NJ News Stories about Left Lane Richards

[1995hoo]

NJ law permits passing on the right, but only if you don't have to exceed the posted speed limit to do so.

this of course implies the logical question: when are you allowed to exceed the posted speed limit?

I believe some states may still have prima facie speed limits on some roads.

[agentsteel53]

prima facie

I hate to admit it, but I still don't understand what this term means beyond "is the cop having a good day or a bad one?"

[1995hoo]

prima facie

I hate to admit it, but I still don't understand what this term means beyond "is the cop having a good day or a bad one?"

It basically means that if you're ticketed for exceeding it, you may be able to beat the ticket but you have the burden of proving your speed was reasonable and safe. The cost of proving it may not be worth it, especially if an expert witness is needed.

[agentsteel53]

proving your speed was reasonable and safe.

defendant: [long and quite valid argument]
defendant's attorney: [longer argument, just as valid]
expert witness: [argument of necessary length, so valid that court audience is reduced to tears]
judge: "yeah, that's great, get the fuck out of my court"

so basically it shifts from "is the cop having a good day or a bad day" to "is the judge having a good day or a bad day".

[jwolfer]

proving your speed was reasonable and safe.

defendant: [long and quite valid argument]
defendant's attorney: [longer argument, just as valid]
expert witness: [argument of necessary length, so valid that court audience is reduced to tears]
judge: "yeah, that's great, get the fuck out of my court"

so basically it shifts from "is the cop having a good day or a bad day" to "is the judge having a good day or a bad day".

Or if the cop shows up at all.  If you go to court and the cop is a no show... case dismisssed,, court costs is what you have to pay.  Another reason to not mouth off to cops, if you piss them off they will be sure to attend.  With cities and counties going bankrupt the police are being instructed to be sure to show up for court... money is needed

[signalman]

NJ law permits passing on the right, but only if you don't have to exceed the posted speed limit to do so.

this of course implies the logical question: when are you allowed to exceed the posted speed limit?

Some states (IMO all states should) allow it when passing in the opposing lane.

I agree.  All states should allow this and see it as much safer than passing the other vehicle at 5 mph faster than them.  It just seems like common sense to me to do your overtaking manuever and get back on the right side of the road as quickly as possible.  I personally don't want to spend a second longer in the opposing lane than I have to. 
As for passing on the right on a multilane carriageway, I don't hesitate for a second to do it.  Whether it be in my home state of NJ or any other state.

[Zeffy]

NJ law permits passing on the right, but only if you don't have to exceed the posted speed limit to do so.

this of course implies the logical question: when are you allowed to exceed the posted speed limit?

Never, and that's why when I'm in an area (i.e. Princeton) that I know has strict enforcement of traffic laws , I will rarely exceed the speed limit except maybe 1 MPH or two, because I don't wanna be the guy that gets a ticket.

Also, this brings me to another point: If you are coming down a slope and you are over the posted speed limit by a good amount (in this case, 10 MPH), and there is a police car at the bottom of the slope, does he have the jurisdiction (and reason) to pull you over? I know that where I live, there is a lot of hills that result in that very situation happening, and since you have to gas it to make it over the hill in the first place, when you come down the hill unless you are braking every second you can easily be over the speed limit.

[agentsteel53]

I think it is the driver's responsibility to be going at his intended speed even when heading down a hill. 

[roadman65]

NJ law permits passing on the right, but only if you don't have to exceed the posted speed limit to do so.

this of course implies the logical question: when are you allowed to exceed the posted speed limit?

Some states (IMO all states should) allow it when passing in the opposing lane.

I agree.  All states should allow this and see it as much safer than passing the other vehicle at 5 mph faster than them.  It just seems like common sense to me to do your overtaking manuever and get back on the right side of the road as quickly as possible.  I personally don't want to spend a second longer in the opposing lane than I have to. 
As for passing on the right on a multilane carriageway, I don't hesitate for a second to do it.  Whether it be in my home state of NJ or any other state.

Back in 00 I got pulled over in Harley County, Texas on US 54 going 78 mph on the other side of the road while passing a truck.  First the truck was doing 65 mph, so it was clear to pass him, then the SOB put his foot down on the hammer as soon as I started to pass.  I do not know if he did it on purpose because I am sure he saw the cop, and thought he would have a little fun.

