I got a ticket a couple of months ago (I think in November). Thankfully, it had been just over a year since my last infraction. This time, it happened in a school zone (darn). Admittedly, I was distracted, because I was running late taking my daughter to her art lesson. As a further pathetic excuse, the school zone is oddly situated, since I entered it on one street, then it just sort of continues on another street after I turned, even though there are no blinking lights on the second street. But that's neither here nor there - I messed up.
I wrote a funny post about how it took away AR time from me last year. At least, I thought it was funny:
My Driving Habits Have Taken Away Valuable Blogging Time
According to this particular course (which I really should have memorized by now), I read far too quickly! At the end of each lesson, I am forced to sit for awhile before proceeding (which is why I am multitasking - I am doing the course while I write this post and hanging out on Twitter and Facebook).
Let this be a lesson to all of you: Don't speed if you value your time here on ActiveRain, or at all, for that matter, since the material is simply stultifyingly boring. If you don't already know the meaning of "stultifying", it basically means that it makes you dumber. Look it up if you don't believe me.
I wish I could figure out why they don't ever seem to have the funds to update the course with new, fresh, hip video content. Most of the photos and videos appear to be from about 1983 or thereabouts. It's easy to tell from the parachute pants. Kidding. I guess they don't need to make it appealing, since it's not a movie that is optional to see. ("Compelling....and mandatory. Two thumbs up!")
Here's a quick quote from the course to give you an idea of what I am dealing with:
Intersections are the places where roads come together or cross one another. An intersection is technically the point at which curbs or edges of two or more roadways intersect or cross each other.
It is dangerous to pass another vehicle at an intersection and illegal in most instances. Such places include crossroads, railroad crossings, and shopping center entrances. Approaching the intersection, your view of the traffic is restricted by the vehicles you are passing -- and drivers entering the roadway will not anticipate oncoming traffic in the left lane. They may not even look your way.
Consider yourself blessed if you don't have to go through this anytime soon.
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Jason, been there done that just like you. Tickets are SUCH a hassle, and especially the Defensive Driving School. Oh well live and learn hopefully.
Bummer! I got a ticket a couple of days ago, but it was a fix it ticket. Here in california they have a law if the driver and passenger windows are tinted it's illegal!
Jason... I am semi confused after reading your post, unless I am just to damn tired.. but I am assuming that you have to take a driving course because of the ticket and because it was in a school zone? Please help a sleep deprived Wing Bowl watcher this morning at 6 am... going at 4 am for the tail gating...lol thanks
Jeff - I am taking defensive driving to keep the ticket off of my record - it's allowed once per year in Texas. The school zone thing would have made it more expensive if I weren't eligible for defensive driving. Mainly, I just felt stupid.
I've only gotten caught for 1 ticket in the last 10 years...and it has been luck. As much as I hate to admit it in public, I'm usually right at or 5 mph over. Dang that lead foot!
Jason,
Sorry to read about your annual speeding ticket and even more that they have not updated the material for the defensive driving school. Luckily, they are not giving tickets for reading far too quickly.
With the punishment like this course you really need to try not to get a ticket. Going through this crap oftern is dangerous to your mental help (LOL)
Awwww....sorry you have to deal with this. My first and last speeding ticket was 1997 and I went to Driving School for it. I do speed, but not excessively, so I'm lucky not to have been caught in 12 years...fingers crossed! :o)
You know how those Texas cops are, hanging around the school zones and pulling them out like a fish hook in a school of fish. I've lived in Texas most of my life and somehow have avoided tickets. My son has managed to accumulate enough for the family so I feel we have contributed (he actually footed the cost) to our finest. Best of luck on staying "clean" for another year!
Sounds like fun- I am so jealouse. I hope Muphy didn't just here that, his laws can really mess with me-Dinah Lee
I am doing the course while I write this post and hanging out on Twitter and Facebook
Hahaha! We'll have to update that old saying to "killing three or four birds with one stone". :)
are you saying you have to take a course if you get a speeding ticket? i'm so confused! lol I get a speeding ticket about ....hmmm i've only ever had 2.....knock on wood
I am so glad it wasnt me getting ticketed. I am on a record 3 years without one now!!!
Liz - You can pay the fine and have it go on your record, which makes your insurance premiums go up, OR you can pay a smaller fee and take the course, and it won't go on your driving record.
Jason, We have a similar intersection here in our area. I often turn onto that street and speed up to 30 or 40 only to realize later that the school zone lights are blinking. OOPS!!!
Your building consultant in Brentwood, TN ~~ Michael
I feel for you. I wouldn't want to have to sit through another Defensive Driving course - ever. I had to take one many, many years ago in order to get my EVOC certification and I was bored to tears. In fact , it sounds like the curriculum is the same! LOL And that was ... I think 1979 or 1980. Nice to see that the promoters of safe driving don't mind putting us to sleep.
Just imagine if that course was on a CD and you listened to it while you were driving. OH MY! Now that would be disastrous!
