Late night question - what's the police presence like in your area? And how does it affect your driving?

"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
08/26/2016 at 22:50 • Filed to: None

I’m jealous of people who live in rural areas with smaller police forces. They maintain a serious presence in the Boston suburbs, which is great because they’re so safe (thanks guys and gals in blue). But combined with poor visibility on winding, hilly, tree lined new england roads, the fact that there could easily be a cop around the next corner means speeding tickets are inevitable if you don’t leave the area to do your fun driving.

Another downside of large, well-funded police forces (what a first world problem. I am should be ashamed of myself) is that they have SO MANY different cars. They get new ones constantly, as in multiple per year. My town’s force in particular seems to collect the damn things. They gotta catch ‘em all I guess. But that means the list of vehicles I need to be paranoid about is pretty long:

- Crown Vics obviously. Some staties are still driving these; no wonder they’re so mean. Or maybe that’s because I was speeding and now they’re standing on the side of the highway with 18 wheelers flying by. Hmmm. Maybe both.

- Ford Explorers obviously. It should be illegal to buy these. Obviously I’m kidding but the people who put bull bars on the front of these should be shot.

- Dodge Challengers. These should be illegal too. And I would also happily shoot people who put bull bars on these, in case you were wondering.

- Ford Tauruses. Rare but nevertheless used around here, often as undercovers with no lights. Fortunately they aren’t common enough for psychopaths to put bull bars on though.

- Chevy Suburbans. The newest terror roaming the streets. I saw my first one last week, an undercover at a traffic stop. So now I have to be paranoid about these too.

So - what’s your area’s police presence like, and how does it effect your driving? My TL/DR answer is that I have to be very careful in the suburbs. But as you’d expect, the closer you get to the city, the less interested cops are in handing out traffic tickets. They have actual problems to take care of and pulling people over in the city = traffic nightmare.

DISCUSSION (39)

f86sabre > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 22:57

Good presence in the burbs and side streets. Should drive the limit there anyway. This is Atlanta so the interstates roll at about 75 mph even when the limits are lower. Tickets are only really issued for going 85+ or going stupid fast in construction zones.

daender > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 22:59

I’ll normally do 5-over the speed limit unless it’s in a populated area with typically-common police presence. On highways and interstates I’m doing 5 to 10-over the limit and cops won’t bat an eye at my Miata.

Sumter police has all the cars you’ve listed but here is one SON OF A BITCH: Their “phantom” Chargers.

Kinja'd!!!

Depending on the light (or lack of) those graphics are nearly invisible. They have this white one along with a dark silver/gray Charger that occasionally stakes out a speed trap in front of my neighborhood.

And they have an ‘09 GT public relations/sheriff’s car.

Kinja'd!!!

jkm7680 > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:01

Very strong presence. The Taurus, Pimpala, Crown Vic and Explorer are the top choices.

Nearly every cop I know prefers the Crown Vic though.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:05

Don't be an ass. Don't speed in residential areas/downtown. Keep it within 10 on rural roads. Most cops are busy looking for stoner teenagers.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:05

In the Richmond suburb I live in, it’s pretty similar to how you describe your area. But there are no good driving roads within city limits, so no big deal. A mix of Crown Vic’s, Caprices, and the occasional Tahoe. I work in a county, and I see on average one or two a day. They have a mix of Tauruses and Crown Vic’s and stick to the main commuting roads to do their thing. Despite all the gloom and doom about Virginia’s speeding laws, if I stick to the back roads I can hoon to my heart’s content. Going 80+/20 over on those roads is a death wish anyway.

shop-teacher > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:09

I too live in the suburbs, with large well funded police departments. Also with a wide variety of vehicles. Crown Vic’s, Chargers, Tahoes, Caprices, and TONS of Explorers. Not too many Tauruses, pretty much only the Stateys have those.

If all you’re doing is a bit of speeding, they’re very unlikely to pull you over. I keep my vehicles legal, I don’t drive super aggressive, I use my turn signals, etc. The Stateys around here don’t look twice at you, if you’re going with the flow of traffic. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been doing 15-20 over on the interstate, and had a Statey cruise right by me. I’ve only gotten one ticket in the last 18 years.

Noah - Now with more boost. > interstate366, now In The Industry
08/26/2016 at 23:09

One or two a day would be amazing. I once counted 6 on a short errand.

Noah - Now with more boost. > f86sabre
08/26/2016 at 23:11

Sounds pretty reasonable. Mass has kept most of it’s 55 MPH limits, which is ridiculous, but since the speed limits are so outdated everyone does 80-90 in a 55 and you won’t get pulled over unless you’re passing people.

Noah - Now with more boost. > daender
08/26/2016 at 23:13

Only 5 over? Interesting. The rule here is more like 10 unless we’re talking really low speed limit roads. I’ve had a cop tell me he gives everyone 10 over. Amusingly, my work parking lot has 9mph signs. I’ll have to document that for oppo at some point.

