yep, I'll pay and be happy I didn't get reckless. My wife was hit with reckless on Rt7 in LoCo for 76 in a 55. Paid a lawyer $500 to get it reduced to "improper driving" and a $100 fine. The threat of $1000 fine for three years, loss of license AND jail time keeps the traffic lawyers busy. I love where I live, but fucking VA reckless driving laws grinds my gears.

[jdamore]

Originally Posted by kb9uwu

took me a few months of ownership to figure this out... wondered why I kept getting passed going 85 on the interstate

One thing that I always wondered is if the officer knows that the speedo reads slower.. so, if he clocked you going 80mph does he think that you thought you were going almost 90mph?

[kb9uwu]

Originally Posted by jdamore

One thing that I always wondered is if the officer knows that the speedo reads slower.. so, if he clocked you going 80mph does he think that you thought you were going almost 90mph?

My understanding is they use accurate laser/radar detectors and go off their readings. Would be silly to assume anything, IMO!