A drawback of hypermilling

[JacobAziza]

(This is actually from a month ago, but I just discovered I never actually posted it here. This incident was what inspired me to look up this website/forum in the first place, which in turn inspired all the physical changes I've made since. The incident also inspired my new bumper stickers)

I've been driving around 50-55 on the freeway for the past few months, managed to get my '83 diesel f-250 work truck from 15 up to 19.5mpg (this is with various loads of furniture, boxes, dirt, appliances, etc in the back)

Last night on my way home, going 50, some cars merged very slow, and instead of accelerating to pass them, I slowed even more to let them in, but they were going SO slow I just moved to the left instead.

As I accelerated gently back up to speed I noticed a cop behind me, and just as I put on my signal to move back to the right, he moved to the right without signaling.
So I stayed where I was, and waited for him to pass on the right, still not having accelerated up to speed yet.

After a couple seconds, instead of passing, he pulled back in behind me.

And lit up the red and blues.

After answering a bunch of questions (last thing I ate was ice cream, 2 strawberries, and 2 almond cookies, I am not under the care of a doctor or dentist) I did a balance test, and when I passed that, took my first ever breathalyzer.

In an area where everyone goes 75, why would anyone drive slow unless they were drunk?
I told him I drive slow in order to save gas (and I was going particularly slow while I waited for him to pass - I didn't point out that he hadn't used his turn signal).
He said that I was going 20 under the limit.
I wasn't sure how pointing out that the "limit" was a MAXIMUM limit, not a minimum, would be taken, so I was just mostly quiet and agreeable.

In the end, no ticket, but I can imagine getting pulled over frequently wasting a lot of time and getting rather annoying.

[UfoTofU]

Depending on where I am sometimes you have to be within five miles of the speed limit, above or below

[Christ]

Regardless of the situation, or the circumstances, when you get pulled over, your best bet is to calmly, quietly, accept the ticket. Saying anything to a cop is never beneficial to your case, ever.

[Christ]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...+talk+to+a+cop

This is a seminar by George Bruch, who is a police officer, explaining exactly why you should never talk to cops without the presence of a lawyer.

I, personally, follow his advice strictly.

[UfoTofU]

What about women who cry their way out of tickets?

[Christ]

How many times have you *seen* that happen?

Out of the number of people who get pulled over everyday, the relative chances of getting out of a ticket by talking to the cop (unless you really haven't broken the law, and it was the cop's mistake), are probably equal to the chances of you being struck twice in 10 seconds by lighting, then having a coroner mis-pronounce you as dead.

If it was the cop's mistake, you still needn't speak to him/her, as the matter will resolve itself. Speaking to a cop, under any circumstances, cannot help your case.

From the video above - consider your Miranda rights - "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

That says it all right there. That Cop is not going to help your case at all. In fact, he's legally bound not to.

[JacobAziza]

hmm.
I have talked my way out of plenty of tickets.
In this case I was never threatened with a ticket in the first place.
It isn't about not saying anything, but about being very respectful.
Also, it only works when you really do have knowledge of the law.
If you can quote the vehicle code in question, he isn't likely to waste his time, because you will win in court.

[Tygen1]

A few weeks ago I was traveling to work at 50mph in the center of three lanes. Living near Philly, everyone drives like bankrobbers. It's a 55mph zone and everyone is going between 70-75mph, and I mean pretty much everyone. I should have been in the right lane but for some reason I hadn't made my way over there yet. So this big Ford truck is right on my rear bumper, when a Policeman comes flying up beside us in the left lane, slows, let's the truck pass me and gets in behind me. So all the traffic behind us is now is unwilling to pass the Policeman who is now doing the speed limit, so I have room to get over to the right lane, then he flips on the lights and I pull to the shoulder. I'm sure the conversation went much as the OP said, but I didn't have to walk the line. When he asked if I had been drinking last night I let out a chuckle and said no. He said I was riding on the lane dividing line and that's why he pulled me over. I pointed out the klenex next to me and told him I had just blown my nose so maybe I touched the white line. Then he asked why I was going to slow. I told him I wasn't in a hurry. He went back to his car and came back with a little warning paper, "Blocking Traffic" is what it said. When we pulled back into traffic he blew by me again accelerating up to 70mh in the 55mph zone.
I got quite a laugh out of it all....blocking traffic=doing the speed limit!

[Christ]

Originally Posted by JacobAziza

hmm.
I have talked my way out of plenty of tickets.
In this case I was never threatened with a ticket in the first place.
It isn't about not saying anything, but about being very respectful.
Also, it only works when you really do have knowledge of the law.
If you can quote the vehicle code in question, he isn't likely to waste his time, because you will win in court.

The video, and any subsequent information is more directed at the people who can't do this...

As much as I"d like to think I'm just like everyone else, alas, the average Joe doesn't immerse himself in Technical drawings, manuals, and law books.

In fact, the average Joe in a car is doing something illegal right now, and doesn't even know it. (don't count speeding, which a majority of Joes and Jills do.) Most people don't apprise themselves of the law enough to know when to keep their mouth shut, and in this case, it is better to just remain silent, another of your Miranda rights.

[doviatt]

Man, why would the cops care if you are doing the speed limit? Maybe they know if this catches on it cuts into their ability for writing speeding tickets- revenue goes down. They are part of the problem for not being consistent in enforcing the law.