I think it is that time of year when the cops are out in full force. I keep seeing all these new speed traps on my way to work and a countless number of people pulled over getting a ticket for whatever reason. This irritates me simply for the fact that it slows down traffic cause people want to rubberneck. Well I came across this article by the National Motorists Association and they’ve got some pretty good tips. There’s nothing more irritating than being pulled over getting a ticket.

Here’s the list:

1.) Try not to drive faster than 9 mph over the posted limit on the highway and about 5-6 mph above the posted limit on secondary roads.
In most places, most cops will not ticket you if you’re within this range. Part of the reason is simply that most car speedometers are not perfectly calibrated and so it’s easier to challenge such a trivial ticket in court. Exceptions to this include 25 mph/school zones – where you should never drive even a single mph faster than the posted limit.

2.) Don’t drive significantly faster (or slower) than the traffic around you.
If you do, you’ll stick out – and if there’s a cop around, he will notice and focus on you. Learn from the prey animals of the African savannah: There is safety in numbers. Even if you are driving faster than the speed limit, if you’re one of a dozen cars in a pack, there’s only a one in twelve chance the cop will target you.

3.) Never speed at night, especially after midnight.
There are more cops on the road during these hours – and fewer cars. You will stand out. And the cops are looking for any excuse to pull you over, because night-time is DWI time and every car a cop comes across will be closely scrutinized. Give him a reason – any reason – to pull you over and he will pull you over.

4.) Make sure your car’s registration, license plates and state inspection are always up to date.
Cops are trained to look for passed-due inspection stickers (and also things like cracked windshields and dead headlights/brake lights, etc.)

5.) Pay attention to the behavior of other drivers, especially if you’re driving in an unfamiliar area.
If you see cars ahead suddenly slowing down for no apparent reason (or oncoming cars are flashing their lights at you) it’s likely there’s a radar trap up ahead. Slow down now.

6.) Be on guard driving through small towns you don’t know, especially small towns just off an Interstate or when a major road goes directly through a small town.
Speed traps are a reality of life and you’re most likely to encounter one when driving through a small town in the middle of nowhere. Some towns get a large percentage of their budget from traffic tickets and the local yokel cops are on the lookout for cars with out of state plates because they know the driver is not likely to come all the way back there to try to fight the ticket in court – no matter how trumped-up the ticket might be. It’s unfair, but it’s the reality on the ground.

7.) Be on the alert for sudden (and often poorly indicated) reductions in the posted speed limit.
On many roads, the maximum will drop from say 55 to 45 for no obvious reason – and sometimes, there’ll be a cop just after the sign change, waiting for you with his radar gun. Watch for work zones – where the limit may drop by half (and the fines double).

8.) Educate yourself about photo radar, or automated tickets.
If you’re traveling to say Phoenix, AZ or Washington, DC – be forewarned that these areas use automated cameras to ticket people for both red light running and speeding. You may get no warning – and have no idea you just got a ticket – until it arrives in the mail a few weeks later.

9.) Familiarize yourself with the makes/models of cars that cops tend to drive.
The most commonly used cop cars (marked and unmarked) are the Ford Crown Victoria, the Chevy Impala and the Dodge Charger. The nice thing about the Vic is that it’s very easy to pick out because it’s very large and pretty much only cops and older people drive them. The Impala’s harder to sniff out because they are anonymous-looking and really blend into the crowd. The Charger’s even worse because it’s a popular car and also a car that younger, sporty drivers favor. But in general, be on the alert whenever one of these cars is around; be extra wary if you see telltale signs such as multiple low-profile antennas, large tires with inexpensive-looking trim rims/hub caps and a spotlight on the driver’s side door.

10.) Don’t exceed the posted in adverse weather such as heavy rain or when it’s snowy.
Not only is it unsafe, it may also be a moving violation even though you may not have been driving faster than the posted maximum. Keep in mind that the speed limit is just that – the lawful maximum – under ideal conditions. If a cop sees you driving faster than he deems safe for conditions, he can still pull you over and give you a ticket. And besides, this is a case where slower really is safer. Even if you have a 4WD vehicle, it takes longer to stop (and the vehicle is more prone to skidding out) if the roads are wet or slicked from snow/ice. – Thanks to National Motorists Association for this list.

Just make sure if you are headed to your Texas Chevy Dealer so excited about getting a new car. You take your time. Ha ha. Can you think of anything they left out?

Author Bio: Dan Mercurio is President of DealerLinkUSA and administers quality Search Engine Marketing campaigns for Arlington Chevy Dealers . DealerLinkUSA has strategically aligned itself with a high end automotive ad agency.

Category: Automotive
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