Thought I would put a post out there for those of you that may want to vent or share your stories of getting stopped and ticketed by TN and NC cops. Here is mine:

As I was leaving Robbinsville late Saturday night about 11:38, I was stopped by a NC State Trooper on 143 as I was heading back to Fontana. I was stopped 2.5 miles out of Robbinsville. (?) The trooper asked me if I knew how fast I was going. I told him about 59 (in a 55). He said, "No, I mean when you left Robbinsville. Didn't you see me sitting there?" I told him no. Then he asked, "How much have you had to drink tonight?" PROUDLY I told him not a drop! He then went on to say he clocked me doing 65 in 45 but was going to write me for 60 in a 45 so I wouldn't have to appear in court. $150.

First off, I KNOW how small towns are, especially that late at night. Secondly, I haven't had a speeding ticket in over 12 years. Thirdly, I KNOW I was not doing 60 or even 65 as I left town because as I was driving out on 143, I remember seeing the "55" speed limit sign, I sped UP to 59 or so and set my cruise control. Then out of no where there was this car coming up pretty fast behind me, thinking maybe it was another MINI, but then I realized the headlights were too far apart to be a MINI. I played the last 2 or so minutes over in my head and thinking, I wasn't speeding if that is a cop. Sure enough, the lights came on and I pulled over.

I could not figure out WHY this cop drove 2-plus miles out of Robbinsville before he stopped me, especially if he was sitting by the Post Office or somewhere in there. I have played this thing over and over in my head, I still cannot believe I was speeding because of the "55" sign. This wasn't even an "earned" ticket where maybe I was speeding 85 in a 70 zone or something like that. I think you get my drift.

This has really ticked me off. My gut feeling is that this was the SAME NC trooper that was in the McDonalds next to the Solo gas station I saw when I was getting gas. I didn't drive off fast or anything like that to draw attention to myself or my MINI. I never saw a cop sitting anywhere nor was I looking since really it didn't matter to me as I pay strict attention to speed limits in these little towns and just don't go the limits. In fact, I was once stopped by a county cop in WI for driving too slow in my Porsche 911 through a small rural town. He pulled me over to see "what was up" for driving 10 mph under the limit. I kid you not! I think he too was trying to see if I had been drinking. Nothing happened, he let me go after about 2 minutes of interogation.

For as long as I live, this ticket experience will always bother me because I know I did everything right and wasn't speeding. I truly believe this cop gave me ticket because he can. And being from out of state, why or how could I fight a $150 ticket? They know I won't. But I sure would like to use that $150 for something on my MINI instead of giving it to the state of NC.

 

Bummer, but unfortunately with the attitude most cops and their buddy judges have these days it's all but impossible to get an out-of-state ticket dismissed. Lots of us got hit with "speeding ticket tax" this year, usually on the Dragon. The cops there will have to think long and hard how far they think they can get away with it before they seriously scare off the only industry in the area: tourism.

 

all they are doing is just revenue generation and ticket quota....the cop that gave me a ticket on the dragon was a straight up ****...pretty much scoffed at the fact i was active duty military...i know that after he gave me that ticket i refused to even go near the dragon...apparently they screwed alot of people for no good reason other than being a bunch of wanna-be hard@$$3$

 

I'm sorry but that shouldn't give you a get out exemption from a ticket. You were breaking the law on a road that you knew cops sit on, it was no secret. Nothing against Military, cause I really respect and admire that, and thank you for serving, but come on it wouldn't be fair to not ticket you and give everyone else one.