Sorry to hear of the ticket. It's never fun to have to pay them.
Jason,
I appreciate you taking the time to share with us me about an intersection. That is probably the most clear definition that I have ever read. For that reason I won't be doing any speeding, I'll slow down while texting.
Well living in the city - all I have to worry about are parking tickets (too much traffic to speed much). I haven't had a parking ticket in .... well 2 weeks; but I only average about 3 a year. It's not my fault though - its those tricky meters! (yeah right)
Jason, I also had to go through this a couple of years ago. Looking at it from the bright side, I wasn't assessed any points and it stayed off of my driving record. Watch those intersections. lol
You mean everyone is wearing Bugle Boy's and I.O.U shirts? I know, thats a bit after parachute pants. Anyway, I got pulled over once for speeding in college. I was just wanting to get home and rest. Never since. It just isn't worth ending someone's life, be it mine, my family's, or someone else.
Jason, I probably shouldn't laugh, because I am getting ready to take the same course to not have the points added to my record (crap). The good news is I can take it online, but it does take about 4 hours (yuck!) The bad news is it is going to take away form valuable AR time and not to mention valuable work time.
Bo
Jason: Annual speeding ticket? Slow down man! If you have a GPS then you know that speeding really only ever knocks off five minutes off a 45 minute drive. True story, the last speeding ticket I got I received as the middle car in a line of six speeding cars. I asked the officer, "Why me?" I was also upset because I had been following a client. He said, "I recognized the real estate magnet on your car. You drove by here this morning speeding." So slow down...and take off your magnets. I did. Business is better than ever and no sppeding tickets to report since.
MICHAEL - It would be much easier to remember (i.e. not a speed trap) if there were blinking lights AT ALL on the street that you turn on to. Instead, you turn onto this particular street right in the middle of the school zone, so the lights face one way, but there are no "reminder" lights.
TO SEVERAL ABOVE: I find it interesting that other states have a points system (sorta like AR, I guess). We don't have that here in Texas.
BO - Ours takes SIX hours, and you must spend the entire time in class or on your computer. I still prefer to take it online, since I can break it into pieces (15 minutes at a time, or an hour if I have it to spare).
CHRIS ANN - The title was a slight exaggeration, but I have had three tickets in the past four years, so it's close. I stopped using magnets about 10 years ago, because I don't like everyone I cut off in traffic knowing my name. It's the same reason that I don't have stuff about my church or the Christian fish symbol on the van. :)
In Portland on the East Side there is a one way street that intersects a two way street. The whole thing is only about two blocks from a freeway exit.
The one way street actually does have two directions. But they are devided by a 1/2 block. So here is the interesting part.
The Two way ( four lanes ) Goes North and South and is 35 miles perhour.
The One way going West is 35 miles and hour.
The One way going East ( 1/2 block to the south ) is also a 35 mph except for 1 block.
That One block which begins at the intersection with the two way any heads East is 25 miles perhour.
On any given day both sides of that two lane one way street for that 1 block area will have delivery trucks parked on the side.
Last year the Portland Police used a photo radar van parked in that area. Business was brisk and I was a contributor. I went to court I argued my case. I paid the fine.
No excuse or arguement works.
I value money and don't want to pay more for insurance, that's why I try not to speed.
Hi Jason, what's that saying, "sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you", Smokey that is!
Herb - That sounds like someone didn't do a very good job of planning that intersection! Highly frustrating!
Knock on wood, I have not received a ticket in several years - really ever since I've had kids. I think theyt have really mellowed my need for speed. :)
I got one recently myself to the tune of 260 dollars...not too fun at all. I guess going 90+ in a 65 MPH zone is not a good idea:)
My DH was just pulled over and got points and a fine. The points raises our insurance premium too, oh joy!
Jason, after reading this post, I most definitely consider myself blessed! Boy, I have images of those lame driver's ed movies from back in high school!
I have had just two tickets in the 28 (OMG has it been that long) years I've been driving. The last one was when my softball playing daughter who was also in the marching band left her trumpet at school. I was midway 30 miles north of town to pick her up from softball to carry her 45 miles south of town to the football game when she called me. OOOPS. That was the fall of 2002, since then I'm sure folks think I'm a granny, cause I just don't speed.
Well Jason at least it is only one.
Come to think of it I am due one also
Good luck
Tony
Speeding tickest are just no fun! I have had one before....that was more than enough!
tsk tsk tsk. Thats all I have to say.
Speeding in a school zone? Shame on you! O_O But seriously, I haven't had a ticket in... 15 years? Something like that. And I'm not exactly a speed limit-abiding citizen. I just know where I can speed, and by how much. LOL. Maybe I should teach a class on my system =P
Jason,
Sorry speeding tickets are no fun! You are right about the classes being BORING!!!
Tickest? What is wrong with me? You can tell I am beginning to blog way too late at night! I need to take my own advice on spell check!
Jason, I've been there, too. I think driving too fast is unfortunately, a requirement for the job.