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rkerber · 12-04-2008, 07:59 AM

My son's friend said he got a ticket for one mile over the speed limit in Texas and I have heard that tickets for 5 to 10 miles over are common. Is this true?

rkerber · 12-04-2008, 07:59 AM

My son's friend said he got a ticket for one mile over the speed limit in Texas and I have heard that tickets for 5 to 10 miles over are common. Is this true?

TXiceman · 12-04-2008, 08:23 AM

Most of the time they will let you by with 5 over, but not 10 mph. In a school zone, there is generally very little tolerance. for speeding.

Technically anything over the posted limit is speeding, 1, 5, 10 or more, it is speeding.

Ken

RustyJC · 12-04-2008, 08:27 AM

More details would help. On the sections of I-10 and I-20 in far West Texas with daytime speed limits of 80 MPH, I understand that these limits are being strictly enforced.

As Ken says, generally one is OK on the open highway up to 5 MPH over, but it's really up to the individual LEO on that particular day.

Rusty

Jestme13 · 12-04-2008, 12:53 PM

and he admits he was speeding. i guess some leo's are just in bad moods some days.

fatmanobx · 12-04-2008, 01:46 PM

I bet there is more to that story. Sorry, but I have a hard time believing his story.....

CoastieSCPO · 12-04-2008, 03:24 PM

Yes, five or ten over the limit is common.

As far a one mile and hour over the limit, well he possibly mouthed off to the officer..it's called <contempt of cop> or he may have been going a lot faster and the officer just gave him the minimum speding citation.

Been there...done that!

historyljc · 12-04-2008, 07:05 PM

A ticket for 1 mile over would have so many chicken feathers it could fly. I guess it could happen, but in my 39 years in law enforcement and criminal justice I haven't seen it. On the hand, I have known some officers that did cluck a lot.

Glen41 · 12-04-2008, 07:27 PM

Like a previous poster said. It definitely sounds like the LEO was being nice and issued a minimum ticket. But also might have been the area. They get real peeved if you speed in a school zone. Otherwise you usually get a 5 mph "mistake" leeway. But you will never get a LEO to admit that.

allendp · 12-04-2008, 07:41 PM

On some highways in Texas where there is an existing high accident rate there is a zero tolerance rule. Hwy 195 on which I live is such a highway. Speed limit is 70 MPH and 71 on their radar will get you ticketed or in most cases a warning unless you tick off the LEO. Like Ken said on most other highways you can usually get by at 5MPH over. Best thing is to just drive the speed limit or under and not be concerned about it.

MtManLee · 12-05-2008, 06:02 AM

Most law dogs will tell you they dont look at you until you hit 3 to or more over the limit but there are places where 1 over is not unusual for a ticket. Wellington, Utah is one of those. The chief of police denys it but they will even give you a ticket for doing under the limit and say you were over and their procecuting attorney and justice of the peace are so crooked they go along with any ticket you get and the state allows it.

buckeyes · 12-05-2008, 06:29 AM

As a former LEO, there must have been other factors in this citation. Attitude, cutting traffic, condition of vehicle, and most importantly, the driver telling the truth about the speeding ticket. I would have to see the citation, as I have heard lots of 1 mile over stories, but never the ticket.
The thing to remember, the speed limit is the LIMIT, not the required speed.

Georgia Flash · 12-05-2008, 08:08 AM

I will say one thing, if you shift lanes or cut in and out of traffic in Texas , they do not like it and passing on the right, that is a nono.

lawdude · 12-05-2008, 08:20 AM

As an attorney (ret.) who defended civil traffic cases, I can honestly say I never saw anyone cited for SL+1MPH. I therefore side with those who believe this is either BS or many more facts are missing.