Speed Traps (inspections, vehicles, ticket)

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by SovietSunrise

Yes, but they can't just stop you "if they think you've got an expired registration", can they? You have to commit something else first to get their attention, and then they discover the expired stuff and cite you for that, right?

If they spot you driving with an expired sticker, that alone is enough for them to stop you. I've heard of people who were driving down a street, and an officer going past them in the opposite direction spotted their expired sticker, made a u-turn, and stopped the motorist for that reason only.

The small suburban city police forces are especially notorious for these kind of things.

[SovietSunrise]

Originally Posted by ged_782

If they spot you driving with an expired sticker, that alone is enough for them to stop you. I've heard of people who were driving down a street, and an officer going past them in the opposite direction spotted their expired sticker, made a u-turn, and stopped the motorist for that reason only.

The small suburban city police forces are especially notorious for these kind of things.

How can you tell that it's expired, though? Seriously, that's not that easy to spot. And just because a registration is expired doesn't mean that the car is "dangerous" or whatever, it's just yet another scam to steal money from people. (actually, I think I'm talking about the inspection sticker here)

My mom drove around with an expired sticker for 4 months before I noticed it and fixed it. Was she a danger to other drivers at the time? Not any more than she is now.

I understand the need to have inspection and registration stickers, but can't we do a 2-year kind of thing when the car is less than 10 years old? Sigh. I dunno, maybe I'm just whining, but I like to minimize annoyances, that's all.

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by SovietSunrise

How can you tell that it's expired, though? Seriously, that's not that easy to spot.

It's called good vision, I guess.

Actually the situations I'm familiar with where something like that happened, all ocurred on residential streets with low speed limits (30mph or less), where there apparently was no other traffic besides the officer and the passing motorist. In a case like that, the motorist passing the officer going the opposite direction probably has that officer's undivided attention.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by ged_782

If they spot you driving with an expired sticker, that alone is enough for them to stop you. I've heard of people who were driving down a street, and an officer going past them in the opposite direction spotted their expired sticker, made a u-turn, and stopped the motorist for that reason only.

The small suburban city police forces are especially notorious for these kind of things.

I got one of those in schertz, tex recently. schertz has always been notorious for giving out traffic citations. The cop saw my expired sticker from the opposite side, made a U-turn and cited me. However, if you present the judge a proof of inspection, the court will charge $20. It was an inconvenience though since I had to drive to schertz to "set" the court date and then return again for the actual court date. All of the speed limits in schertz were about 10 MPH less than what they should have been. A 40 MPH was 30, a 55 was 45 etc. Don't go there if you don't have to. It's just another "tax", a way for the cities, towns to make $$.

[zhugeliang1]

If they spot you driving with an expired sticker, that alone is enough for them to stop you. I've heard of people who were driving down a street, and an officer going past them in the opposite direction spotted their expired sticker, made a u-turn, and stopped the motorist for that reason only.

Mmm, hmm, they did same to my ex years ago. Remember, love your state and check the date, keep you stickers up to date and the cops will love you so much.

[scuba steve]

Funny reading this, I parked next to a Mitsubishi at Lowes this evening with registration expired for about a year and an inspection sticker that was due in March.

[SovietSunrise]

Yeah, see this? I would love my state if they DIDN'T nickel & dime me for random crap. It would be great if they had a 2 or 3-year option for cars that were less than 10 years old.

Whatever. Texas isn't known for being smart when it comes to its laws and regulations.

[hillcountrywinefan]

Originally Posted by SovietSunrise

Yeah, see this? I would love my state if they DIDN'T nickel & dime me for random crap. It would be great if they had a 2 or 3-year option for cars that were less than 10 years old.

Whatever. Texas isn't known for being smart when it comes to its laws and regulations.

If you think Texas is bad perhaps you should try living for a few years up north in a state like Massachusetts, Rhode Island or Connecticut where each year your wonderful town tax assessor sends each vehicle owner a bill based upon a percentage of your car's worth. A recent model car can wind up costing you $500 or more each year for the privilege of owning it!

Additionally you also have to have your vehicle's emissions inspected annually and their vehicle registration fees are outrageous.

Texas has a more affordable cost of living index and the quality of life here is far better, IMHO.

[SovietSunrise]

Yeah, Texas does have a very nice quality of life. Could be worse.

Anyways, on the subject of this thread, I wanted to post a news article: Slow down to 25 m.p.h | WOAI.COM: San Antonio News

Watch out in Castle Hills, y'all!!

It certainly lends credence to peoples' assertions that if the residents complain, speed limits will be changed, but come on! 35 mph should be perfectly fine on a lot of roads!

I guess not, though. Sigh. I won't argue. They should have made it 30 mph instead of 25 mph, though.

[EmergencyOps]

Originally Posted by SovietSunrise

How can you tell that it's expired, though? Seriously, that's not that easy to spot.

They are color-coded. I like your idea for multi-year registration.