Pitfalls from speeding

Have a friend that now works at a warehouse. We used to drive for the same company. Two years ago he started getting speeding tickets (trying to increase his miles and money). One was for going just five miles per hour over the limit. He told the officer that five mph is allowed. The officer told him that the five mph deal was a myth handed down from generation to generation. He said no tolerance was ever accepted. The fine was $105 and 3 points.

Then several months ago, he got a reckless driving ticket for going 72 in a 55 (I-81 northbound in southern Virginia). The fine was $1,400 plus a bill from the EPA for $500 and six points was added to his total and they wouldn't be cleared for eleven years.

Two months ago he took a chance again on I-40 in Tennessee. He was going 74 in another EPA lowered 55 truck speed zone. The fine was much heavier this time. It was $2,240 (plus a $!,000 EPA bill). His license was suspended and he was arrested and had to serve 6 days in jail. His lawyer got him off with a downgraded driver's licence (no more CDL) so he can drive to work. His wife had to bring him to work for the first two months.

He got hurt at work and is now hospitalized. He asked me to tell his story so other drivers wouldn't fall into the same trap.

Note:
The EPA has lowered some interstate speed limits for trucks to 55 to lower pollution. Pollution causes the climate change we are experiencing and many people have died due to this (storms are getting more fierce). We all need to do our part.

 

Sometimes the women walk past my farm house from the prison. They are caught very quickly. There is no fence, but if they attempt to escape, five more years are added to their sentence. Some of them want this as they have told me that they want to stay there. Every Friday evening in the summer they get a DJ to play fast music so they can dance (no slow music is allowed). The music fills the hollar and you can hear it for miles.

 

What does the EPA have to do with it?

They are the ones that lowered the truck speed limit on some interstates. More will follow. It takes time to change the laws. I'd say over 95% of truckers ignore this change and drive 65 to 75 anyway. Looks like a lot of drivers will be working at warehouses real soon

I was taking a break in a closed weight station one afternoon last week. Then I watched six state troopers drive into the parking lot. They got out of their cars and spoke about 20 minutes. Then they set up a radar on the interstate from behind the scale house. When I left there I saw six tractor trailers on the side of the road with the troopers. I can see why. Trucks will have a larger speed difference than cars. Its very easy to get to reckless driving from 15 plus mpg (it used to be 20 several years ago).

 

When you get your next speeding ticket, you will remember this post and stop laughing when you write out the check.