Busslayer > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:14

I absolutely follow different sets of rules depending upon the municipality I am in. Where I live I feel comfortable driving moderately over the speed limits (~+10) and will roll stop. signs and am generally less vigilant with rules of the road but I’m don’t drive like an asshole.

A neighboring community are hard asses about everything and at most you can get away with 5mph over, but certain streets you will get pulled over for less than that. I’ve been pulled over twice (but no ticket). Once for not signaling a turn and once for having my daughter’s bike sticking out of my trunk (but properly secured).

When I go to work in the city proper, rules of the road become merely suggestions. I will drive as fast as the openings in traffic allow with no real fear of tickets.

In unfamiliar areas I will be much more conservative and will stick to the prevailing flow.

scoob > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:14

At most 5 over in the city/boroughs (25 MPH makes me cry), 5-10 over (for passing) on highways. Waze is bae.

Apparently there are unmarked civilian-looking cars ( Camrys , etc) which are actually used by cops and even a fake taxi cop car. Luckily I’ve never been stopped.

daender > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:15

5 mph over is the norm on urban and suburban areas in SC, 10+ on highways. Sadly, I can’t go faster than 75 mph due to reduced tire diameter and short gearing unless I want my injectors to suddenly dump ALL THE FUEL into the cylinders.

Noah - Now with more boost. > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
08/26/2016 at 23:16

Yep. Any kind of speeding in dense areas is totally uncalled for. Thats asking for it and I’m not talking about a ticket

Noah - Now with more boost. > jkm7680
08/26/2016 at 23:17

Weird. I feel like the newer cars would just be so much better since they’re over a decade more modern

Noah - Now with more boost. > daender
08/26/2016 at 23:21

oh dear haha wouldn’t want that!

RallyWrench > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:21

I’m in a rural area, so it’s mostly the occasional sheriffs in Caprices or Yukons or chippies in Explorers. The city I work in has slightly hyperactive cops because it’s a college town, but I avoid driving in except for to and from work. Otherwise I drive like a grandpa most of the time so no worries.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:23

I’ve had that happen. Meanwhile, today I didn’t see any at all except one that was a customer at work.

I usually go 1-2 over in town (if that) and about 5 over out of town. When I head into downtown Richmond or Petersburg I go the speed limit for the sake of pedestrian safety.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Busslayer
08/26/2016 at 23:23

Yep all of that sounds accurate. Sucks that neighboring areas are so harsh though, that must be a pain

wafflesnfalafel > daender
08/26/2016 at 23:24

5 over here too - honestly I use cruise a bunch even on suburban roads to keep it no more than 5 over. Our police folks have one of those “phantom” chargers, except it’s black. Our local police just got a bunch of the Tauruses and a few of those Explorers. They had Crown Vics forever, replaced most of those with Chargers several years ago. Those all died and now they are back to the Ford products primarily.

Chariotoflove > jkm7680
08/26/2016 at 23:25

Have heard this from officers here in Dallas. I asked one how he liked the new Challengers. He didn’t. Wonder if it was just getting used to something new.

sony1492 > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:26

Where Im at its about 40 miles to the nearest stoplight and besides hwy 101 all the roads are windy potholed offcamber slices of perfection. Cops only go out these roads if they have to and usually they’re sheriffs who care even less about tickets so its highly unlikely that youll be pulled over. They do patrol the towns and highway though which is just fine.

This leads to me driving my car about as quickly as it can feasibly go (w/ a little wiggle room.....usually) this also leads to others driving Very quickly and sometimes the stars align and your both driving like maniacs at the same time which some might call racing. (Tacomas can do some serious cornering.) Its an unwritten and also posted rule that slower traffic pulls over to faster traffic. Peaple also tend to drive drunk, high, and generally like shit. Im no longer scared to see peaple with their wheel in my lane around blind corners.

Basically you can do whatever you want with the only drawback being the fact that its a small community and eventually someone will chew you out at the gas station/scream at you as you drive through town(if you drive like a dick)

Noah - Now with more boost. > shop-teacher
08/26/2016 at 23:26

One in 18 years!? That’s impressive. But judging by your username you reached dad levels of responsibility long ago lol. Our staties are the same way on the highway, just gotta stick with traffic and it’s all good.

Chariotoflove > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:26

The constables in certain precincts camp out in certain areas to catch speeders. Other than that, school zones are sacrosanct here in Dallas, even if no cop is visible, because the fines are crippling if you get caught.

Urambo Tauro > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:26

I’ve encountered some pretty strict LEOs. I’ve been pulled over for entering the center turn lane too early, and for running a yellow light. A friend of mine was pulled over for speeding up while going downhill, even though it was just gravity coasting. (The cop asked, “you DO have a brake pedal, don’t you?” Damn. Can’t argue with that logic.)

I also got ticketed for not wearing a seat belt, when I actually WAS buckled the whole time. (I was in a company truck for that one, maybe he was just trying to come up with a “reason” to pull me over.) In his defense, the belt was the same color as my hoodie, but I still had to bring that defense to court when I went to fight the ticket.

