I wonder how a person from out of town could be expected to know about these individual state or town laws? Like headsets for cell phones. It is not as if there are huge signs (that I have seen) in DC that remind you about this law.

On the other hand there are signs about illegal radar detectors in Va each time you cross into the state. But it would really suck to get a ticket for not pulling into a center lane if you did not know the law.

The problem is that nearly all the fatalities of police occur when traffic is really heavy and there isn't a lane to pull into.

In the case of the troopers in Tennessee, there was a shoulder wider than one lane, and all three of the cars were pulled off of that, so the dude was 40 feet from me. I observed that after car no. 1 pulled me over, car no.2 pulled in behind him, so apparently they were trying to hit their quota (it was the 30th of the month) before the afternoon rush (it was about 10:30 and traffic was rather light.

It seems to me that if they wanted to convict someone for endangering a Smokey, they really should have been driving marked cars. An unmarked car, even with flashers, is not obviously a police car. Sometimes such vehicles follow doublewides.

Well, my opinion is if more Police manpower was dedicated to reducing crime instead of extorting revenue from drivers the crime rate would be far lower.

Doubt that comment? Ever drive the Pennsylvania Turnpike? Technically a private road. You'll see a State cop every mile. And the State is not supposed to be paying for them to be there. Drive nearly any other road and you will not see a cop for days.

I'm From PA originally and I know this first hand.

You can't register on that site if you have a pre-1981 car, it won't accept your VIN as a valid VIN. Bites.......................... :mad:

Thats so true! :D I was just out their this spring. I can't tell you how many suv's passed me doing 80+ only to be having a talk with the officers that wait under every overpass!

I-95 in Bridgeport CT is just as bad, they love it they are making a fortune in tickets! :eek: Anyone who drives over 55 is nailed, the newspaper just published how many tickets they wrote in the past year. I don't remember the numbers but it was over 100k! :eek:

CT is way north of my stompin grounds. Pittsburgh PA is about as far west as I venture and The Meadowlands in NJ about as for north as I have driven recently, with the NC state line the furthest south.

And anyone who tells you there are no Quotas ( Quotas are illegal) id lying through their teeth, I know too many cops that say Quotas are alive and well, and any cop who doesn't make the ticket quota for the month gets disciplined.

Funny the people who are supposed to uphold the law, break it regularly.

Well a lot of the towns enjoy the money speeding tickets bring in, also they love out of state cars because they won't be able to fight a ticket. The reason speed limits around here at least are 65 is to bring in money for the state and towns. Their is no reason safty wise that a more realistic speed limit of 70 or 75 isn't in use.

Exactly........extortion of the public. And misuse for police power. Knowing most people will pay instead of return to fight.

Fight!
Fight what?

Started to watch "Rebel Without A Cause" the other night.

Were cops ever like that?

Anyway we are the enemy, we get other people to solve out problems for us. As long as we do, the government just takes away more of our ability to take care of ourselves.

Don't get me started on the Patriot act.

Anyway regarding Mercedes roadside.

it's not free. Not for older cars out of warranty.

Just take a cell phone and have a number of someone that has access to a computer, so if you get stuck you can have them post a message here. There is an enclypedia of knowledge here. And a lot of valuable advice, of course a lot of worthless comments too. Isn't this one proof of that?

I have been on the recieving end of too many cops quotas. When I know I was innocent, and know too many cops to trust of believe anything they say automaticly.

And yes I am white and not a minority and 43

Thanks for the help, folks. I feel better about this whole thing now. I'll be taking the train down on the 5th, and driving home with my TD on the 6th. I'm excited!

I've got together a tool kit (kind of like those bags that mothers have all set up and ready for them to grab to take to the hospital when they go into labor), I'm working with my agent, and I'm going to verify whether or not the plates stay with the car.

Oh, and I'll leave my giant bag of marijuana at home. ;)

peace,
sam

[QUOTE=flash123]
Anyway regarding Mercedes roadside.

it's not free. Not for older cars out of warranty.

QUOTE]

Certain parts of it are, if you run out of fuel they will bring you a few gallons and if you get a flat they will change it. The way I understand it they will tow you for free IF the dealer they take you to does the repairs. Taking a 20 year old car to a dealer is a bad, bad $$$$$ idea so that option should only be used as a last resort.

Make sure there`s a jack, spare tire ( correctly inflated) and a lug tool to remove the lug 'bolts'.....