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From: mrl@drutx.UUCP (LongoMR)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: (A Sermon on) Radar Surveillance
Message-ID: <134@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 12:23:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: drutx.134
Posted: Mon Aug 12 12:23:56 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 15-Aug-85 21:00:32 EDT
References: <2493@pegasus.UUCP> <752@dataio.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 39

I lived and drove in NJ for several years and never owned a radar
detector. I got a few tickets, but could never really justify a
detector because the limit, before the 55 mph speed was enforced,
was only 60 mph anyway (NJ maximum speed limit on ANY road). In 1980
I moved to Colorado. In this state, and surrounding states, there
are long stretches of highway engineered for 70 and 75 mph. When
riding from Denver to, say, Caspar, Wyoming, you may go through 3 
towns in 5 hours. Other than that, the roads are straight, wide and flat,
and there is no reason to go 55mph, especially in a car engineered to
cruise at much higher speeds (most cars today will safely cruise
at 70, anyway.) Traffic is sparse and it is (relatively) very safe
to do 70-75 mph on these roads.

The first time I made the trip, I stayed at 55-60 mph. In a situation
such as that, slow speeds are, in my opinion, less safe because of
the likelyhood of becoming bored behind the wheel. The higher speeds 
seem to keep me mentally "up" and makes the
trip much more enjoyable without decreasing the safety factor.

Four years ago, I got a ticket in a 1 year old car for doing 70 in a 55
mph zone out in the middle of nowhere at 7AM on a Sunday morning with
one other car in sight (about 1/2 mile ahead of me) who was also pulled over.
(For those of you familiar with Colorado, I was on Interstate 76 about
40 miles north of Stapleton with nothing but an exit and entrance
ramp on the sides of the road)
In this situation, I had a car that actually got better mileage
at 70 than it did at 55 (measured myself), therefore, I can make
NO argument for going 55 rather than 70. But, you can't argue with the
law, even if it is wrong, so I paid my fine. For these situations, I 
bought a radar detector. My escort has never let me down.
I would recommend one HIGHLY for anyone who is ever in a similar
situation. I just can't believe that police (spelled POLICE) can't
find something better to do than sit out on some entrance ramp
of some desolate highway and wait for someone to come along and
give them a ticket for breaking a law that is rediculous. I am
not against a 55 mph speed limit, where the situation calls for it,
I am just opposed to it when the situation doesn't. (but that's 
another subject).
		Mark Longo		AT&T Denver