Pulled Over Twice in One Day: My Red Mitsubishi 3000GT Story

[Moonbear]

One day when returning east from a consulting job in NY state, I got pulled over on the Massachusetts turnpike. I was in the right lane, traveling with the flow of traffic, and a trooper standing under an overpass with a radar gun motioned me to the breakdown lane. There was a line of at least a dozen cars there, waiting to get written up. When they got to me, I told the trooper that I was in the travel lane, getting passed on the left, and that it pretty much stunk that every car getting ticketed had out-of-state plates. Not a Mass plate among 'em. He just grinned at me and said we're cracking down on speeders and we can't pull over everybody.

Just a little revenue-boost for our neighbor to the south. BTW, I was driving a late-model maroon Crown Victoria, so it's not they were targeting the vehicle nor the driver - just the license plates. ME, NH, NY, etc were all well-represented in the line-up.

Yep, that happens in NJ and OH too (probably every other state as well).

OH especially likes to target MI drivers, because the two states don't have a reciprocal agreement on traffic violations. That means the MI drivers have to pay their ticket then and there and can only hope for reimbursement if they win the fight...and of course, OH knows that 99% of the time, the MI driver isn't going to waste more time and money traveling back to fight the ticket, because MI never gets any record of the violation and they won't get any points on their license anyway. It's quite a racket.

In NJ, we used to call it an out-of-state highway tax. Someone could be getting passed by every other car on the road, but if they had an out-of-state plate, they'd be the one pulled over. My step-brother lives in FL, and he's been pulled over on the flimsiest of excuses. Like many other states, FL only has one license plate on the rear of the car. He got pulled over for not having a license plate on the front. You KNOW the cop was just hoping to find something else when he pulled him over, because they aren't so stupid not to know what states have one vs. two plates.

 

[leroyjenkens]

Of course he is.

I could say the same about the two of you, but intead, I choose to actually argue my point instead of assuming it's the gospel truth and belittling anyone who disagrees with it.

And you did not specify the speed limit. 7 or 8 over in a 15 or 20 mph zone IS a lot and would get almost anyone a ticket. 3 over in a 15 mph zone is within a fairly normal range of variation just in speedometer accuracy. 8 over in a 60 mph zone is just normal keeping up with traffic.

He was on the highway. I don't know the speed limit, but it's not 15 or 20.

Of course, your friend may have fallen into that OTHER category of cop magnets...young male.

So could the TS.

Which rule did I break?

Guidelines on Langauge and Attitude:
Foul or hostile language will not be tolerated on Physics Forums. This includes profanity, obscenity, or obvious indecent language; direct personal attacks or insults; snide remarks or phrases that appear to be an attempt to "put down" another member; and other indirect attacks on a member's character or motives.

What you said is definitely breaking the rules, and I reported you for it.

It's nothing personal, but you do suck at driving.

Care to back up anything you say with facts, or do you just want to continue to make unfounded childish remarks? I need to know if you're ever going to say something constructive, so I know if I should just go ahead and ignore you.

 

[xxChrisxx]

Would you all stop sniping like a bunch of petty... <insert insult here>.

The answer to this thread is simple.

If you speed, you have a change of getting caught and busted. Please note that almost everyone speeds from time to time.
If you drive a red foreign sports car, you are essentially wearing a sign with large aggressive letters saying 'PULL ME OVER'. Red is associated with speed (there is a common joke amongst my engineering firends that when you paint somethin on your car red it gives you 10 extra brake hp).

That is all there is to it, that is the way of things.

 

[DaveC426913]

...I choose to actually argue my point instead of assuming it's the gospel truth and belittling anyone who disagrees with it.

No one is belittling you because they disagree. The trouble is that your arguments are non sequitur - they do not follow.

In post 15 and again in post 22, you take what what said by someone else and extrapolate to an absurd result. One does not follow from the other.

The apparent belittlement comes when this behaviour seems consistent. Is it not unreasonable to ask if you are aware of it. Generally we try to treat almost all arguments respectfully, but there is always the possibility that someone is joking, tongue-in-cheek or is simply having fun trolling. When a nonconstructive behaviour starts repeating, it's not unreasonable to call somoene out on it.

OK, so you're not aware of it.

 

[DaveC426913]

Would you all stop sniping like a bunch of petty... <insert insult here>.

The answer to this thread is simple.

If you speed, you have a change of getting caught and busted. Please note that almost everyone speeds from time to time.
If you drive a red foreign sports car, you are essentially wearing a sign with large aggressive letters saying 'PULL ME OVER'. Red is associated with speed (there is a common joke amongst my engineering firends that when you paint somethin on your car red it gives you 10 extra brake hp).

That is all there is to it, that is the way of things.

For all your judgementalism, you didn't provide an answer.

Do red sportscars get pulled over more?