 

just a quick note to say nothing but props for the n.c. trooper who helped me on tuesday. he was super nice and professional.

pulling people over on the dragon MAY be a random thing? lord knows they could have pulled me (and many others) over as i was "shutting it down" after i caught a glimpse of them. i suspect as in all jobs, there are some good 'uns and some a** holes.....which ones you encounter is fate.... and fate is a fickle thing

sorry to hear about your ticket though

 

it comes down to respect...i dont spit in a cops face for what he does...dont spit in my face for what i do...just because he is a cop doesnt mean he is beyond showing some respect...you wouldnt be happy if someone scoffed in your face for being an accomplished mechanic...if he maintained his professionalism i wouldnt be complaining right now

 

From the OP's own comments, the ticket was legit wasn't it? If you are doing 59 in a 55 at midnight, you get a ticket. Come on folks, read the law! The posted maximum speed limits are for optimum conditions and if it's dark, raining, foggy, snowing or anything other than clear and sunny, the "safe and practical" speed limit is lower. Yes, a LEO can write you a ticket for driving 55 in a 55 as long as he/she can articulate the reason(s) why the speed was unsafe for the conditions at that time.

Is there ANYONE that was ticketed on the Dragon that can honestly prove that they weren't violating the law that they were cited for? What constitutes being a "hard-a$$" on the part of the LEO? Because they expected us to operate our vehicles within the limits of the law?

Stop blaming the LEO's and Judges - if you push the limits (or exceed them), and you are caught, just own it and move on...

As far as Military or not? I can be a hard-a$$ on this because I served for over 26 years before I decided to retire. Go read your core values - regardless of service. All services demand integrity and honesty. Expecting a break for willfully breaking the law isn't living up to those standards. I, like so many others do appreciate your present and future service to our country but it certainly doesn't put you or I in a position to expect special treatment when violating the law.

My last speeding ticket (2/14/09) was for 67 in a 55 and I paid it with a smile because I was doing it. The Suffolk County (VA) LEO was a total jerk but I didn't argue it because I was doing it and I drove away blaming myself! Before that, my previous speeding ticket (in 1986) was for 75 in a 55 and the cop gave me a break because I was much closer to triple digits (thank you Mr. Texas DPS). I thanked him and drove away. In this case, the guy was friendly, very personable.

Enforcing the law doesn't make a LEO a hard-a$$, it means they are doing their job and their job - a job like Active Duty service - is one that 99% of the people of our country wouldn't even consider.

I'm just glad that TN and NC were able to see the benefit of opening that stretch of road for us to enjoy. We would have had a good time without it but that was the icing on the cake.

C. McVeay
MCPO, USN (ret)

 

There are all kinds of arguments concerning speed limits and enforcement (many of them found here). Essentially this is what it all boils down to:

"Do speed limits matter? Yes they do. Today they generate millions of pointless traffic tickets and billions of dollars of undeserved insurance surcharges (and billions for the ticketing jurisdictions), disrupt traffic flow, increase congestion, and have created a siege mentality among those who frequently use our public highways.

It doesn't have to be this way. We can have rational traffic regulation, including appropriate speed limits, that will expedite traffic, improve safety, and focus enforcement efforts toward those motorists who clearly drive in a reckless or discourteous manner. All we have to do is demand that it be done." From the July/August 1995 NMA NEWS.

Note: I added the part about billions for ticketing jurisdictions, because it is true and is probably the main reason for such rabid enforcement, not our safety, as claimed by them. Just do a search on "artificially low speed limits" and read up.

 

Just a couple of things:

It is sad that all LEO have gotten it down to a pretty nasty formula, imho:

"do you know how fast you were going?"

Realize the psychology of that question. It assumes that you were, and you don't get a chance to think that maybe you weren't. It also says that if you answer (since it is easy to answer 'yes' and positively to any question that asks not whether you /were/, but /how fast/):
a) you have now admitted guilt
b) you even find yourself unwittingly finding a number that IS over the speed limit, because, well, you just want to answer something the LEO just asked you and hey, he is the authority so you don't question his word right from the onset!

Sadly, you have to train yourself to always, no matter what, say "no, sir, but I'm pretty sure I was observing every speed limit I saw". It's sad, because you really need to say that just about whether you knew, or didn't know, if you really were speeding, because otherwise you just pretty much lost any argument later on, say, when fighting it.

Let me go on a quick rant about speed limits...

