[ex-poster]

Hopefully this was just a statistical fluke, but over the last few days I've see quite a few tollway police checking speed.

I've seen them:

Running laser behind bridge abutments

Running laser from a semi-hidden motorcycle

Running radar

Pacing

Now, probably the good thing here is that I didn't see anyone pulled over, so this might be some sort of stepped-up visibility effort.

For those of you reading this from out-of-state, the tollways have generally been a very lax speed enforcement area for a long time, I've lived here 15 years and I could count on one hand the number of times I've seen active speed enforcement. As a result, typical speeds on the tollways are 80-85 and sometimes even higher.

[UdubBadger]

I'll talk to my buddy whos a Statie around Chicago and see what he has to say about all of that.

He's always told me that 75 is safe and you won't get bothered by anyone. 75-80 range you could get a ticket or if you're lucky a warning but anything over 80 leaves you in the prime area to be pulled over.

[Chromander]

yea, it was warm this weekend. lots of cops out in areas and definitely pulling ppl over on the highways...

Do you guys use radars?

[UdubBadger]

escort 8500 hardwired... had a couple of threats that went off like a mile before i actually got to them... works great

[bap2086]

this is definitely true, i made a trip to Michigan and back yesterday and they were definitely out in force.

i use an escort radar detector and a cb radio.

[aaronb]

I did, scratch that, "know a guy who did" a 70-120 pull on 355 northbound a couple weeks ago in a gap in traffic...turns out there was an unmarked statie a couple cars behind me. I slowed down when I hit 120 and moved over to the right lane....(before I knew he was there) then his lights came on...

He let me off with a 65 in a 55 warning. His exact words were "I don't care if you speed in a burst, it's the guys that do it for 15-20 miles that piss me off"...

Now keep in mind I'm always very considerate. I shut the car off, put the keys on the dash, turn the interior light on, keep my hands on the wheel, and tell him before I go reaching for my wallet or glove box. don't know if it made a difference or not.

[bap2086]

Originally Posted by aaronb

I did, scratch that, "know a guy who did" a 70-120 pull on 355 northbound a couple weeks ago in a gap in traffic...turns out there was an unmarked statie a couple cars behind me. I slowed down when I hit 120 and moved over to the right lane....(before I knew he was there) then his lights came on...

He let me off with a 65 in a 55 warning. His exact words were "I don't care if you speed in a burst, it's the guys that do it for 15-20 miles that piss me off"...

Now keep in mind I'm always very considerate. I shut the car off, put the keys on the dash, turn the interior light on, keep my hands on the wheel, and tell him before I go reaching for my wallet or glove box. don't know if it made a difference or not.

sounds like u played it well, the staties can be really cool or really fkin brutal.

[aaronb]

Originally Posted by bap2086

sounds like ur friend played it well, the staties can be really cool or really fkin brutal.

corrected!

[omg516]

I got hit with laser last Sunday on 90 west near 53. The cop was sitting on the left shoulder nailing people with laser as they sped in the left lane. Luckily my radar went off when he nailed the guy a few cars ahead of me and I was able to slow down in time.

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by aaronb

I did, scratch that, "know a guy who did" a 70-120 pull on 355 northbound a couple weeks ago in a gap in traffic...turns out there was an unmarked statie a couple cars behind me. I slowed down when I hit 120 and moved over to the right lane....(before I knew he was there) then his lights came on...

He let me off with a 65 in a 55 warning. His exact words were "I don't care if you speed in a burst, it's the guys that do it for 15-20 miles that piss me off"...

Now keep in mind I'm always very considerate. I shut the car off, put the keys on the dash, turn the interior light on, keep my hands on the wheel, and tell him before I go reaching for my wallet or glove box. don't know if it made a difference or not.

Exactly the way to handle a traffic stop. Keep the officer comfortable, he'll be in a better frame of mind.

I learned to drive in Detroit - the first thing you learn in drivers ed isn't how to drive, it was how not to get shot during a traffic stop! Chris Rock anyone?

[kpcoupe]

Its so weird...a day after reading this i got my first speeding ticket.

[aaronb]

Originally Posted by kpcoupe

Its so weird...a day after reading this i got my first speeding ticket.