Nonetheless, at the time the maximum in Texas was 70 mph (day) on all highways, and clocked me at 78 in a 70 zone.  I told him the truth when he had asked me what I was doing, and let me off with a written warning.  What you saying maybe true, but not in Hartley County, TX.

[jeffandnicole]

NJ law permits passing on the right, but only if you don't have to exceed the posted speed limit to do so.

this of course implies the logical question: when are you allowed to exceed the posted speed limit?

Never, and that's why when I'm in an area (i.e. Princeton) that I know has strict enforcement of traffic laws , I will rarely exceed the speed limit except maybe 1 MPH or two, because I don't wanna be the guy that gets a ticket.

Also, this brings me to another point: If you are coming down a slope and you are over the posted speed limit by a good amount (in this case, 10 MPH), and there is a police car at the bottom of the slope, does he have the jurisdiction (and reason) to pull you over? I know that where I live, there is a lot of hills that result in that very situation happening, and since you have to gas it to make it over the hill in the first place, when you come down the hill unless you are braking every second you can easily be over the speed limit.

Why can you manage to maintain 10 mph over the limit, but can't maintain the limit itself? 

[vdeane]

In an automatic, not sure.  In a stick, it depends on the gearing ratios.  In my car, I can do 40 or 55 down a hill without using the brakes... anything in between, not so much.

[agentsteel53]

I never had any trouble maintaining, within 2-3mph, a particular speed, on any incline, in a stick shift car.

[Pete from Boston]

I keep seeing this thread title and imagining there is some NJ character I'm not familiar with (real or otherwise) named, for example, Tom "Left Lane" Richards. 

[NE2]

Stop being such a cat and write what you mean.

[cu2010]

Also, this brings me to another point: If you are coming down a slope and you are over the posted speed limit by a good amount (in this case, 10 MPH), and there is a police car at the bottom of the slope, does he have the jurisdiction (and reason) to pull you over? I know that where I live, there is a lot of hills that result in that very situation happening, and since you have to gas it to make it over the hill in the first place, when you come down the hill unless you are braking every second you can easily be over the speed limit.

I was pulled over for this exact thing on NY30 in the Adirondacks about a month ago. 67mph.

It was actually the strangest encounter I had with a police officer in some time...he actually took me back to his car and questioned me there, then asked the passenger in my car the same questions...I wonder if they had a lead and were looking for somebody else. Regardless, after about five minutes of this, he told me to slow down and let me go with a verbal warning.

Second time in a row I'd gotten out of a ticket, too...pulled over a year previously, doing 70 on NY37...yet, the cop didn't even question that. Having a CO in the family has it's benefits.

[jeffandnicole]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/08/right_on_left-lane_laggards_could_see_fines_double.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Fines double for Left Lane Dicks (I didn't use that in the thread title because, well, it didn't sound appropriate there.  This is a family forum, right?).  It'll be nice if they display this on the VMSs throughout the state...although like most signs, they'll be ignored anyway.

[vdeane]

I never had any trouble maintaining, within 2-3mph, a particular speed, on any incline, in a stick shift car.

Perhaps I should rephrase... I can do it, I just don't like running the engine above 3000 rpm for long periods of time.

[Pete from Boston]

I never had any trouble maintaining, within 2-3mph, a particular speed, on any incline, in a stick shift car.

Perhaps I should rephrase... I can do it, I just don't like running the engine above 3000 rpm for long periods of time.

Brakes are among the cheapest things to replace, is my philosophy on those situations.  No need to rev so high to slow down.

[agentsteel53]

Brakes are among the cheapest things to replace, is my philosophy on those situations.  No need to rev so high to slow down.

agreed.  when I had a stick shift car, I threw it into neutral all the time, so long as I wasn't coming down an extreme grade (say, 8% over a mile or something similar).  it got me excellent gas mileage - averaging 40-44 when I think EPA estimates for an '89 Escort were 32/36 or something. 

brake pads for the Escort were something like 10 bucks each, and the repair job was an afternoon jaunt with a six-pack of beer divided among two people... not a bad way to while the time.