What I laugh at, is the concept of a speed LIMIT that is not even close to a limit.
When I buy a box, it has a crush limit, or a weight limit. If I get to that limit, any extra weight has a VERY SERIOUS RISK of causing the box to fail.
When a vehicle tyre has a load limit, you REALLY STAY AWAY FROM THAT LIMIT or there will be heavy consequences.

Having limits that, well, 90% of the population at some point exceeds and realizes that in fact, it wasn't much of a limit... just causes us all to conclude that the limit is wrong, and you proceed to ignore it.

If you believe speed limits save lives, then you need to make limits that do not get ignored, truly. Making them not-ignored by authoritarian "slap on the wrist" attitudes, in the end, makes people distrust them more, which is why we are all here mostly talking about /something/ being wrong with speed limits today.

I emphasize today, because these limits are out of date, frankly. Perhaps some time ago a car at 65 was really just unstable, and with a crash protection that at 65 was utterly inadequate, but let's face it, in 2010, and I'd say for just about most cars since, oh, 1995? are, at 65, just cruising. (btw, I'm assuming highway. speed limits near a school have a different reasoning, which I don't contest at all).

To be concrete, speed limits really should go closer to about 100, with a violation of that speed limit having, yes, serious consequences. Even if we really need to maintain a lower limit just to avoid encouraging people to try speeds they aren't comfortable with, then I think a 85mph limit is about as low as it should go.

Oh, to finish back on point with OP, that thing about "Did you not see me there?" is also pretty nasty of them to say, as well. It tries to imply:
"I was out in the open, and you must have been going so fast you didn't notice me". Which is sadly, often quite the lie, because no, they are not in the open. No LEO that is reading this, really, you and your colleagues are really NOT in the open.

You are not in the open when you place yourself at the bottom of a hill behind a big bush.
You are not in the open when you place yourself at the inside corner of a sweeping highway turn.
You are simply trying to maximize the chances that somebody there has more speed than they would have in other spots, to maximize your chances and impact when you make a stop.

Oh well, close rant.

OP: contest it, it is your first in 12 years I doubt they won't end up "forgiving" you, although they might not put it that way.

 

I have been pulled over many times and I used that the last time I got pulled over. I was doing the speed limit and the cop got me mixed up with another car. I was able to prove to him that it wasn't me by pointing out the car he didn't see was just over the hill that past me but then hit their brakes which made me look like I was going faster.

I told the cop that yes I do speed and yes I pay the tickets but this time I didn't speed. He believed me and let me go.

By the way get a Valentine one that is what I use.

 

I found that on the Dragon, the NC Leo's had their Radar operating wide open. We heard his 2 turns before we saw him. Getting down from what ever to 34 wasn't difficult. TN Leo, on the other hand was using a hand operated laser and was pulsing it on and off, as you can towards him AND as you went away from him. We were fortunate that the car in front of us allowed the laser signal to be heard in time.

I firmly believe the NC Leo was doing his job---keeping speed down to a reasonable speed, while the TN Leo was just looking to put money in the coffers.

V1 - is a great insurance policy.

 

I noticed the same thing with my Escort 9500ix. I agree too that the NC were doing well but the TN was out for money.

 

At last years Fall Dragon ( MSSD ) we had about 20 MINIs going on the Ice Cream Run and of course "pushing" the speed limit alittle more then we should have been and had 1 State Trooper pull us all over but only gave a ticket to the front 4 of us!!!

On the way home last Sunday one of us got pulled over on I-40 ( 1 of 4 )
and got a ticket.. State man told him his V1 wouldn't detect what he uses now.. Forget what he called it but does the timing that from point A to point B and calculates speed..

 

Was it VASCAR?

 

Or TDS?

 

Could have been ENRADD, but in the highway VASCAR is much more prevalent.

And a reminder to the group, I've given lots of leniency so far, but you must remember the guidelines...

And the TNDOT did put the warning upfront to the public that the reopening of the Dragon would entail strict speed limit enforcement as response times of other services were delayed in comaprison to before the rockfall and I'm sure there was also partial justification to the extra man hours devoted to this stretch of road for enthusiast use.