Noah - Now with more boost. > scoob
08/26/2016 at 23:28

YES actually I did see what I thought was a camry with undercover lights the other day. well this sucks... that’s just pure evil

daender > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:28

It’s one of the lesser-discussed but irksome parts of NA/NB ownership, around 4k rpm the ecu switches over from closed-loop to open-loop on fuel mapping so it just dumps fuel as a fail-safe to prevent cylinder detonation at high rpms.

Noah - Now with more boost. > RallyWrench
08/26/2016 at 23:29

They still have caprices!? I haven’t seen once since I was a kid lol

daender > wafflesnfalafel
08/26/2016 at 23:30

I abuse cruise control just to avoid going beyond 5-over. My Miata friends have given me shit over it but, hey, I’m the one who still hasn’t had a single speeding ticket and yet I’m never late to an event. :B

scoob > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:38

Freaking scary too... no one is safe!

Noah - Now with more boost. > daender
08/26/2016 at 23:43

wow that’s really strange. I love obscure stuff like that though, thanks haha

DKerstan > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:53

Where I’m at in rural NorCal the main highway most people use to the closest main town has a speed limit of 55 but most of the locals (myself included) routinely push 65+. The local Sheriffs don’t carry Radar guns in their vehicles, so unless they are pacing you they cannot get you for speeding but if there is an emergency it typically takes the sheriffs 30min to respond. They also just upgraded to the new police Yukons or Chargers, while the CHP have the new Explorers.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:55

We have waaaaay too many municipalities in the St Louis ‘burbs and shocking as it may seem, not all racial groups feel welcome or comfortable here. You may have heard a thing or two about this on INTER!!!national news. This is where my solidly middle class white privileged comes banging up against other people’s reality.

Driving While Black is a thing. You can deny it all you want, but it’s a thing. I live in an inner ring suburb and I’m white and I can afford a lawyer any time day or night. My motoring habits reflect that. Other motorists that I share my evening road with may be not white or not as wealthy so when I head out at 8:30 or 9 on Friday night, it’s a whole different world than my commute at 6:45 am and 4:30pm. On the very same section of interstate.

Everybody. Ev. Er. Ree. Bod. Ee. is driving between 54.5 and 60.0 mph. guuuuuh! GO! Move over. I’m in a freaking Audi, I will not pull you over just please please please please please move out of the left lane for 15 seconds. 10 even. I can make do. ten seconds. How about 8 seconds, I’ll be quick.

It’s nuts. I hate it not because it’s annoying, but because despite my White Life™ I realize that for far too many of my fellow motorists who are just coming home from that illusive steady job or heading out for some good times with friends, driving 65 in a 60 can be a life changing experience.

It’s not answering the question you asked, but that’s who StL police presence affects my driving.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/26/2016 at 23:57

St Louis City police have many confiscated cars on the force with ink black windows hiding flashing lights underneath. I’ve never seen them use them for traffic though.

IL state patrol used to have old ratty Olds Gutless Supremes and Gutless Cieras for holiday weekends.

RallyWrench > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/27/2016 at 00:06

The new ones, not available to the public. Basically Holden Commodores with a Chevy badge.

jkm7680 > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/27/2016 at 00:24

Modern doesn’t always mean better.

The Crown Vic was a pretty carefree and simple car. Did everything it needed to and did it well. The new cars, not so much.

I know a lot of people in law enforcement and very few prefer the new cars.

JDMatt > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/27/2016 at 03:43

San Francisco and its suburbs:

Marin County (Rich Suburbs): police have nothing else to do except write speeding tickets. free flowing traffic does not exceed 70 MPH to avoid getting puller over. Explorers only.

San Mateo county (Rich Suburbs): Enforcement depends on the city. The roads around San Francisco Int’l airport have excessive amounts of cops. on the other hand I’ve saw a McLaren racing a Mustang in a rual-ish area of the 280 freeway in morning commuter traffic. I believe the city of atherton uses Teslas as cop cars.

Alameda County: speeding okay for the most part. Just don’t be that guy who weaves in traffic at 110 MPH. Expect explorers and biker cops that lane split.

San Francisco: Everybody drives aggressively on the streets out of necessity. I’ve been pulled over twice but never given a ticket. SFPD mostly uses crown vics, but I’ve seen tahoes, taurus, and the caprice parked by the main police station.

shop-teacher > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/27/2016 at 09:17

No, my oldest kid is 3-1/2. I had a a string of 5 warnings in a row going in my 20's. Three of those were in the span of four weeks, when I was delivering for Jimmy Johns in college. The first and third of those were even from the same cop.

Noah - Now with more boost. > shop-teacher
08/27/2016 at 12:48

Hahah oh man that’s a good streak of warnings without tickets though

shop-teacher > Noah - Now with more boost.
08/27/2016 at 14:00

Yeah, I was bummed that it ended a few years ago. I got my first speeder since I was 16.