Ticketed for hypermiling

[Bmak]

Originally Posted by Diesel_Dave

Here's my thinking.

The minimum speed limit thing as fas as I can tell is total BS. I read through the Indiana code on speed limits and no such mention of unposted minium speed limits are mentioned. If there is such an animal I don't know where to find it. If somebody can show me where it is in the law, I'll back down.

Doax is right about the "low speed vehicle" thing. There's a difference between a "low speed vehicle" and a vehicle traveling at low speed. Based on what I found, "low speed vehicle" is a term used to describe a class of vehicles such as farm tractors, gold carts, etc. which are incapable of high speeds.

At this point, I'm not sure I did break the other law. It reads,



With regard to the first incident (the "stopping"), if there's no one behind me how can that not be considered "reasonably safe"? That incident is the one he said the ticket was for (not the going 28 in a 60).

I did find another section of the law which may be applicable:



I don't know as this is relavant at all, since I wasn't cited for it but let's go with it anyway. I could see where it's arguable if I was cited for this. In my book I'm not "impeding or blocking" the normal and reasonable movement of traffic if the left lane is clear and people can pass me easily.

I don't beleive this would apply to you , being that as you described people were passing you and were not blocked from doing so , so therefore you weren't disrupting the flow of traffic , so therefore I'd say fight the good fight and just calmly explain your case and mention your experiment who knows maybe the judge will be impressed with what he'll learn lol

[Snowman9000]

I'm still not clear, Dave, what was the slowest speed you got down to? 28, 10, or 2?

I'm in the camp of just telling the judge what you were doing.

"No doubt the officer had a reason to suspect I was drunk, but I was just experimenting with fuel economy by seeing how slow my truck can comfortably drive in high gear, and how far it will coast. I was paying close attention to the traffic behind me. Since this happened, I have changed my mind about this method. I came today because I have a clean driving record, I think the cited law does not support the ticket, and I'd like to ask you to dismiss it. Thank you, your honor."

[Arctic Fox]

It's just that simple.

Originally Posted by Snowman9000

I'm in the camp of just telling the judge what you were doing.

"No doubt the officer had a reason to suspect I was drunk, but I was just experimenting with fuel economy by seeing how slow my truck can comfortably drive in high gear, and how far it will coast. I was paying close attention to the traffic behind me. Since this happened, I have changed my mind about this method. I came today because I have a clean driving record, I think the cited law does not support the ticket, and I'd like to ask you to dismiss it. Thank you, your honor."

[Nerys]

10mph is WAY WAY too slow for a highway. Period

but he did not break any laws. the low speed vehicle law is a VEHICLE law not a SPEED law. which is why the cop correctly did NOT ticket him for it.

ALSO the law you quotes about impeeding.

NOTE it says AND not OR

AND can not pass on left.

they "could" in fact pass on the left (assuming you were in the right lane)

and as you describe it their were less than 3 cars so it would not apply anyway.

legally you did nothing wrong. you however SHOULD have had your flashers on if you were going to dip to such a low speed you "COULD" miss an overtaking car and he would NOT be liable if he hit you since no reasonable person could guess you were doing 10mph in a 60mph zone AND even if he has depth perception it does not function so well at night.

plus pulse and glide does not work so well at those low and deep a speed shift IIRC. doa 45-60mph pulse and glide. you won't even be noticed doing that in a late night light traffic scenario.

the COP suspected you were "on" something that is why he issued you any ticket he "could" but you can successfully fight it and win since factually you did not break any laws that you were ticketed for.

Next time don't do 10mph on such roadways :-) hehe

[user removed]

Originally Posted by Bmak

I don't beleive this would apply to you , being that as you described people were passing you and were not blocked from doing so , so therefore you weren't disrupting the flow of traffic , so therefore I'd say fight the good fight and just calmly explain your case and mention your experiment who knows maybe the judge will be impressed with what he'll learn lol

Put yourself in the judges shoes for a moment. He sits there all day listening to a litany of lies and deception by people who have sworn to tell the truth. I'm sure that gets tiring or boring fairly quickly.

To actually hear an honest statement and if the same judge actually believes your fuel economy in a giant truck, I would think it would seem, to him or her at least, to be a refreshing break from the daily monotonous routine.

Most judges I have known would make sure there was some positive reward for candor, and there was no intent to disregard the law.

regards
Mech

[Nerys]

thats what DASH CAMS are for. Install them.

[Snowman9000]

Wonder what happened in court tonight....

[larrybuck]

I hope he'll let us know, and I hope it wasn't too bad.

Myself; I don't think I'd ever be comfortable using the word coast to authorities,
if you know what I mean!

[SentraSE-R]

I'm not optimistic. Maybe the judge will surprise me.

[Diesel_Dave]

Update: so apparently last night was just a "hearing" type of thing where you can either pay the fine or proceed forward, Now I have to go back April 11.