California residents--ticketed for having Euro front plates! - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Brian Carlton · #31 03-24-2007, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozawa

i'm surprised this site lets MODERATORS call people *****boxes; (even if they try to "hide" it with the "$" sign.) but then i suppose it's moderators who decide what gets censored and what doesn't. i'm relatively new here and had heard great things about this site but moderators calling participants *****boxes seems a little off to me.

just my 2 cents...

I'm surprised that you did not carefully read the post.

If you did, you'd realize that a vehicle is a $hitbox.........not an individual.

just my 2 cents.

POS · #32 03-24-2007, 09:31 AM

You guys give me so many good reasons not to live in California - thanks!

Brian Carlton · #33 03-24-2007, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckinik

Well I drive 180,000 miles a year atleast, in my tractor trailer. I drive in 48 states, Canada, and Mexico. I get tickets for legitimate violations all the time. But when they go out of their way to actually "Produce" a law, like the one that got me a ticket for "Smoking in the work place" while driving my tractor trailer , alone in my truck down the road. That's the kind of crap that annoys me most of all.
I mean c'mon I was in the truck alone, I also pretty much live in the truck, unless I fly over seas to meet with new clients or something like that. I very often, just jump to the nearest airport after setting up meetings in other countries. Point is that I am not a "$hitbox driver",by any means. I drive an 80,000 lb. 86 foot long truck, 180,000 plus miles a year w/o so much as ever putting a mark in anything (Knock on wood)
If you call me a "$hitbox driver" you'd better make sure you know me pretty well. Brian, I could buy and sell you all day long if I wanted to.

When they go out of their way to find a citation that would be useful to them, it's usually because they are in the "revenue generating" business.

It's no different to when you approach a small town and you're doing 55 mph. Just at the edge of town is a 25 mph speed limit sign. 15 feet inside the sign is an unmarked car in a driveway. Nobody is going 25 mph when they pass the cruiser. It's impossible. So, they generate revenue for their little municipality. Unfair. You bet. I might agree with you that "smoking in a workplace" would fall under the same category as this.

My reference to "$hitbox drivers" obviously was misunderstood. I refer to SUV's as $hitboxes because I have such a disdain for them. The mentality of most who purchase and drive these vehicles is perfectly obvious. It's their roadway and everbody else can pound sand. Their normal speed is as fast as the vehicle will go without rolling and limiting the time to their destination is paramount, despite the compromise in safety that they contunually accept for themselves and others. These people will argue that they should not have been cited for going 75mph in a 55 zone because "everybody else is doing it". That's the definition of a $hitbox driver.

I don't know whether you fall into that category........or not. Driving an 80,000 lb. vehicle at 110 mph doesn't give me a good feeling about your understanding of the reason for speed limits and the potential catastrophe that can occur when you abuse the limit in such an egregious fashion.

As for buying and selling me all day long.........well..........since you've no clue as to my assets and capabilities..........I wouldn't be speaking so quickly..........you might find the opposite is true.

waybomb · #34 03-24-2007, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

These people will argue that they should not have been cited for going 75mph in a 55 zone because "everybody else is doing it". That's the definition of a $hitbox driver.

Reality has to set in at some time Mr Carlton. If EVERYBODY else is doing 75, then you better be doing the same. If not, YOU are the cause of the accidents that happen behind your righteous behind. Of course, you never see those accidents, and the aftermath of those accidents, as you tool down the road at 55 +/-2, on a road designed and built to handle 80 mph speeds, delimited to 55 for political reasons, and then everybody else doing what comes natural to the engineering design.

Chicago is the capital of $hitbox drivers I guess. And they don't only come in SUV packages. I go through there twice a week. You know what? The drivers keeping up with traffic not only drive SUVs. They drive Benze cars and Beamer cars, Caddy cars and Lincoln cars, Ford 500 cars, Taurus cars, Mailbu cars Corrolla cars, Sentra cars, Scion cars, etc. The ones in the left lane, doing 60 are usually from Wisconsin, and cause problems for everybody.