 

Oh my.

 

I received my speeding ticket at the same time as "yellowbritishrocket" as I was right behind him and BELIEVE me, these 2 cops were there for NO other reason than to make money. We were actually coasting into the pull off area near the rockslide barrier and these 2 MF-ers were already walking towards us writing the tickets! They we'ren't even in their cruisers as we approached! They wrote both of our tickets for 44mph in a 30mph zone?!

Hmmmm, peculiar as if it was 15 over the limit, we, and they, would have to show up for court. So they write the tickets for 14 over just to get the money. Its just SO obvious these cops are pissed off to have to drive all the way from Knoxville for 2.5 hrs, sit on patrol for 12 hours, and then drive the 2.5 hrs back to Knoxville, so they're taking it out on us and other Dragon enthusiasts. I mean, what other source of income does TN make on the Dragon? If I would have been screwing around and blatantly speeding, I would gladly accept the ticket and kick myself in the *** for being stupid, but getting a ticket for coasting, apparently at 44mph is just a crock of sh*t!

Next MOTD I'll be staying away from the Dragon accept for the Parade and to take pics/video of other MINIs as this whole experience has left such a bad taste in my mouth that I've become gun shy to drive it anymore. As for the military thing stated above, I have no comment as "yellowbritishrocket" is a friend and he can feel the way he wants to. My 2 cents.

 

We ran the dragon a few times and saw the same two TN Troopers each time. We were also all over hellbender and the skyway but never ran into LEO's there. I was grateful the road was open and was surprised they kept it open for the darkness and midnight runs. Sorry to hear you guys had trouble. On one of our runs they did go after the guy in the white Lotus. I also overheard Mr. Hendrick talking about getting a ticket on the dragon but he said he earned his.

Not to jump off-topic but did anyone hear of any accidents on the dragon this year (other than the green MCS Cabrio on Wednesday)?

 

An interesting thing to note: I've heard many people get 'clocked' at 44mph on Saturday coasting around the last corner. Now I know they had their radar on as my V1 was blaring around the second to last corner, but it's interesting that everyone seemed to be getting tickets for the same speed.

That is all.

 

Well if people were going faster than 44 wouldn't they be doing the out-of-staters a favor by giving them the option to appear instead of must appear?

For those here that did get the tickets, where you at least doing the speed on the ticket or is the accusation that they were picking people at random and making up the number?

 

Just FYI, I was on both the darkness and midnight runs and we did not go on the Dragon. It closed around 8PM each day. Darkness took the Robbinsville Loop. Midnight just went from the top of the Fontana Dam, to Deals Gap, to the bottom of Fontana Dam. I left after that, they may have went more places but not to the Dragon.

Kevin

 

IYAOYAS..

I might be too late to the game... contest it and bring it all to court.. Ask about the calibration... I just got out of a ticket because the State Cop said he calibrated for 100... 200...300'.... and then told the judge he thought I was at 450 feet..... It is all in the details. I was EOD (NAVY)..Never helped me out of a ticket in Maine. My wife is a COP and I had the thin blue line but he was a special trooper..(****!).. Be good... contest... go to court... prove a point... Win... So you can speed, get caught and get out of it again... Be good all... Riding season now... Mini is parked for a bit until it rains.... Good thing, cause I still need a new windshield.....

 

Last year I made my ticket donations to VA and NC but made sure when I got home from MOTD I ordered a V1 ASAP.

This year I am proud to say ticket free the whole week.

Philly to Atlanta in 11 hours.
Atl to Fontana
Fontana to ATL and back...Parts run for oxtox smashed Green cabrio.
Back to Philly.

I was flying whenever I got the chance.

 

The Tennessee State Trooper that I know requests Dragon patrol. It's one of the plum assignments according to him. He's there to keep people safe and in his spare time he tears it up there on a sport bike. He lives in Maryville but if he does have to go to Knoxville it takes less than an hour. You don't think they have to take the detour, do you?