The Top 10 Reasons To Drive The Speed Limit

1. Last week I was driving to Detroit Metro Airport for some out of town business. Driving on I-94 I noticed a bunch of police cars. It was a little strange to me because it was around 11:30am. I am use to the early morning speed traps and the after noon ones but not at 11:30am. It was a little much. Four Michigan State Troopers were parked about 1/4 of a mile away from each other. Of course one was sitting behind a guard rail far enough back where you could not see him until you past him. The next one was the chase car. He was pulling people over that the first police car had radared. The classic hide and go seek tactic.

2. Getting back from my trip the other day my girlfriend picked me up at the airport around 7:30pm. Driving back on I-94 the same thing was going on. We drove through two speed traps in a matter of 5 miles. Why the hell are all of these speed traps going on?

3. Today I received my answer. The Detroit News had a big article about all of the speed traps going on in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. It seems that Michigan has been voted as the worst state for speed traps by the National Motorists Association. Really, out of all 50 states Michigan came in at #1? I guess I can believe that because Michigan is the “Motor Capital Of The World.” Even today I noticed a small speed trap near Hayes and 17 Mile Road. One Clinton Township Police Officer was in a parking lot and another one was 1/8 mile up ahead with somebody pulled over.

4. Reading more into the article it states how the Police Departments have been writing more speeding tickets than in previous years. The reason behind it is to make up for loss revenues from property taxes with all of the foreclosed homes. Michigan is losing their butts out on both of those because of the economic crisis. The way I see this is that the local governments are working a little harder to keep their jobs now because they can’t just send you a increased property tax bill. So they tax you on your driving habits more than your car insurance company does.

5. Isn’t this ridiculous? Instead of actually solving real crimes we now have our cops out there looking to bust you for going 5 over. Maybe instead of having to make up for loss revenue the cities and counties need to revamp the way they collect taxes. It sucks how so many of the problems in the U.S all comes back to taxes.

6. I am not a fan of speed limits to begin with. Well at least on highways. In the city limits I understand there is some need for order but on the highway it should be up the user to decide how fast or slow they want to go. An accident at 70 mph or one at 100 mph is going to have the same result. If you can’t handle your car at 70 mph than you probably should not be worrying about other people driving at 100mph. You should get off the road and let somebody else drive.

7. Now, you are going to have to think twice about going to pass somebody on a local road or highway. Speeding up to pass somebody might result in you drving right into a speed trap. This comes with a guaranteed speeding ticket and a increase in your car insurance.

8. Utica Police Chief Michael Reaves said when he first started working as a cop 30 years ago it was not about increasing revenues. Now if his department does not produce any revenues they probably are not going to stay open. Isn’t that a bitch! I didn’t know that the Police were “in business.” I understand without revenue you can’t hire more police officers to protect the streets. Being a police officer is a risky job sometimes and it takes a unique individual to want to be one. I just wish they were not out there trying to write tickets just to keep their jobs because that’s what they are really doing.

9. Over my last 12 years of driving I usually drive the posted speed limit for the sole purpose of not having to pay a ticket. My friends hate when I drive because I go “so slow.” I always put the cruise control on at whatever the posted speed limit is just to make sure. Driving 5 mph faster is usually not going to make a difference in getting where I need to go. To combat faster driving I try to leave on time to make appointments. Its really that simple.

10. I know that by writing this its probably a bad omen. Even when I noticed the speed trap today I was doing 5 mph over because I was trying to pass somebody. From now on I think I am going to let people go by me and move behind them. I do not like supporting the local governments in this way. Especially knowing all of the troubles people in Michigan are dealing with. Maybe we do not need as many cops out there. If all they are doing is pulling people and not solving crimes then what good are they doing? Is speeding a crime? If so, then why does the Government allow car companies to produce cars that go faster than 70 mph? I’m baffled. Oh wait. Its because the Government needs me to go faster so they can get money to keep their jobs.