I had to hitch a ride in a Limo a few weeks ago. The driver was a cheeze-head. He said he got a pulled over by a Trooper for doing 58 while tooling up 355. The Trooper told him to get on the gas, get off the road, or get killed. The poor Wisconsinite driver still did not understand. It must be a personallity thing. You must be of the same personality type.

Brian Carlton · #35 03-24-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waybomb

Reality has to set in at some time Mr Carlton. If EVERYBODY else is doing 75, then you better be doing the same. If not, YOU are the cause of the accidents that happen behind your righteous behind. Of course, you never see those accidents, and the aftermath of those accidents, as you tool down the road at 55 +/-2, on a road designed and built to handle 80 mph speeds, delimited to 55 for political reasons, and then everybody else doing what comes natural to the engineering design.

Actually, you ought to understand the roadway before you claim my self-rightous behavior.

The 55 zone that I was referring to is a hilly area of CT where the road has frequent 45 mph curves. Most folks are going 55-60 and you're hard pressed to push it to 65 unless you are right on your game. I typically push the SD through this section at 62-65 just for the fun of it. If I get tagged, I deserve it.

If we're talking about the typical expressway around here........reasonably flat with three lanes of traffic, with a 55 mph limit, you're mistaken as well. The right lane of these roads is typically travelling at 60 mph. You can safely travel in this lane at 60 mph and the lower powered trucks will also be doing about that speed. The left lane is typically going 75-80 mph, and, it's perfectly safe to go that speed........in that lane..........IMHO.

Reality is the need to match your speed to the lane that you are travelling. If I've got the POS Dodge van, I'll be in the right lane going 60. If I've got the SDL, I'll be in the center and left lanes doing 65-70.

The nature of a $hitbox driver is the need to go around traffic in the left lane........if a short gap appears in the center lane. Accelerate to 90 mph........move right..........pass the fellow going 75 mph.........move left...........hit brakes to return vehicle to 75 mph.........prior to slamming into car in front.

Trust me when I tell you.........this behavior is unsafe and unnecessary.........and it's got nothing to do with me being self-righteous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by waybomb

I had to hitch a ride in a Limo a few weeks ago. The driver was a cheeze-head. He said he got a pulled over by a Trooper for doing 58 while tooling up 355. The Trooper told him to get on the gas, get off the road, or get killed. The poor Wisconsinite driver still did not understand. It must be a personallity thing. You must be of the same personality type.

The last time I was in WI, the troopers would pull you over for doing 60 in a 55. That was many years ago, but, there are many posted signs that state 55 MEANS 55.

Maybe you'd have a bit of understanding of the plight of this fellow if you realized the law that he was typically subjected to.

Yes, I must have the same personality.............

t walgamuth · #36 03-24-2007, 10:10 AM

ticketed for smoking in the tractor?

unbelievable.

tom w

Hatterasguy · #37 03-24-2007, 10:44 AM

As Brian said on I95 you can drive 55-65 all day long and not bother anyone if you stay in the right lane. Its the center and right lanes that seem to move, more so the left.

I91 is like the autobahn, I cruise 90mph+ in the left all the time.

You know what they say, "you have to pay to play". Nothing wrong with doing 90 on I91 its a very wide road and one can go much faster with the right car. But if a cop nails you, you deserve it.

Its like with my Euro plate, I know I will get pulled over, or talked to about it eventualy. Heck last summer I was talking to three cops in front of my car about their boat, and not one said anything about the plate. But one day I'm going to catch one in the right mood and get a ticket. Such is life I don't care.

Wes Bender · #38 03-24-2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

ticketed for smoking in the tractor?

unbelievable.

tom w

Yeah. I'm not sure I believe it either...........

mespe · #39 03-24-2007, 11:40 AM

Interesting thread,

First off,,, truckinik -- You are working in a NC Truck and as such you should NOT have to comply with CA smoking laws in your own vehicle, I would call the ACLU and pitch up a storm.