 

[xxChrisxx]

For all your judgementalism, you didn't provide an answer.

Do red sportscars get pulled over more?

Yes, now you could ask that I provide some study to back this up, but there really would be no point, there will be ones showing it's true and others showing its false.

A bright red loud sportscar brings attention to itsself more than an old ladymobile. Bringing attention to yourself when you are doing something illegal will increase the chances of you getting caught. Also I do suspect that in this case it's not the fact its just red, its the fact it's a foreign car too.

You just need to look at insurance quotes, red cars ALWAYS cost more to insure (in the UK) especially if its a 'hot' model. A red Golf GTI vs a black Golf GTI costs about 5%-10% more to insure.

 

[DaveC426913]

Yes, now you could ask that I provide some study to back this up, but there really would be no point, there will be ones showing it's true and others showing its false.

A bright red loud sportscar brings attention to itsself more than an old ladymobile. Bringing attention to yourself when you are doing something illegal will increase the chances of you getting caught. Also I do suspect that in this case it's not the fact its just red, its the fact it's a foreign car too.

Yes, we all get the hypothesis. You are adding nothing new there.

You are insisting the answer is simple.

So what is it? You don't have any more of an answer than the rest of us.

 

[xxChrisxx]

Yes, we all get the hypothesis. You are adding nothing new there.

You are insisting the answer is simple.

So what is it? You don't have any more of an answer than the rest of us.

You are never going to conclusively prove it either way.

 

[DaveC426913]

You are never going to conclusively prove it either way.

Then why did you so arrogantly claim the answer is simple?

 

[xxChrisxx]

Then why did you so arrogantly claim the answer is simple?

Experience. Non scientific, but it works.

Red cars tend get pulled/stolen/etc etc more often than others. Red also tends to be associated with speed.

 

[DaveC426913]

Experience. Non scientific, but it works.

Red cars tend get pulled/stolen/etc etc more often than others. Red also tends to be associated with speed.

So, you're simply restating what the rest of us have been struggling with but pretending you're enlightening us. OK.

 

[leroyjenkens]

No one is belittling you because they disagree. The trouble is that your arguments are non sequitur - they do not follow.

In post 15 and again in post 22, you take what what said by someone else and extrapolate to an absurd result. One does not follow from the other.

Can you quote the exact instance of where I did that?
This just sounds like a cop out.

The apparent belittlement comes when this behaviour seems consistent. Is it not unreasonable to ask if you are aware of it. Generally we try to treat almost all arguments respectfully, but there is always the possibility that someone is joking, tongue-in-cheek or is simply having fun trolling. When a nonconstructive behaviour starts repeating, it's not unreasonable to call somoene out on it.

OK, so you're not aware of it.

The belittlement comes from immaturity. There's no reason to belittle somebody because they disagree with you. If you think they're wrong, prove them wrong. Calling them names does nothing constructive, it's just an outlet for your frustration.

 

[xxChrisxx]

So, you're simply restating what the rest of us have been struggling with but pretending you're enlightening us. OK.

I'm saying you are all arguing to no end as there will be no conclusive proof either way. It's therefore pointless having an argument about it. This thread did decend into argument as opposed to discussion.

 

[DaveC426913]

Can you quote the exact instance of where I did that?
This just sounds like a cop out.

Something about concurrent realities. It went downhll from there - everytime you drew another absurd conclusion from what someone else had stated.

The belittlement comes from immaturity. There's no reason to belittle somebody because they disagree with you. If you think they're wrong, prove them wrong. Calling them names does nothing constructive, it's just an outlet for your frustration.

No, the criticism comes from the fact that, in https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=350500", you freely admitted that you drive without any consideration for other vehicles on the road. Basically, you freely admitted to driving like a jerk. Why are you now complaining that your chickens have come home to roost?

You make it very difficult to take you seriously when
a] you show no understanding of group dynamics like driving (SaladSamurai's complaint)
b] you act (either advertantly or inadvertantly) obtuse about others' points about driving (my complaint).

 

[leroyjenkens]

Something about concurrent realities. It went downhll from there - everytime you drew another absurd conclusion from what someone else had stated.

That was hyperbole to prove a point. How was it a non sequitur? And what else did I say that was an absurd conclusion? Don't just pooh-pooh everything I say. It seems like anything you encounter that you can't refute, you automatically conclude it's not worth refuting. That's not a respectable strategy and it's very transparent.

No, the criticism comes from the fact that, in an older thread on driving habits

What does that have to do with this thread?

you freely admitted that you drive without any consideration for other vehicles on the road.

Basically, you freely admitted to driving like a jerk.

I did not. That's your interpretation. Apparently anyone who drives differently from the way you think they should is driving like a jerk.

Why are you now complaining that your chickens have come home to roost?

I'm complaining that you can't discuss the issue at hand. How I drive has nothing to do with this thread, so bringing that up is irrelevant.

