[Flamegurl]

This is what happened to me yesterday:

I drove past some lights and into a street where only a restaurant is. Nobody goes there. I saw from the right corner of my eye, a police car, about to turn left.
Apparently they went right, after me. They probably saw my crx and thought: good idea for a ticket.

I grabbed my phone while I was not totally parked yet (note I did not USE it while driving.)
The officer stopped behind me. he did not pull me over because I was already parked , and told me I stopped just a bit too late, so I was getting fined.
Over here, it is illegal to CALL while driving.
So he asks for my papers, which I gave him. Then he asks for my license. I totally forgot I had my temporary G1 license in front of my normal drivers license. I see the cop look at it like he is seeing a ghost and then realise what is happening. I appologize and take it out, so he can see my license.
He is still going to give me a ticket. 130 euro's. ARE THEY NUTS? that is about 100 canadian.

I ask him when the ticket will be arriving, and he tells me in 6 weeks. WHAT???? Now there is a problem. I explained to the officer that I won't be in Europe at that time and kindly ask him to send it to Canada. His face started to get a little bit confused, so I figured I would explain that I have a study permit. He gets the idea, but no solution yet. And I don't want to be arrested when flying back to europe, for a ticket I never paid. So I ask him if there is another way of paying.

Lucky for me, there isn't and they don't give me the ticket. I drive to my friends and tell the story, one of my friends is a cop herself and she tells me he was not allowed to give me the ticket anyways.

Because he came after me into a deserted road where nobody goes and he drove back to where he came from after, I assume he was looking for a ticket to write me. He thought he had found one, easy money or something, and ended up withdrawing from writing the ticket.

Somehow I expect a reaction from Mark

 

[SETI20]

Traffic nazi's.

100 canadian, that's like 12 bucks in real money right?

 

[Flamegurl]

hey, I convert euro's and canadian dollars, you do the rest

 

[xJamesX]

Back in Ny my sister got a $250 US ticket for talking on her phone while driving. Good thing its legal here in Ohio.

-James-

 

[SETI20]

No it's not. I think it's a good thing cops are so hard on it. They just don't need to be such pricks about it. She pulled over and stopped to make a call. This shows good intent.
And they want to cite her for rolling on a yard or 2? No wonder we hate dutch traitor...erhm..cops.

 

[Flamegurl]

Honestly,

if he gave me the ticket, next time I would be less likely to stop. Apparently they fine you anyways.

And according to my cop-friend, they were not even allowed to fine me, because I technally did not call. They were just being pricks.

 

[Dren]

Honestly,

if he gave me the ticket, next time I would be less likely to stop. Apparently they fine you anyways.

And according to my cop-friend, they were not even allowed to fine me, because I technally did not call. They were just being pricks.

Imagine that...it's happened to me before as well. MPs (military police) are by far the worse.

 

[jfrolang]

130 Euro is more like $188 Canadian. $167 US.

My biggest complaint with MP's is that they insist on searching your car, and on a Military base you can't say no. Also, they'll stop people for driving 26 in a 25. Absurd.

 

[Kwicko]

Phone use is perfectly legal in Idaho.

I personally have no real problem with using a phone and driving, so long as you're focused on the DRIVING part.

How are you on drinking and driving?

Reason I ask is, more and more studies are showing that driving drunk and driving while talking on a cell phone (even a hands-free one) have almost the exact same results - except that the cell talkers are driving like someone who's closer to TWICE the legal limit for being drunk!

So if I'm drunk, but concentrating on my driving, does that make it okay? I didn't think so either...

I *DO* have a problem with "cell driving", but that's mainly because I have to dodge so many morons on a daily basis who are talking while driving, and simply become unable to use their blinkers, brakes, mirrors, or brains. They're sitting behind the wheel, more or less steering the vehicle, but what they're doing doesn't really count as "driving", because they're far too involved in all their daily BS to pay attention to what's going on around them on the road.

So, instead of (or in addition to) the bumper stickers that say "Don't Drink & Drive", let's have some that say "Hang Up & Drive!". And let's start enforcing it like we do DUI laws. The life you save could be mine.

So, of course, there are going to be morons on phones who drive even worse.

And it seems that the worse the driver in the first place, the more likely he or she is to be on the phone, making him or her even WORSE than their usual badness. People who treat driving like what it is - a calculated risk, an activity that can quite literally kill you - are less likely to be jawing on the damn phone while driving. Let's face it, for the vast majority of us, driving is the most dangerous thing we do. Every single time you get in your car, you're taking your life in your hands, and entrusting it as well to the hands of thousands of people you've never met. The very least you can do is make sure that you are at your fullest alert levels while driving.

Mike

 

[SETI20]

Alot of people see driving as something they need to do while they're going somewhere. Why should that keep you from doing your normal daily routine?

I've seen people on the road reading the newspapers, taking notes (while calling), using their laptop (pun intended mark), doing their make-up..god the list goes on.

 

[xxpaulcpxx]

Ever try to put a pair of pants on while driving? Now THAT is challenging!

 

[Flamegurl]

130 Euro is more like $188 Canadian. $167 US.

My biggest complaint with MP's is that they insist on searching your car, and on a Military base you can't say no. Also, they'll stop people for driving 26 in a 25. Absurd.

Hahaha, omg that is stupid! I converted the wrong way around.
My mistake, sorry

 

[Flamegurl]

doing their make-up..

Like your mom...

 

[Charlie]

Kwicko, one thing you're forgetting... You can't instantly stop being drunk. Just today i was getting on the interstate while talking on the phone, a guy turning left decided not to yeild. I dropped the phone and dodged the car.

Granted, if you're more focused on the phone call and not driving i probably wouldnt have seen the guy in the first place...

 

[Angry]

Keeping my car on the road correctly is more important to me that whomever Im talking to. Most people that call and catch me driving know that if I suddenly stop responding, it means Ive thrown the phone in the passenger seat for something more important. Like dodging people or trying to get through a busy intersection.

Here in VA if they see you on a phone, they'll pull you over in a heartbeat. Not so bad on the interstate, killer in in-town areas.
Ive had a cop pass me while Im parked on the side of the road on the phone and come back around in behind me. Ive gotin the light in my face, the look in the car, license and reg check...All the while Im on the phone, parked with car off even before he passed me.... :rolleyes1:

 

[Dren]

130 Euro is more like $188 Canadian. $167 US.

My biggest complaint with MP's is that they insist on searching your car, and on a Military base you can't say no. Also, they'll stop people for driving 26 in a 25. Absurd.

Trust me, I know. They will also arrest you for 'racing' on dirt roads when you are going 30~35mph.