Been pulled over twice in five days... Anyone else?

[lizhill]

So... since putting the new wheels on Fletcher and doing the calipers, I've been pulled over twice.

The first was on Wednesday morning at 6 AM on a deserted college campus going 33 in a 25. Young cop just flexing his muscles, let me off with a warning.

The second time was today, going 35 in a different 25 (BUT right before the speed limit jumped to 35, I was IN VIEW of the sign). The cop was driving the other way, flipped a u-turn right after I passed, and I saw him do it and decided to pull over before he even had a chance to flick on the lights. I guess that scored me some bonus politeness points, so he just let me off with a warning, too.

The funny thing was that both made comments about my fast acceleration rather than my speed

I can't decide if it's because a) I'm in a college town in summer so the cops are all bored, b) I have black wheels and red calipers so I must look like a girl racer, or c) the sound of the 1.8T engine as I accelerate. I mean, obviously I'm the one exceeding the speed limit, but I haven't changed the speed that I drive at all since buying the NB, and I never got this much police attention in any of my previous cars, even when I used to drive like a maniac.

So my question is: has anyone else been pulled over more while driving a bug than any other car you've owned?

[dnyed]

I've never been pulled over in any of my New Beetles (including 2 Turbo S's), in fact never been pulled over at all.

But, my ex was clocked driving my 02 TS, on a Sunday early morning, doing 95 in a 60. The cop must have been impressed, he only ticketed him for "60+".


The reasons you cited for getting pulled over are lame, in my opinion. Must be quota time.

[Blugg]

KPH or MPH ?

[jason m]

Stopped 4 times in the first six months of having my TDI. Got 3 tickets for speeding and a warning for a light. Now I use teh cruise and get better mileage. But i never learn, came back from Houston the other day following a bunch of cars doing 90+ no tickets but it really cuts into my mileage. It dropped from 46mpg to ......41.3mpg just gotta love the turbo diesel.

[Blugg]

[JP]

i know exactly what your talking about, when i drive my truck in the city it's like a magnet with my wheels and music etc, tuner's in NYC are criminal's in the NYPD'S eyes i swear, you could have someone smoking a joint on a corner and they will pull you over before tagging the dude smoking, i don't have any wheels yet on my bug only tint and i'm under radar but i know when i throw those wheels on they'll want to introduce themselves best bet is to get to know those cops and get on their good side that's what i try to do from time to time

[lizhill]

Originally Posted by Evanrude

It's not because of the bug.. it's because of how YOU drive

33 in a 25? Doesn't matter if it's deserted or not. You were speeding.

35 in a 25? If you are going 35 (before) the first sign to change from 25-35... you were speeding. You should get to know your local state speeding laws and then you won't get pulled over.

Or don't drive "aggressively" hehe.

Of course it's how I drive. I never said that I wasn't doing anything illegal

But my point is that I have always driven this way in all of my cars, even the pickup I had before the bug, and I was never pulled over this much.

The only variable that's changed is the vehicle, so I was wondering if anyone else with a NB had experienced the same thing. Since it doesn't really sound like it, it's probably just that my luck has changed. Or that I'm so low now that I can't see the cops coming like I could in the truck, haha

[2004NBTURBOS]

Originally Posted by lizhill

The second time was today, going 35 in a different 25 ...I can't decide if it's because a) I'm in a college town in summer so the cops are all bored, b) I have black wheels and red calipers so I must look like a girl racer, or c) the sound of the 1.8T engine as I accelerate. I mean, obviously I'm the one exceeding the speed limit,

The wheels and painted calipers nor the sound of your 1.8T is what got ya. 10mph over the limit will do it anytime. I have been friends with a lot of cops. They all had a saying, "9 your fine, 10 your mine". And living in a collage town is a lot like where I live in a small beach town. They hire summer help, and this part time help is trying to impress the superiors by writing as many citations as possible, in hopes of landing a full time job.

[MiG]

Are you HOT?
Maybe he was checkin' you out

I pumped too much money into the system over the years. Showing off and just being stupid!
I vowed that I would never get another ticket ever again. . . It's been 10 years!!

