So there I was two nights ago, 1.30 in the morning minding my own business, cleaning out my cats and exhaust doing a conservative 140 on the highway when it happened. Traffic is very light, roads are dry I am in the express lanes of the 401 up here in Toronto. He must have watched me from the collectors and just waited for the chance to get behind me. I made it easy for him, transfered into the collectors 3 miles from home. As I look over my right shoulder to check the traffic I see this car matching my speed exactly. You know the feeling you have simetimes that something is not right but can put your finger on it? It was one of those moments. There is a mile long descent before my exit so I was going to gun it, I got up to about 150 when the night lit up behind me. Damn. I ease on to the right, pull close to the guardrail to give him enough room and wait. License registration and insurance please says the law in a thick britisth accent. Where are you going so fast? At this point I could give him a lame excuse or make it fast and easy, I decide the latter. I said look it is 1.30 in the morning I am really tired just want to get home fast, I live around the corner. He goes back to the cruiser does his "dirty business", comes back and says. I clocked you at 138 in a 100 zone but you did not bull**** me so I reduced it to 120. Take it easy. Moral of the story: I got lucky (I will go to court and try to knock it down more you realise and speed only when sun is up. Speed is measured in km/h around here.

Alex

I better start taking it easy on the 401 !

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

Just got my tickets points taken away and the case closed good luck with yours

The police force in and around Atlanta, GA is very understaffed, for the most part. You've got to be really drawing attention to yourself to get pulled over around here, in my experience, at least. There's over 4 million people here, and maybe a couple thousand cops altogether, possibly less. With the exception of a few localized speed traps, most of them have far more important things to deal with.

On the busy Interstates thru here, it seems to me that the SLOW, inattentive drivers clogging up the lanes cause WAY more accidents than the faster, alert drivers who are going with the flow of traffic, rather than impeding it!! Obviously there's always exceptions, but that's been my observation here, and I'd be willing to bet local statistics back me up.

I've been in Georgia since 95, and have only been pulled over twice, once for turning right on red when the sign said NO, and once for doing 45 in a 25 zone that had NO SIGNS...nice convenient speed trap, eh? I went to court with pictures of the street without signs, and got it reduced to where there were no points on my record.

I'm not advocating reckless driving or driving too fast for conditions, but I think a little common sense is all it takes, from drivers AND cops.

I'd like to think I could talk my way down from a seriously expensive ticket just by telling them what kind of car I drive: "But judge, how could I have been going that fast??? I drive a 23 year-old, 2-ton DIESEL!!!!" hahaha...

Mike

__________________
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1979 300 SD
350,000 miles
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1982 300D-gone---sold to a buddy
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1985 300TD
270,000 miles
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1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

www.myspace.com/mikemover
www.myspace.com/openskystudio
www.myspace.com/speedxband
www.myspace.com/openskyseparators
www.myspace.com/doubledrivemusic

Mike is right...

In our fair city, mopping up accidents takes up most of the time of the local authorities. With few exceptions, they really don't have the manpower to set up too many speed traps.

North of Atlanta, GA 400 (state highway) is known locally as the "Atlanta Autobahn". The interstates move along smartly as well.

Left lane is generally 80 mph + or you'll get runover.

I try to maintain 5-10 mph over, or roll with the traffic. Keep alert and stay out of the way of the zig-zaggers (is that a word?) as best I can.

Anyway, good luck with your situation.

Same with highway driving in Texas...you have to be doing European Autobahn speeds to really attract attention...there are scores of P/Us and SUVs pushing major air, and they are the prime targets, leaving the sedan drivers to squeak through...

It's going to change though. Our air quality is getting to be an issue, and the bureaucrats don't want to lose their federal highway funding, so some areas are posting reduced speed limits, and others are being more closely monitored. I know Houston for one, is looking at dropping back to 55 mph on many highways...much of it, roadways that are so clogged anyway that 55 WOULD be speeding!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

G-Benz,

My sister lives in Houston (you are North of Ft. Worth, right?) and told me that they just lowered the speed limit there, because of the federal funding/air quality issues.

She said the police have been much more active recently.

Yep...read it in the news last week...and I have to go to a wedding in Houston next month!

That's going to be a FUN trip!

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

I've only got one thing to say:

www.tardsite.com

__________________

Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Very appropriate, Scott.....lol

Would you be interested in a Mercedesshop Ontario meet?

Let me know brother!!!

I believe there is only 5 or 6 of us but, we could meet somewhere in Toronto and post some pics on here!!!!

Take care,
Mike McKinney

__________________
1989 300CE - 269,000 km
1994 SL600 - 59,000 km

In am In for the Meet!!!!

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

I could make an Ontario meeting

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John
92 500e, 85k, silver/gray,all stock.
96 Club Wagon,Hypertech chipped( College Hauler)
97 320 SL 50k
1980 BMW e21 323 Baur conv.
1990 300GE 99k

I would like to set something up in the spring.

Late March or early-mid April depending on the weather.

I e-mailed the President of M.B.C.C. about

a meet as well so we can get something going.

If you guys have any ideas, please post on here or e-mail me

MIKE0072@hotmail.com

Take care!
Mike McKinney

__________________
1989 300CE - 269,000 km
1994 SL600 - 59,000 km

Here in Maryland, and D.C. and VA. Cops have reached a new level in being lazy. They don't even have to be around, they can just sleep in peace. Here in our nation's capitol, leader of the free world, it is big brother watching your every move! For what? no not terrorist, not criminals, not robbers, not rapist, FOR MONEY!!!

$100 dollars a ticket for speeding on camera, funny enough, camera tickets are for no-points, so you won't fight it! I haven't gotten one yet, but I fear the mail now. D.C. is making a killing off these tickets, there have been stories of people getting them 5, 6 times at the same location. Often with blury pictures.

I say to all, protect your constitutional rights, fight these laws, and protect your pocket book.


Mike
61 220SEb
69 280SEC
65 600