Husband got 2 tickets on top of Grapevine in CA- question? Please read!!?!

In my defense, which is no defense at all, I had not started down the mountain,, in fact i was just topping it. I did not see the reduce speed sign, or the 45 MPH sign. But, ignorance is no excuse. I was speeding, I got a ticket.

I'm just glad tickets usually didn't come back to haunt you in those days.

 

Let he who is without tickets cast the first uh, er,

Well now see? Ya had me on your side until this statement. Now, you've just busted my bubble! And hurt my feelin's too.

Sad_Panda, you are probably an intelligent person. But that statement sure is not!

Remember there are a lot of folks on here who are new drivers. They can read something here and not take into consideration your years of experience. Statements like this can make them not appreciate the hazards of mountain driving.

 

Hey, I have zero tickets on a 10 year MVR, do I win something awesome?

I think that scaring people silly is also a bad thing. Making someone so nervous that they can't think straight is just as bad as being plain dumb. Don't scare them, teach them. I also believe that the speed limits on those grades is set so low to be nothing more than a money maker for the state. What's the white sign speed limit for Ashland? Donner?

Just be careful on the vine, bears and snow are running around up there as we speak!

 

North Bound, just past the rest area there is a warning that the speed limit drops to 45 about a mile before it drops to 45 at the old brake check. and next is 3 signs spread out warning of the 35 mile per hour drop, again about 1 mile in advance of the reduction.
Your husband had to travel well over 2 miles without seeing any highway warning signs that are by the way bright yellow.

Oh yes you need an attorney for sure.

 

Might need glasses, too.
If we can't read the BIG signs
How're we gonna read the attorney's fineprint ?

 

Aww, come on now. You don't really need to read the attorney's fine print, do you? After all, if you can't trust you lawyer, who can you trust?

 

Q? How can you tell if a lawyer is telling a lie?
A. His/Her lips are moving

Q? What's the difference between a lawyer & a hooker?
A. The hooker quits screwing you when you die.

I told those to a lawyer & he cracked up he laughed so hard.

 

Mr. Anderson,

I wonder if you're read my posts, numbers 77 & 79?
If so, you'll notice my reference to how crash scenes affect Officers, and I wonder if you would explain just how it feels from the other side of the badge.

I (sometimes) wonder if folks really consider the effects that crashes have on those who respond to them?
And/Or those who clean it all up?

I think we ALL should realize, and respect, what Officers and tow-truck and heavy recovery folks do out there.

If an Officer pulls you over in an area where they just spent the last few hours investigating a serious crash, involving a speeding Big truck, I doubt they'd be in a forgiving mood.
Would that be fair?
Makes no difference, driver, .......
It's human nature.
Good or bad.

I, Shakey AfterShock HAVE had run-ins with the Highway Patrol and local wannBee CHP in city police uniforms.
And I'm here to say, I've only had one semi-bad experience, and that was with a Torrance, California (what's new) city kitty, who wrote me up for being over-brdge, on a 48' trailer that looked, to him, like a 53' trailer.

Based on his tape measure, positioned APPROXIMATELY centered on where HE figured the king-pin MIGHT be, he came up with 1 1/2 inches OVER bridge. And wrote the citation.
I signed.
And was on my way.
To court.

For the most part, I've found honesty to be the BEST policy.

Example:
On I-80, through the Keystone State, runnin' light with two other drivers from the same company, --- one an I/C and the other, like me, a company driver.

In my effort to keep pace with 550 HP in the I/C's Big truck runnin' point, I pulled into the left lane, to pass slower Big trucks runnin' 'round 40 MPH --- strugglin'.
My company Big truck was governed at 73 MPH, so I figured the pass would be painless.
What I hadn't considered, was how MANY of those strugglin' Big trucks were in line, bumper to bumper, in front of me.

NOwhere to scooch in betwixt 'em --- I was hung out to dry --- so I was motorin' on, lookin' for the front of the pack.
That's when my morrors lit up with pretty flashin' colors.
GulP!

The Officer climbed up on my T-600's step, and glanced at my CB --- and asked if I'd heard him tryin' to hail me.

I told him no, that I was runnin' on the company channel while tryin' to keep up with the leader of the pack, packin' 550, ungoverned HP.

He then told me that he'd clocked me at 73 MPH.
I told him that'd be just about right on, as I was up against the governor, that's ALL she's got.

He then excused himself, mentioning that he'd be right back.
At which time he presented me with something to "sign" --- explaining it was just a warning.
WhEW!

However, the other company driver, who was behind me, drafting me, so close even I didn't see him in MY mirrors, was another story.
THAT driver received the REAL deal.

I figured that was comin' for him, when the Officer asked if I knew that driver draftin' me, and, if so, does he ALways have a bad attitude?

I told him "no" adding, "just, it seems, at the wrong time(s)".

The younger than me, Officer chuckled.
And I think I heard him mentioned that said bad attitude was about to get badder.

Know what?
He was correct.
I listened to that draftin' driver whine for the next
200 miles.
Albeit from a farther distance.
No doubt as a direct result of an attitude adjustment.

BTW, never did catch up to those 550 ponies.
So, right thar, I made a new rule.
YuP!
I call it my "Cat Stevens New Rule".
That being, .......................
When I find myself MILES from NOwhere.
By Golly!
I'm gonna take my TIME.
And let THAT be a lesson for me
to remember.

 

My dad is retired CHP. They get overtime for going to court. Trust me on this, they will show up.

 

Feds usually didn't become involved at truck crash scenes. The only feds that possibly became involved would be the NTSOB (that's what we called them because they were/are so arrogant) e.g. if there were a spill, evacuation & all that stuff. Otherwise, truck crashes are a state responsibility.

The only one I became directly involved with was the Dow Chemical railroad incident in Midland, MI about 87 or 88, something like that. But there were no deaths involved in that.

I take that back. When the Northwest airliner crashed into the hill on Middlebelt Road in DTW (Detroit Metro Airport) around 91 or 92 maybe, we all were required to respond (all federal investigators from all USDOT branches in the area) because FAA crash investigators were in Chicago and the NTSOB investigators are all in DC, & we had to go secure the scene for the FAA & the NTSOB. The first thing I saw (because of my flying experience) was that the driver didn't have the flaps & slats set. There were body parts all around. Many dead. Most all others seriously injured. Not a nice site. After the fire was out we took care of the wounded & we were directed by the NTSOB via radio through DTW ground controllers to pull body parts & bodies out of sight (we took photos & marked where the parts were with paint & put them in a meat wagon....er ambulance) so the flying public taking off wouldn't see much.

It leaves a big impression. Not being used to sights like that caused several sleepless nights. The bad part is most cops (I still call myself a cop, federal yes but still a cop) wives wants to know all the details but you can't tell them because of the gore. All you can do is keep them inside. I suppose if I were a ground pounder in the Nam it wouldn't have been too bad, but when you fight a police action (war was never legally declared over there) from the sky all you see is explosions unless you're doing close support, but you never see the end result like from the ground. The worse part was a lot of gray ooze all over the place. When we found out that was brain matter most of us had to leave & puke.

I realize why cops make sick jokes at scenes like that. It is their way of dealing with the gore so they don't go mad, and I have nothing but high praise for them in that regard. It isn't fun by any means.

Paul Sanderson