When do speed limit signs take effect?

[crimson5pheonix]

I don't know about where you live, each state has different de jure and de facto rules. For example, in Texas, I do believe that you are actually not supposed to speed up until after passing the sign- according to the law as written. In practice, the police expect you to speed up as soon as the sign is at all visible, and to be going 10 miles over the speed limit at all times.

Technically, I think it is passing the sign.

Except suburbs, where it's only 5 MPH over...

Eh, 5-8, but you're right. Never the normal full 10. That would just be reckless!

Of course. Of course, they make it hard around here. My area is a notorious speed trap area. But the cops change their mind about whether you should follow the speed limit or exceed it randomly.

I used to live in a small town where the cops had nothing better to do than pull over innocent people going 85 miles per hour down the interstate, but now that I live in a bigger city the cops don't so irrationally attempt to perform the jobs for which they are paid.

There's a road around here that has a 30 MPH speed limit, which sucks. It's a 4 lane road with nothing on it. It only goes from one street to another. If you go over 30, you're speeding. If you go 30 and there's someone else behind you, it's reckless driving.

 

[crudus]

When, exactly, do speed limit signs take effect? Does the new speed limit (from slower to faster for example) come into play once the sign is clearly visible or is there an 'imaginary line' ,where the sign is posted, that you have to cross before speeding up?

Dick move on the cops part. (Warning: what I am about to say applies to my state, and I have no idea what the law is in your state.) In my state the new speed kicks in at the sign but technically it doesn't start until about 100ft(30.5m) after the sign to prevent speed trapping. Also, depending on how fast your mother was going (it should say on the ticket) she can fight it. Five mph over the limit is "legal" since there can be a discrepancy between the the driver's speedometer and the radar gun (which could also be measuring inaccurately).

you never have to be at the speed limit.

-m

There are some interstates that have a minimum speed though. It is usually around 45 mph (72kph). Though your point still stands.

 

[evilartist]

When, exactly, do speed limit signs take effect?

When the city budget is running low.

 

[riotwraith]

Whichever way is easier to give you a ticket. I've gotten a ticket because I was still going 45 while the 35 mph sign was off in the distance and just starting to become clearly visible, and I've gotten a ticket for speeding up when I was still 30 or 40 yards from the next sign which was 10 mph higher.

You would think that means to obey the speed limit and just be cautious about stuff like that when police are around, but I've been pulled over and searched for that, too. Because "Only people who are high on something drive like that around here."

While we're on the subject, I've also been given a speeding ticket and a reckless driving ticket on the same road in the same week. The first time I was going 4 mph over the limit, the second time I was going exactly the speed limit (Cruise control) but everyone behind me was speeding "so someone's going to fly around one of those blind curves and hit you. I'm not telling you to speed, that would be wrong, I'm just saying you should keep more reckless drivers (yes, he actually said the name of ticket referring to THEM) in mind on a road like this.

The moral of the story? I don't know. Cops are dicks? Leaving the law up to the officers best judgement doesn't work when they have different judgements? Life is full of stupid crap, just accept it and move on? Take your pick.

 

[twistedmic]

When, exactly, do speed limit signs take effect? Does the new speed limit (from slower to faster for example) come into play once the sign is clearly visible or is there an 'imaginary line' ,where the sign is posted, that you have to cross before speeding up?

Dick move on the cops part. (Warning: what I am about to say applies to my state, and I have no idea what the law is in your state.) In my state the new speed kicks in at the sign but technically it doesn't start until about 100ft(30.5m) after the sign to prevent speed trapping. Also, depending on how fast your mother was going (it should say on the ticket) she can fight it. Five mph over the limit is "legal" since there can be a discrepancy between the the driver's speedometer and the radar gun (which could also be measuring inaccurately).

She was going 57, within view of the 55mph sign. And she has always thought that the peed limit took effect when you could see the sign (unless otherwise indicated by the sign), so to her she was going two miles over, though she has a dial speedometer rather than a digital one. But according to the cop and his interpertation of the speed laws, she was going twelve miles over the limit (which I don't think warrants and $200+ ticket).

 

[Brandon237]

That cop... was an ass. $220 for going faster 50 metres earlier than a highly technical and obscure law states. Ass.

I'm not entirely sure of the law though, but be safe and only change after the sign. Also, speed traps are inefficient and stupid. What if you need to overtake? Although in my country, the cops are widely considered to be criminals themselves, a reputation they deserve. And just to reinforce it, they have speed traps at the bottom of steep hills!

Road law = a long set of logical errors and foolish guidelines designed by greedy municipalities to make an easy profit.

 

[Eggsnham]

I think it's when you see the sign.

 

[AVATAR_RAGE]

When you pass the sign the new speed limit is in place. But it starts as soon as you pass the sign, so you have to be at that speed when you pass.

you never have to be at the speed limit.

-m

I ment when reduceing your speed. And if you want to avoid a ticket you do

 

[fletch_talon]

When there's an increase in speed limit, you are not permitted to accelerate (beyond the current limit) until you pass the sign.

When there's a decrease in speed limit, you must be traveling at the new limit by the time you pass the sign.

By the way people fucking drive here though, you'd think there were no speed limits. No you don't need to pass me, I'm going the speed limit, sometimes a sliver over. What the fuck is so important that its worth risking your's and your passenger's lives just to save time.