[scarabY2k]

Everyone pretty much hit on the points I was gonna say...
Yep, it's the speeding that'll get ya- doesn't have to be excessive amounts of speed.

Tickets, however warranted, are a source of revenue for local municipalities. It might seem ticky-tack to get pulled over for just be a few over the limit... but with the economy, city and state budget cuts, and of course the transgression of driving over the posted limit, all are a recipe for a ticket.

Here in my neck of the woods folk have been ticketed for excessive acceleration i.e., squealing of tires, and a high rate of speed AS YOU approach the posted speed limits.

Be careful out there.

[kcfoxie]

No. My Black Jetta was the queen of speeding tickets.

[lizhill]

*sigh*

It's funny that when I used to drive like a total maniac (consistently 20 over, 90 on every highway--I was only in an Altima) I never had ANY tickets or even got pulled over, and it's only now that I've calmed waaaaay down that I've gotten caught. It's like, if only they knew what I used to do

Since I had my Suzuki waaay back in 2008 I've been a cautious driver and it's only on very lonely highways that I even venture to drive over 8 over the limit. Of course, that's speeding too, but at least on the highway they're more reasonable about that.

These last two times have just been me doing my normal thing and forgetting about the actual speed for a second, I just have horrible timing

[jason m]

FYI the max an officer will give you is 10% of posted speed in Texas. This is the fudge factor they give you for speedometer miscalibration by installing incorrect tires and mechanical error. Having said this since the city, state and gov't budgets are all lacking you can almost guarantee you will get a ticket for exceeding this 10% variance. All depts are tasked with making the roads safer and now with filling the local coffers and ticket money help immensely with doing this. Slow down and little and enjoy the scenery and keep the money in you pocket to spend on youre girl/boy/mom/dad/dog...you get it?

[kcfoxie]

i tend to run 63mph... so... no worries!

[Wingnut_rb]

I got 3 TICKETS in a row soon after putting the stripes on my car. And just recently pulled over with a warning for speeding and no front plate. Pretty sure my insurance company loves my payments! I took this pic on the first ticket.....

[lizhill]

Originally Posted by jason m

Slow down and little and enjoy the scenery and keep the money in you pocket to spend on youre girl/boy/mom/dad/dog...you get it?

But you see, I work for the city maintaining the flower beds, and as such I see said scenery all day, every day, and in vivid detail. So the real treat would be to get to enjoy the sound my engine makes, amirite?

[lizhill]

Originally Posted by kcfoxie

i tend to run 63mph... so... no worries!

Haha, right on! Love to read someone's reply that's not "you drive too fast, slow down." I knew there were more of us

[lizhill]

Originally Posted by Wingnut_rb

I got 3 TICKETS in a row soon after putting the stripes on my car. And just recently pulled over with a warning for speeding and no front plate. Pretty sure my insurance company loves my payments! I took this pic on the first ticket.....

Wingnut, I love that picture. In a sad, but true, but sorta funny kinda way. Is that WA State Patrol on the highways in the middle of the state? I've been pulled over once outside of Othello while passing (warning), in Colfax going towards Pullman (ticket), and now twice in Pullman. Gotta love Eastern WA.

[70autostick]

I've been pulled twice this week for a "busted" tail light on my '67 bug.

I had a flat tire on I-10 15 miles west of Jacksonville, fl.

It completely demolished my fender, ripping it off my bug!

Needless to say, no more tail light.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by kcfoxie

i tend to run 63mph... so... no worries!

Originally Posted by lizhill

Haha, right on! Love to read someone's reply that's not "you drive too fast, slow down." I knew there were more of us

It's not that there's "more of us" out there.... it's just the "more of us" haven't been caught yet

It's just good to be mindful that in speeds beyond the posted limits, that we shouldn't be ignorant to the fact that state patrols/police do monitor the streets and highways, and not be surprised when we are pulled over.

I'd be lying if I said I don't like to open her up, I do. Still if I'm playing with fire, I can't be in a state of shock if I get burned.