You make it very difficult to take you seriously when
a] you show no understanding of group dynamics like driving (SaladSamurai's complaint)
b] you act (either advertantly or inadvertantly) obtuse about others' points about driving (my complaint).

It has nothing to do with taking me seriously. This whole spiel you're putting on right now is just a distraction from the matter at hand. You're hijacking the thread.

 

[GeorginaS]

 

[xxChrisxx]

Do you two want to step outside and have a fight about this?

 

[DaveC426913]

This isn't a fight. leroy's discussion style simply needs some work if he's to be taken seriously. I'm just not being very patient about it.

 

[hamster143]

Top 10 makes/models most likely to be ticketed for speeding (100% - the average rate for all cars):

Hummer H2/H3 463%
Scion tC 460%
Scion XB 403%
Mercedes Benz CLK63 AMG 397%
Toyota Solara Coupe 306%
Mercedes Benz CLS63 AMG 276%
Scion XA 275%
Subaru Outback 266%
Audi A4 264%
Toyota Matrix 264%

Nine out of ten are foreign makes. Four are common teenager rides. Only two are sport cars.

Conversely, eight out of ten on "the least ticketed" list are domestics, one is a Jaguar (up until recently owned by Ford), and one is Mazda (also partially owned by Ford). The #1 on the least ticketed list, Jaguar XJ, comes with a 400 hp V-8 and would rip the Mitsu 3000GT to shreds in a straight line.

 

[GeorginaS]

Top 10 makes/models most likely to be ticketed for speeding (100% - the average rate for all cars):

Hummer H2/H3 463%
Scion tC 460%
Scion XB 403%
Mercedes Benz CLK63 AMG 397%
Toyota Solara Coupe 306%
Mercedes Benz CLS63 AMG 276%
Scion XA 275%
Subaru Outback 266%
Audi A4 264%
Toyota Matrix 264%

Nine out of ten are foreign makes. Four are common teenager rides. Only two are sport cars.

Conversely, eight out of ten on "the least ticketed" list are domestics, one is a Jaguar (up until recently owned by Ford), and one is Mazda (also partially owned by Ford). The #1 on the least ticketed list, Jaguar XJ, comes with a 400 hp V-8 and would rip the Mitsu 3000GT to shreds in a straight line.

I'm curious. Do you have citation or a link to a site where you got this information from? You don't just wander around having this stuff memorised, do you?

 

[DaveC426913]

Personally, I would be interested in the stats on colour.

 

[Sorry!]

I'm curious. Do you have citation or a link to a site where you got this information from? You don't just wander around having this stuff memorised, do you?

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/which-drivers-get-the-most-tickets.aspx
it's from research done by an insurance company. I found the company but couldn't find the research on their site lol.

 

[GeorginaS]

Personally, I would be interested in the stats on colour.

Well, hrm. Okay. I'll try out my Google-fu and see what I come up with.

Snopes claims it's an urban legend that red cars attract more speeding tickets. Weirdly, I kind of trust them as an information source.

http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/redcars.asp"

MSN Money has an article entitled http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/8TopTrafficTicketMyths.aspx" in which they address the alleged myth about red cars getting more speeding tickets. The article cites a website called Color Matters as an information source for their material, but the Color Matters site is a message board where people discuss (and dissect) color questions but no one seems to provide anything other than anecdotal evidence and/or claims to have done or read research but doesn't provide any links or sources to follow-up with.

Okay, okay. This might be more credible, even.

An article on edmunds.com entitled Traffic Ticket Urban Legends has this to say


The "Red Car Bias" Myth #1: A commonly held misperception is that red cars tend to receive more speeding tickets than do cars of other colors because of their flashiness. There's also the supposed optical illusion created by their color that makes the cars appear to be going faster than they really are. These are both fascinating theories, but the fact is, according to Carolyn Gorman, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute and Insurance Trade Association, "there is no data to support the assertion that red cars receive more traffic tickets than cars of any other color." Still, the urban legend has been so widely accepted in American society that it has spawned the driving myth discussed below.

(Emphasis mine. I would think that this woman likely has some cred, yes?)


The "Red Car Bias" Myth #2: One can't help wonder how many car buyers have shied away from red cars because they believed owning one would cause higher insurance rates than those commanded by cars of other colors. However, even though some studies have suggested red cars are involved in a disproportionate number of accidents, according to Gorman, "there are no major insurance companies that consider car color when determining your rates." Basically, says Gorman, what it comes down to is "people with good driving records and who also drive safe vehicles typically have the lowest car insurance premiums."

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/youngdrivers/articles/125550/article.html"

'Kay. For my own sake, I needed to follow-up with the authority of someone from the Insurance Information Institute. They appear to be an unbiased third party whose mandate is to collect and disseminate information about insurance to the public.