Did you do what I did with the keys on the dash and such?

[kpcoupe]

Originally Posted by aaronb

Did you do what I did with the keys on the dash and such?

yes. I think it helped too. He was very nice with me and told me to go to court and that the judge will probably let me go since its my first time and it wont affect my insurance.

[shadowcoder]

You play it nice, smooth and polite and you almost get away with "murder". Without
me knowing, state trooper was trying to keep up with me while I was doing 135mph
going east on I-80 at 4am on a clear sky and road night.

I could see some faint head lights and I thought it may be someone I passed and
wanted to race or I woke up a state trooper when I passed at such speed.

It was the second.

Guy was very polite, engine off, lights on, window down, hands on the wheel. He
wrote me up for 95mph. I paid on the spot so that he didn't have to take away my
license and I was on my merry way. He suggested to me to slow down in case the
next trooper wasn't so nice and ends up dragging my butt to jail.

Insurance never found out.

All in all, very polite, don't argue, play it nice, don't be smart and hope for the best.

[ex-poster]

Originally Posted by kpcoupe

yes. I think it helped too. He was very nice with me and told me to go to court and that the judge will probably let me go since its my first time and it wont affect my insurance.

Well, right, because Illinois has "supervision."

You'll still wind up paying the ticket and pleading guilty. But the cool part is that if you don't have another ticket within six months, and you go to safety school, you're back to being clear again.

I wouldn't bother with court. If you lose, you'll be sorry.

Note, this advice only applies to Illnois. Assuming the ticket was in Illinois from your sig.

[M3BALLER08]

They have planes in IL that sometimes come out to take radar. I got a ticket on 53 @ Palatine Rd. last year on Memorial Day for 39 over. The state police patiently waited for me at the next exit after the plane got me. I honestly couldn't even see the plane and my V1 never made a sound. Be careful out there guys!

[ex-poster]

Yes, the visual stuff is VASCAR. They use a timer and two points with a known distance between them. Pass one point, they start the clock, pass the second they stop it and your speed in MPH is displayed. All court-approved, been around for ages.

The planes are pretty rare though.

FYI, just got a ticket 2 weeks ago, first one is traffic school.

[kpcoupe]

Originally Posted by smithrh

Well, right, because Illinois has "supervision."

You'll still wind up paying the ticket and pleading guilty. But the cool part is that if you don't have another ticket within six months, and you go to safety school, you're back to being clear again.

I wouldn't bother with court. If you lose, you'll be sorry.

Note, this advice only applies to Illnois. Assuming the ticket was in Illinois from your sig.

Well, theres no amount to pay on the ticket. I think i have to go to court since i am under 18. So, what do i plead if i go to get that supervision?

[ex-poster]

You'd plead guilty and ask for supervision.

Odd that there's no amount on the ticket. Was it speeding?

Perhaps it's different as you're under 18?

[kpcoupe]

Originally Posted by smithrh

You'd plead guilty and ask for supervision.

Odd that there's no amount on the ticket. Was it speeding?

Perhaps it's different as you're under 18?

It was speeding, but it was like 10 or 12 over. It was still in the first category. Ya i think that i have to go b/c i am under 18. So i definitely plead guilty rite? Thanks for the help.

[UdubBadger]

dont "plead guilty" ask for supervision 1st.

i did this on my 1st ticket when i was 17 and walked out of the courtroom having not paid a dime, license in hand (this was when they actually took your DL away) and a 30 day supervision... if I don't get caught* (thats the key word in that statement) speeding for 30 days it was off my record... I didn't get caught and thus i walked away like it never ever happened. If you've got ANYONE you know who would come with you for free I'd say it wouldn't hurt to lawyer up as well... judges usually prefer talking to them instead of you.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by smithrh

Well, right, because Illinois has "supervision."

You'll still wind up paying the ticket and pleading guilty. But the cool part is that if you don't have another ticket within six months, and you go to safety school, you're back to being clear again.

I wouldn't bother with court. If you lose, you'll be sorry.

Note, this advice only applies to Illnois. Assuming the ticket was in Illinois from your sig.

not always true... its all up to the judge, as posted above