Frosty, If CA does not require a front plate, I would tell the officer to "Go to Hell" and remind her that there is no front liscense plate requirements in the state of CA, and you know a really good lawyer that would be happy to sue the bejesus out of the Police department, Also ask her supervisor's name and phone number and call them on your sell phone. Hey now there's an idea,, get a ticket you don't agree with, call the cops supervisor on the spot.

t walgamuth - fictious plates need I say more?

JimF · #40 03-24-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frosty

Today I was cited for having a Euro plate. In all the years I've been driving with it, I've never been stopped or bothered by the police.

I too got a ticket for not having a front license plate. If you look at the pics of my S500, you'll see that wasn't a place to mount one.

I went through a 'speed-trap', going about 45mph in a 30mph zone. The officer saw the car and thought it was new. After explaining the year, model, etc., he said that I needed a front plate. I replied that I never put it on b/c of no place to mount it.

So he cancelled the speeding ticket for a "fix-it" ticket. Great news for me since a speeding ticket is around $400 plus a 'mark' on the record. The new license bracket was $72.

Sometimes you need to count your blessings . . .

AustinsCE · #41 03-24-2007, 05:15 PM

OK, sorry but its just plain pathetic to cower to these bastards. I deserve a ticket because its illegal to do something that doesn't affect anyone? Lame..

Brian Carlton · #42 03-24-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinsCE

OK, sorry but its just plain pathetic to cower to these bastards. I deserve a ticket because its illegal to do something that doesn't affect anyone? Lame..

The law is lame.

But, if you respect the law, you've got to accept the fact that breaking it will result in consequences.

Don't like it?

Change the law.

Should we allow each and every individual to decide which laws are lame and which are not?

I think the tax law is lame. Maybe I should start to whine about that..........how tens of thousands of my hard earned dollars are used to keep these POS in Washington very well fed with all of their pork and useless waste.

Compared to the law regarding a front plate..........I think my concern about the tax law is far more important.

See where this goes?

frosty · #43 03-24-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

It really sounds like a $hitbox driver.

"I just don't understand it...........I always drive 80 mph in a 55 mph zone.........I wonder why I got a ticket today???"

Now that the term "sh-tbox" has been defined, it still doesn't explain the above use of the term. First off, I don't drive an SUV (one of your definitions of a sh-tbox) and second, I don't have an "I rule the road" mentality when I drive (another of your definition). I'm actually a courteous driver, most of the time. So, which is it? You passed judgement on me by saying that I sound like a "$hitbox driver." Are you saying that I drive an SUV or that I am a mean and rude or a bad driver?

Also, I don't appreciate my fix-it ticket being compared with a moving violation, which actually endangers others. I know why I got the ticket, what was your point?

t walgamuth · #44 03-24-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mespe

Interesting thread,

First off,,, truckinik -- You are working in a NC Truck and as such you should NOT have to comply with CA smoking laws in your own vehicle, I would call the ACLU and pitch up a storm.

Frosty, If CA does not require a front plate, I would tell the officer to "Go to Hell" and remind her that there is no front liscense plate requirements in the state of CA, and you know a really good lawyer that would be happy to sue the bejesus out of the Police department, Also ask her supervisor's name and phone number and call them on your sell phone. Hey now there's an idea,, get a ticket you don't agree with, call the cops supervisor on the spot.

t walgamuth - fictious plates need I say more?

i am not sure what you mean by ficticious plates, sorry.

tom w

Jim B. · #45 03-24-2007, 05:50 PM

And in some states that do require them, People don't like it, and are doing things to try and change it

http://www.petitiononline.com/txplate/petition.html
(interesting reasons offered for changing it)

Only 31 states require them, reflecting the popular division on the issue.
The comments in the links below reflect the division
http://senatesite.com/blog/2005/11/license-plates.html

As Brian C said above (and I have heard Judges say) if you don't like the law, you can try to get it changed.