LA - Louisiana State gets a Grant to step up enforcement

[StlouisX50]

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and law enforcement today announced stepped-up enforcement on speeders this summer.

Beginning Monday, the "100 Days of Summer Heat" campaign will focus on stricter enforcement of posted speed limits statewide on both state highways and interstates.

A recent spot study by the state highway department found 79 percent of vehicles clocked on interstates were speeding. The number was 81 percent on U.S. highways.

A federal grant will be used to pay overtime to state and local officers to watch for speeders, as well as a public-awareness campaign.

Authorities aren't saying what kind tolerance they will allow before writing a ticket.

Police estimate excessive speed is a factor in nearly a third of fatal wrecks in Louisiana.

"Speed has to stop in the state of Louisiana, and it's going to stop now," said the Highway Safety Commission's James Champagne. "We are running a 100-day campaign that is going to focus on that. You want to take a chance and speed? I promise you, you are going to get stopped."

[kpatz]

A recent spot study by the state highway department found 79 percent of vehicles clocked on interstates were speeding. The number was 81 percent on U.S. highways.

And therein lies the problem. Are 79-81 percent of drivers on the highways driving recklessly, or could it be that the speed limits are too low?

More enforcement/tickets is NOT the answer...

[g_jammer]

The speed limit ought to reflect the 85th percentile rule described by the NHTSA, where the speed limit should be established at a reasonable and safe level where 85% of drivers are doing the speed limit and only 15% are speeding.

Of course, we all know that many municipalities sweep this notion under the rug due to revenue. just do the math.

If they write just 30 tickets a day (this number is prob. 10 fold), at a average of $100.00 a ticket for 100 days, that is $300,000.00 they get to play with.

[kpatz]

There's a big difference between 85th percentile and 20th percentile... :roll:

But money talks, unfortunately. I'd rather spend it on RDs and laser countermeasures than on increased insurance premiums (another SCAM).

[supir]

I just got a speeding ticket in Washington Parish while driving from Lafayette to Alexandria. I set my cruise control at 75mph (speed limit 70mph), was going uphill and got clocked by an officer waiting over the hill. He said that I was speeding at 78 mph. He told me about the 100 days speeding enforcement, and he would not issue the ticket if the speed is 77 mph or lower. I know the car accelerated a little bit to maintain the speed, but I also know that it will decelarate once it goes downhill. I asked the officer what I should do because I think 75 mph cruise control in 70 mph speed limit should be safe. He suggested to set my cruise control at 75 mph, and I told him that I did that. Then he said that I was the one in control of the vehicle and not him.

I think it is not fair to "trap" the driver at the top of the hill (there were 2 officers, I saw one chased a car, issued a ticket, made U-turn, and waited again at the top of the hill).

What do you guys think?