How fast can you go before you end up in jail?

cmccuist · 08-22-2002, 09:39 AM

Does anyone know how fast you can go in TX before they put you in jail? I know that up to a certain speed, it's just a fine. Faster than that speed you actually spend time in the local slam. There's so much wide open space here in TX (like the 500 miles between San Antonio and El Paso), I was just wondering if I air out the SC, would I end up with a room at the Hotel Graybar.

Craig

Jgordon · 08-22-2002, 10:23 AM

I think it's under 100, I'm not sure. I've heard stories of people doing 140 on a deserted highway, and John Q. Law saying "well I'll give you a ticket for X miles per hour (the figure I remember is 95) because that's the most I can give you without putting you in jail for the night."

Interesting question though. Speed limits are so frikkin frustrating. 55 mph on the LIE? what the hell is up with that?

Jared

jriera · 08-22-2002, 10:39 AM

If caught 25Mph above the posted speed limit you have a very good chance to go see the judge... it will depend on the county sheriff and/or officer that will stop you.

I have had a couple of close calls between Dallas to Shreveport and Dallas to Austin... after that was Valentine One time....

Good luck... drive safe

poorb0yw · 08-22-2002, 11:17 AM

Well from what I know going around 95 or so just gets you the highest citation for 25 mph over limit on the interstates. They do not let you take drivers eductaion to remove the ticket from your record in this case but you wont be heading to jail.

I've heard that the threshold is right at 100 mph. I was once stopped for going 107 and the police officer told me that if I had been going a few miles per hour faster he would have to take me in. I'm just assuming they want thier radar to read 110 before they haul you in. I do try to keep it under or around 95 though if the urge hits (piling up tickets on your record doesnt seem like a good idea either).

cmccuist · 08-22-2002, 11:27 AM

The reason I'm asking is I have this stretch of highway between Lake Jackson where i live and Houston where I work. There is very little traffic on that road (Highway 288) in the morning and it would be interesting to find out how individual components affected top end speed (tire changes, tail, chin spoiler, exhaust etc.) But I don't want to end up in an orange jump suit making little ones out of big ones. I guess there's always World Houston Speedway. The local PCA holds events there.

Craig

Tim Polzin · 08-22-2002, 11:31 AM

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

In California it is up to the officer's discretion as they can arrest you for any speed over 85 mph on the highway. (That is why , if you are polite and contrite, they may write you for 77-83 mph if ticketed. They don't need the flak from their superiors)

gchappel · 08-22-2002, 01:00 PM

Superman · 08-22-2002, 01:08 PM

Years ago in Idaho the rule was 2 x the posted speed limit. So, if the road were posted at 55, then 110 becomes "reckless driving." You get a nice pair of shiny silver bracelets to use, a ride in a cruiser and free room and board for a night. Northern hospitality.

rstoll · 08-22-2002, 01:27 PM

Jordi, take it easy around the rest area between Longview and Hallsville on I-20 on your Dallas to Shreveport run.

jriera · 08-22-2002, 01:46 PM

Thanks Robert.. I have had the 'experience' already!!!

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

I think I'd be more impressed with the sign posts if they were blurry and actually taken from a car doing 167... At least it's nice to dream.

MRM · 08-22-2002, 02:53 PM

There's a lot left to the cop's discretion. In most states just the basic speed charge of anything over the speed limit is technically an offense that can bring jail time. The cop could arrest you for it, but usually they just write a ticket for a "payable" offense, meaning you can satisfy the charge by paying the fine without any further appearance and no possiblility of jail time.

States write the traffic laws to carry possible jail time on purpose to justify an arrest from a traffic stop, in case the cop needs a legal pretext to hold someone. It also makes it more permissible for the search and seizure issues if the cop stopped you for an offence that you can be arrested for if he wants to search you.

The charges of reckless and careless driving both carry potential jail time almost everywhere, although, again, this is not seriously likely to happen unless you're doing something very bad or someone gets hurt. What the cop writes the ticket for is obviously up to him.

Since there is so much left up to the officer, most states or local police departments will write up policies so there aren't problems with arbitrary enforcement of the law. That probably accounts for the statements listed above, where cops have said any faster and I would have had to bring you in.

Just to show that cops have hearts too, I once had a case where the guy was stopped for going 105 on a local interstate. The limit there was 55 since it was an urban area, but it was late at night, no one was around, and the driver was a nice kid in a brand new Eclipse. The cop smiled and wrote the ticket for a simple speed offense. Just exceeding the speed limit - no careless, no reckless. And since it was just a basic speed charge, it had the same fine as 64 in a 55. The driver contested the ticket, claimed the cops got the wrong car. The judge didn't buy the story and got mad at the cops for not writing the ticket for a careless or reckless.

I believe the fine was $72.50 and the driver was still mad.

bell · bell's Garage

i love photoshop

billwagnon · 08-22-2002, 04:40 PM

'round these parts the things only have two digits...so you'd look okay at 130?

pwd72s · 08-22-2002, 04:55 PM

Well, one night? At band camp? I almost found out....

marc weintraub · marc weintraub's Garage

Ok... interesting topic. When I was 18 years old, my father was taking my restored 1967 Jaguar XKE (they were $2500 at the time and I restored it) to school and he was going to drive it home. He had fallen asleep at the time while I was crossing th George Washington Bridge and unbenownst to me I was doing over 100. I was promptly thrown in jail and my father posted bail. He asked me if I learned anything from this lesson and I said, "Yes, next time I will have a radar detector and put my foot down". We still don't talk... man was he pissed.

Back to the topic... there is a tri-state law (NY, NJ, CT) that states that no pursuit will be maintained over the speed of 90. At that point they are supposed to peal off and get air assistance along with road blocks. None of which is comforting to me, but my attitude has been to go over 90 as much as possible (on empty roads or where traffic is really moving) and get off on the next exit if there was a police presence. I have a few friends that are cops in NY and NJ and they really don't want to chase Porsche's. Their attitudes have been that in populated areas, this is a chase they don't want to have or can't win without problems.

Hell, speed is very relative... I always feel like I can get out of my car at 90 and run along side. Go figure!

All The Best,

Marc

pwd72s · 08-22-2002, 05:38 PM

Marc? I doubt that any of these other pos(T)ers have heard a cop say that you'd gone through his radar trap at 137.... Believe me, it's NOT a fun experience...

PORSHIN · 08-22-2002, 06:19 PM

In most states it's about halfway thru 3rd gear!
Rob

Bill Douglas · 08-22-2002, 06:52 PM

Ummm, a mate of mine in Austria got caught doing 180 kilometers and hour. Thats about 106mph or thereabouts. And it cost him only about USD$50 or $60. Here in New Zealand I got busted for 100mph and it cost me about 3 weeks pay. I'm not sure what our "go to jail" speed is.