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Speed Traps

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by ExRIGuy, Apr 3, 2006.

  1. ExRIGuy

    ExRIGuy New Member

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    I obviously believe in the rule of law. And this is not a thread about police officers, as I respect them and the work they do, and I have good friends who are officers. But I have never seen radar patrols anywhere else I have lived like I see around these parts. While the necessity of having them in school zones and residential and quasi-residential zones during most times of day goes without any doubt by me, sometimes they appear to be no more than pure tax collection in other areas. For example in these places with no residential areas, no stop lights, lower traffic, no sidewalks, and no schools: after dark across the street from the from the front entrance of MCI on the Loudoun County Parkway and also behind MCI on Waxpool. On RT 28 south of the entrance to the Airport. And EVERY(!) night around 9pm I see at least two speed traps on 267/ Dulles Greenway. I mean every night. Light traffic, smooth wide lanes....

    Truth is, we have some arbitrarily decided and questionable speed limit rules around here: like 55mph on parts of RT 7 which is busy as heck and has lots of lights and entering traffic, but 45 mph on the aforementioned stretch of LCP which is lightly used! And 55mph on 267? Rt 7 and 267 have the same speed limit in some cases? And 35 mph on the stretch of Waxpool behind MC!?
     
  2. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson New Member

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    Lol, all of Virginia is like that. Plus growing up here without radar detectors has led to a sort of sixth sense driving, lol.

    Just note where they are, they hardly ever move from those spots. I havent got a ticket in years and I have been known to keep up with the flow of traffic <cough>.
     
  3. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Homer, on 10-15-2004, at 07:08 AM, you were involved in a fiery discussion on these very forums 'criticizing' a forum member about his total lack of respect of 'Speed Limits'. Here is your exact quote:

    You went on and on about the evils of speeding around our area. So, it's ok for you to 'keep up with the flow of traffic' <cough> and be proud to have never gotten a ticket, and it's ok for you to insinuate that all someone else wants to do is speed around Broadlands?

    Nice double standard there, Homer... :huh:

    Sorry Homer, but I couldn't help it... You just touched a nerve, especially after that whole discussion back in October... :p We can chat offline if you want; I don't want to hijack this thread...
     
  4. dcdavis

    dcdavis Ooops!!

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    About the various speed limits, I do agree that there are many roads whose speed limits are a little off- such as the Toll Road being 55 (or the Beltway, for that matter, if you hit it during the 20 minutes of non-rush hour traffic). But I digress...

    The LCP is only 45 because of its geometry- it was designed for a lower speed limit. Hence the curves and more frequent median breaks. Route 7 is straight, flat, and fewer median breaks. The traffic on a road really has nothing to do with its speed limit- instead, it's the way it was designed and its ultimate purpose that leads to a given speed limit.
     
  5. L0stS0ul

    L0stS0ul hmmmm

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    I like the fact that they are a bit unpredictable around here. All that does is force people to abide by the law a little more. It always cracks me up as someone comes tearing up behind me as I drive through the neighborhood at 25 mph and I look back and see them angerly protesting.

    I'm happy the police do this. Hopefully it makes the area a safer place. (yeah right with the types of drivers around here)
     
  6. merky1

    merky1 Member

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    At first I thought you were talking about the random speed assignments around here (like 35 on Ashburn Farm, but 40-45 on Claiborne). My hats off to whoever "planned" the road system around here. I'm surprised that the cops even have to sit to catch people "violating" the limits. I would be willing to bet that they wouldn't be able to write violations fast enough if they actually enforced safety violations (red light running, last minute swerving") instead of hanging out doing speed traps.
     
  7. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    True, but wouldn't you agree that the speed traps slow traffic down to the speed limit, and as such, will inherently reduce the number of red light runners and last minute swerving, since now people will have the required time to react? I guess you can say they're attacking the problem at the source...
     
  8. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    The laughable think to me about Waxpool behind MCI, er make that Verizon, is that before Verizon was built and it was an unmarked, narrow two lane road the speed limit was 55. When it was improved it to a 4-lane divided highway, the speed drops to 35!
     
