What? I thought there was unwritten rule for the left lane?

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So today a cop chased and pulled me over for driving 10mph over the speed limit in the left lane.

I got off easy because she only have me a warning and not a ticket.

What the hell, I though there was the unwritten rule in the highway: that vehicles on the left most lane can go 10 or 15 mph above the speed limit.

I mean the Corvette in front of me was booking it, I think she has something against pickup trucks! Sad

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Type: Question • Score: 15 • Views: 6,463 • Replies: 74

@Val Killmore,

An unwritten rule. haha

Going 10 miles faster than posted on a freeway usually is ignored by traffic enforcement, unless some other violation is observed. I question whether you are diligently reporting the facts.

So you observed a Corvette speeding. From that you infer the officer was prejudiced against pickup trucks. This is why I think you're in denial and you haven't come clean.

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@tycoon,

Denial? The bloody Corvette zooming in behind me, I changed lanes and picked up speed after the Corvette.

I passed an exit ramp, and the Corvette picked up more speed and zoomed out into the horizon, and simultaneously a cop was parked by the exit ramp, and came after me.

I think she was pissed that she didn't have the hopes of catching up to the vette, so dumped her frustration on me.

If I was on my supra, I would have left her in the dust, if she came after me. Hell I would have overtook the vette, and left it in the dust as well.

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@Val Killmore,

Quote:

What the hell, I though there was the unwritten rule in the highway: that vehicles on the left most lane can go 10 or 15 mph above the speed limit.

Um... if it were legal, it would be a "written rule."

1 Reply

@Val Killmore,

You would have left her in the dust if you could have? Is it possible you found some other way of telegraphing this attitude?

Even in New Mexico, you start looking interesting at around ten to fifteen over the limit. The inside lane is for faster moving traffic, but within the speed limit. It is neither a crusing lane, nor does it have a higher real or implied speed limit.

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@Val Killmore,

When a cop wants to give you a ticket or just hassle you about your speed, there is no such a thing as an "unwritten rule" in any state of the United States nor in any country on this globe. Try telling a judge you were observing an "unwritten" law. Laughing

1 Reply

@Lustig Andrei,

This has happened before, I have ridden 10 to 15 mph over on left lanes many a times, and passed cops, and they have never pulled me over.

This is the first time ever, in my ~7 years of driving.

3 Replies

@Butrflynet,

Not necessarily.
For centuries the Rules of War governing hostilities between
a nation or person engaged in war or conflict consisted of a body of unwritten law.
Yes some are codified, but most are not.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court has ruled that the due process clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution protects the right to privacy even though the word privacy is not mentioned in the written text of the Constitution.

So I think there is a unwritten law for left lanes in highway!
The Cop just forgot it.... but hey, she didn't ticket me, so I forgive her Wink

1 Reply

@Val Killmore,

Val Killmore wrote:

I though there was the unwritten rule in the highway

could be, but there is also a written rule. and that written rule makes you bait for police if you're speeding

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Maybe the police cud not CATCH a Corvette.

Thay cud catch a pick up truck.

David

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@Val Killmore,

Val Killmore wrote:

Not necessarily.
For centuries the Rules of War governing hostilities between
a nation or person engaged in war or conflict consisted of a body of unwritten law.
Yes some are codified, but most are not.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court has ruled that the due process clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution protects the right to privacy even though the word privacy is not mentioned in the written text of the Constitution.

So I think there is a unwritten law for left lanes in highway!

Is that defended by the 9th Amendment ??????????

David

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@Val Killmore,

In reality if a cop has a picture of the license--you're already nabbed. They just send you the ticket in the mail. Most states have found that high speed pursuit for traffic infractions create more traffic risk, so they generally discourage pursuit except for cases of imminent bodily damage or capital felonies..

Besides if you really want to 'rabbit' they'll just call for the eye in the sky and I don't care how fast you think your car is--it won't outrun a helicopter.

As for 'unwritten' traffic laws--I would recommend going down to your local DMV, rereading the sections on 'speed limits.' You'll find nothing about 'unwritten rules'. What you will find is that 'Driving is a privilege, not a right'.

Rap

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@Val Killmore,

BTW most speedometers have an error of about +/-5%, and that is affected by tires (size, inflation, wear). As a result most cops and judges give about a 5% leeway (~5 mph @ 60 mph), that is unless you're out of state and driving through Georgia.

Rap

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@Val Killmore,

Val Killmore wrote:

Denial? The bloody Corvette zooming in behind me, I changed lanes and picked up speed after the Corvette.

You fell for that? Send the sports car down the road and see who decides to follow at a high speed then ticket them. When you changed lanes and sped up after a Corvette, you were asking for it. Follow the Honda next time.

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@Val Killmore,

The problem is that the unwritten rule ("Chief's Policy") is different for every jurisdiction.

And it's only a guideline.

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@Val Killmore,

Val Killmore wrote:

This has happened before, I have ridden 10 to 15 mph over on left lanes many a times, and passed cops, and they have never pulled me over.

This is the first time ever, in my ~7 years of driving.

They may not have pulled you over but they could have. You are violating the speed limit.

Normally, they let people going a few miles over the speed limit go because they know there will be someone else going faster that they don't want to miss having stopped a slower car. If you are on a stretch of road where people often do 20 mph over the speed limit, they will probably not stop people going 10 mph over. But if you are a stretch where people normally go the speed limit, 5-7 mph over may get you pulled over.

By the way, just because you have driven for years at 10mph over the speed limit and never been stopped is not something you want to use an excuse if you are stopped.

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I always find that there are only two phrases you need when speaking to a police officer: "Yes, sir." and "No, sir." Almost anything else you say will probably be a mistake.

1 Reply

Man, I feel just rotten about all this. Someone comes here for sympathy comiseration, and what does he get?

1 Reply

@Val Killmore,

Val Killmore wrote:

This has happened before, I have ridden 10 to 15 mph over on left lanes many a times, and passed cops, and they have never pulled me over.

This is the first time ever, in my ~7 years of driving.

0 Replies

@Val Killmore,

First I've ever heard of this unwritten rule. Usually in most places you actually get a higher ticket for each mile you are over by 10 miles. Maybe that is your confusion --- or possibly where you live?

0 Replies

What? I thought there was unwritten rule for the left lane?

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