The mission of the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) is to improve public understanding of insurance -- what it does and how it works.

For more than 40 years, the I.I.I. has provided definitive insurance information. Today, the I.I.I. is recognized by the media, governments, regulatory organizations, universities and the public as a primary source of information, analysis and referral concerning insurance.

http://www.iii.org/about/"

They appear reliable.

 

[GeorginaS]

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/which-drivers-get-the-most-tickets.aspx
it's from research done by an insurance company. I found the company but couldn't find the research on their site lol.

Ah. Hrm. Funny how they'll do that, huh?

Do you have two accounts, or did you go digging for someone else?

 

[Sorry!]

Ah. Hrm. Funny how they'll do that, huh?

Do you have two accounts, or did you go digging for someone else?

Lol I went to look it up after they posted and you requested the source. I was interested in it as well . Why would I use two accounts when I've had this one for a few years now .

 

[GeorginaS]

Lol I went to look it up after they posted and you requested the source. I was interested in it as well . Why would I use two accounts when I've had this one for a few years now .

Dunno, just curious. I asked someone a question and someone else answered. Not saying you can't do that, it just momentarily puzzled me. That's all.

And, a summation for DaveC, it would appear that there aren't stats on red cars and speeding tickets because there is no correlation or causation, and therefore the stats don't exist because the event doesn't exist.

 

[Moonbear]

I don't think the question is whether red cars, overall, get more tickets than other colors of car, since those who are majorly exceeding the speed limit (20 or more over on a highway) are going to get pulled over no matter what they are driving. What I'm more curious about is whether red cars (or sports cars) get pulled out of the crowd more often for small amounts over the limit...less than 10 mph over on a highway. The OP himself didn't get tickets, but did get pulled over (his friend got the ticket) and given a warning. I almost wonder if they do it as an unconscious preventative measure...not giving a ticket, but pulling them over to basically suggest, "I think you're going to be trouble driving that red sportscar, because people who like to drive fast buy them, so I'm letting you know I'm watching you, so don't try anything funny on this road."

I don't think warnings are tracked. The insurance industry only tracks actual tickets for moving violations so they can tack on more surcharges, but I don't even know if warnings get logged anywhere.

 

[xxChrisxx]

I don't think the question is whether red cars, overall, get more tickets than other colors of car, since those who are majorly exceeding the speed limit (20 or more over on a highway) are going to get pulled over no matter what they are driving. What I'm more curious about is whether red cars (or sports cars) get pulled out of the crowd more often for small amounts over the limit...less than 10 mph over on a highway. The OP himself didn't get tickets, but did get pulled over (his friend got the ticket) and given a warning. I almost wonder if they do it as an unconscious preventative measure...not giving a ticket, but pulling them over to basically suggest, "I think you're going to be trouble driving that red sportscar, because people who like to drive fast buy them, so I'm letting you know I'm watching you, so don't try anything funny on this road."

I don't think warnings are tracked. The insurance industry only tracks actual tickets for moving violations so they can tack on more surcharges, but I don't even know if warnings get logged anywhere.

Anything that brings undue attention to yourself will get you pulled more often, you may not get busted for anything but if you are doing something that isn't 100% above board its stands to reason that the more conspicuous you are the more likely you are to get pulled.

The things that are most likely to give the dibble a reason to pull you over even if you are doing nothing wrong (from experiences I've seen/had/heard about) are:

overly loud exhaust
overly loud music
highly modified cars
prestige cars (I suspect just so they can have a peek)
bright coloured sports car

I'm not claiming this to be accurate, just my observations.

 

[DaveC426913]

The things that are most likely to give the dibble a reason to pull you over even if you are doing nothing wrong (from experiences I've seen/had/heard about) are:

What is a "dibble"?

 

[DaveC426913]

I don't think the question is whether red cars, overall, get more tickets than other colors of car, since those who are majorly exceeding the speed limit (20 or more over on a highway) are going to get pulled over no matter what they are driving. What I'm more curious about is whether red cars (or sports cars) get pulled out of the crowd more often for small amounts over the limit...less than 10 mph over on a highway. The OP himself didn't get tickets, but did get pulled over (his friend got the ticket) and given a warning. I almost wonder if they do it as an unconscious preventative measure...not giving a ticket, but pulling them over to basically suggest, "I think you're going to be trouble driving that red sportscar, because people who like to drive fast buy them, so I'm letting you know I'm watching you, so don't try anything funny on this road."

I don't think warnings are tracked. The insurance industry only tracks actual tickets for moving violations so they can tack on more surcharges, but I don't even know if warnings get logged anywhere.

I think the idea though is that, if a type of car is singled out for whatever purpose, that should still show up in how many tickets are issued. Unless there is a subsequent "de-correlation" of these two things.

I would find it implausible that cops are targeting certian vehicles for warnings only, without it resulting in statistically more tickets.