  9. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    I think Mr Linux missed the point yet again. In non-residential areas, I think it's perfectly fine to keep up with the flow of traffic. I won't speed in the Broadlands, and hate to see people doing it... but on the other hand, a 35mph limit on a 4 lane divided rd is pretty stupid.... the police taking advantage of stuff like that is very questionable. They should instead be setting up shop where it is really needed, inside a core residential area...
    ie Claiborne parkway or Demott, etc.
     
  10. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson New Member

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    I'm not gonna let you publicly say that Mr. Linux w/o a response. :p

    If you read the WHOLE thread, I am against speeding in residential. Over by MCI is commercial. Speeding on 28 is NOT a double standard.

    And i was thinking about the days I speed up and down the dirt roads of the Northern Neck. I don't speed on residential or near schools.
     
  11. ExRIGuy

    ExRIGuy New Member

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    Talk about a feast for the officers, I see them sitting at the inlet by the office park across the street from the back entrance to verizon. Try driving 35 mph down that road and you'll get rear-ended....
     
  12. mdr227

    mdr227 Member

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    The 45 MPH speed limit on LCP in front of Verizon (formerly MCI) should be strictly enforced and even lowered within about 30 minutes of sunset until 30 minutes or so after sunrise (same thing for all of LCP/Ryan Rd up to Brambleton). I live along that route and it is amazing the speed and noise of cars racing down this stretch of road at night. I have seen and hear all the time motorcycles go well over 100 mph drag racing down there. They make a pass up and down the road to see if there are cops anywhere and then come back and race up and down a few times. What really amazes me is people's lack of awareness of the number of dead deer lying along this whole route. I see at least one per week that has been hit and frequently more and so many times coming home have seen groups of them right along the road from Waxpool all the way to Belmont Ridge. They graze along the road then race across in the evening and in the morning. Frequently it is very foggy along that route in the morning and people still go racing through the fog oblivous to the deer along the road. Yes, it is a three lane and then two lane road that is fairly open and it's easy to let your speed creep up, but there are also many joggers/walkers/bike riders along this road since there are not pathways or sidewalks not to mention the deer and other wild animals that are all along the route.
     
  13. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson New Member

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    I think that is a bit extreme for that road. Fog and Critters are a fact of Virginia Life. The joggers are breaking the law. The bikers are annoying [get a job already! Do you have to bike on a commuting road during rush hour!!!!]
     
  14. jjenkins

    jjenkins New Member

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    Well, nature seems to have a way to take care of those who like to bend the rules, a bike + any animal = disaster.

    I'm an avid biker, and I like to go fast, but I take it to the Summit Raceway in WVA. To many side roads for cars to pop out around here. I believe a week ago a 23 year old biker got killed on Belmont Ridge.

    What I would do though, is call the cops, they will at least patrol more.
     
  15. ExRIGuy

    ExRIGuy New Member

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    I disagree that the flagrant idiots and racers should be able to dictate that everyone else who approximates the speed limit should have to drive 35 MPH on a divided 4 lane as you propose, especially on that stretch. Down by Brambleton is a different story -- residential....

     
  16. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    mdr227 - I am on the other side of Old Ryan and I have to agree with you about the racers - we have been fighting this battle for over a year. Now that the weather is nice the noise level is getting worse. Loudoun County Sheriff's Office has increased patrols in this area and are very aware of the "racing" zones. If you want I can forward the contacts I have Sgt/Deput Sheriff within the Sheriff's office.
     
  17. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson New Member

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    They also race up and down Broadlands, less so now that it is busy. Problem is too many racers/locations, not enough cops.
     
  18. SarasMom

    SarasMom Member

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    I actually saw someone get pulled over on Demott today! An hour later, there was another sheriff driving down Demott again. Maybe there's hope!
     
  19. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson New Member

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    Yeah I saw that trap. The cop is a State Trooper who lives in the neighborhood. You can see him time to time with his bulldog.

    I just drive by an wave. I love it that he does that. Demott will become the bypass for the Claiborne lights if there is no enforcement.
     
  20. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    The HOA has indicated to the Sheriff's office that Demott is one of our problem streets. Good to see they are stepping up enforcement.
     

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