Someone we know...?

TinsleyC · Jun 6, 2020

ctrcbob said:
3. I’ve done Kerrville TX to Orlando 1250 miles in 19 hours, 30 minutes.

I drove from Dallas TX to Linville NC (1000 miles) in 19 hours flat - with a wife and three kids in the car! It was hell.

EdP · Jun 7, 2020

TinsleyC said:
I had the same issue. I thought that if I paid the fine, everyone was happy. One day a letter came in the mail saying I was a "habitual violator" with 14 violations in an 18 month period. Lost license for 2 years and had to pay a $2500 fine. That was 40 years ago! Loved that V8 Firebird...

Good for military recruiters though. Two I know went into the Air Force, nephew into the Marines and came out a Colonel.

tarhoosier · Jun 7, 2020

Personal story with bias reserved for my view: Returning from Tallahassee Florida I drove through south Georgia. It reminded me of how rarely I take long trips that do not involve the interstate. Outside Tifton, Georgia police stopped me for 65 in a 50. There were extenuating cicumstances but Officer had no interest in "selling" the ticket. No negotiation, no compromise, no "I'm helping you out here...". Just wrote it and went back to his cover. On my homecoming I put Tifton + Speed Trap in the computer search and ***BOOM*** the screen exploded with results.
I learned that the State of Georgia has a law that adds fines for 15+ over speed violations. This is in addition to the summons from the officer. After the local fine is paid, the state sends a bill for the state fine. Many people disregard this as they assume they have paid, ESPECIALLY out of state drivers (ahem). Then Georgia puts warrant for driver, and next interaction means straight to your local magistrate and instant loss of funds and maybe license. I learned this from the local Tifton lawyer I was required to hire who had the charge dropped to 14 mph over.
Nice little racket you got there.
I now return to my normal blood pressure.

TinsleyC · Jun 7, 2020

Thinking back on my follies, most all of my 14 tickets were from going 80-90 on the interstate, driving between home and my TX college. The fines were relatively cheap; under $100 every time. I was young and dumb.

I recall getting ticketed in Alabama in the early 90's. I requested to take defensive driving since their paperwork offered that. I received a hand written & signed reply from the judge saying "I see you're from Texas. My daughter was ticketed in Texas and was denied defensive driving, so I'm going to deny yours. Pay the fine".

Thanks for the tip... I'll be sure to granny drive through Georgia.

Toddasaurus · Jun 7, 2020

EdP said:
Good for military recruiters though. Two I know went into the Air Force, nephew into the Marines and came out a Colonel.

You know, funny enough a couple years later I was working on enlisting in the Air Force. They saw my driving record and told me if I had one more ticket they wouldn't be able to accept me. Lol. I assume things have changed over the years, at least for that branch of the military. During this time I had recruiters from the Army and Marines bothering me every day, but the Air Force I actually had to work hard to get in - they even cared about my credit score (which, for the record, always has been great). Anyway, long story short, I ended up not finalizing my enlistment (not related to my driving) and I instead went to college, university, and finally graduated in the medical field.

My father was in the Army, then switched to Air Force, then retired as a Lt. Colonel. He was my primary motivation to join the Air Force.

EdP · Jun 7, 2020

Toddasaurus said:
You know, funny enough a couple years later I was working on enlisting in the Air Force. They saw my driving record and told me if I had one more ticket they wouldn't be able to accept me. Lol. I assume things have changed over the years, at least for that branch of the military. During this time I had recruiters from the Army and Marines bothering me every day, but the Air Force I actually had to work hard to get in - they even cared about my credit score (which, for the record, always has been great). Anyway, long story short, I ended up not finalizing my enlistment (not related to my driving) and I instead went to college, university, and finally graduated in the medical field.

My father was in the Army, then switched to Air Force, then retired as a Lt. Colonel. He was my primary motivation to join the Air Force.

When I was younger you had to be able to walk and carry a rifle to qualify for most branches but I understand they are much fussier now with the sophisticated weaponry we have.
The one AF recruit did not make his full term. He worked for me a couple of years and was a mechanical genius. Not sure of his problems in the AF aside from the police catching him doing 100 mph wheelies when chasing him and knocking up someone's daughter.