Route 66

eslick

when we were in the US recently saw a story that some of the police forces are so hard up they are putting extra police on catching people speeding as its seen as a way of getting in some revenue.

Moonchild

Just a word to the wise. Having lived in the states and driven masses of miles on road trips I have been pulled over numerous times. I did have a reasonable excuse (reasonable to my mind!) in that our cruise control was broken and everytime we used something electric in the car (radio, windows, seats) we were automatically bumped up 10km/h.

We were always pulled over when least expecting it - when you have long empty roads driving though Nevada, Texas, Arizona etc with ridiculously low speed limits, you don't expect hidden cops with speed cameras to be waiting behind big cactii

Anyway, I was let off until I was pulled over in Louisiana. I was pulled over for exceeding the limit by 5km/p/h - but i'd left my license in the house (a British license which was my 'get out of jail card' so to speak) so I also got done for Driving without a License. Result = court visit, and although I plea bargained away the speeding charge, got hit with a US$75 fine for the latter.

So, don't be dictated by what other people tell you - you break the law, get caught, you could get in trouble! But those speed limits, those big open road through desert......

But yeh - back to the original case in point - I drove I10 coast to coast and there are lots of bits you can detour towards Route 66 (like around Albuquerque) when you want the pics. A trip from New Orleans to San Francisco takes a hell of a lot of driving and time, but yeh, it keeps the spirit of road trip adventures out there and you meet some interesting people! We had a cheap tent in the boot, and mostly stayed at cheap motels en-route. Good times!

AnnaLicious_2

I have to agree with the general concensus on the board. As an American, I have had quite a few speeding tickets. And I think you'll find more people have than haven't gotten tickets.
Most of mine were for being a show-off teenager. But I did get one as an adult in a speed trap. Annoyingly it was the car beside me, no one believed me, and my car was in such bad shape it wouldn't go over 55 anyway!
I've been amazed by how fewer traffic cops there are here in the UK. So please be aware that yes, probably a majority of people will cruise those long roads at higher speeds, but speeding fines in some areas are at a minumum $200.
There is a small town in Florida called Waldo, famous for it's speed trap. The highway has a speed limit of 55, you turn a bend and then suddenly it's 35 with a cop stood beside the sign writing you a ticket. And for some time in Daytona, the cops would intimidate you into letting you search you car, then confiscate large amounts of cash. So waiters and bartenders with a lot of tips would often lose their evening's wage.
Do NOT EVER joke with traffic cops. Do not insult traffic cops. Do not threaten traffic cops.
But outside of that, enjoy traveling around America. We are a friendly bunch otherwise!

AnnaLicious_2

greenface wrote: »

You are so well travelled since your parents told you to run away from home.
Well take this advice well as you dont get bothered have yourself a bottle of gin before you set off and some crack for the journey load your gun for robbing a few gas stations on the way.
Stay at home because your village misses their idiot.

By the way - what's that about? I didn't think the MSE forum usually had that kind of tone to it? hu.

Moonchild

AnnaLicious wrote: »

By the way - what's that about? I didn't think the MSE forum usually had that kind of tone to it? hu.

Welcome to the Travel Board. Massage enough egos and you'll be fine!

shayne_2

Route 66 is very over rated though you can drive through some lovely places, & i would not break the law which ever country i'm in, it's only england that's soft & have prisons like butlins, lol, i would be more terrified to break the law abroad & in U.S.A each state have different laws, I love America & have been to 7 different states, each one's different, lots to see & would take over a lifetime to see, & soooo cheap:j

Gloomendoom

I've also been stopped while driving in the US. On my birthday too.


My brother in law also got stopped for speeding at nearly 100mph. He had several guns in the boot which made the ensuing conversation interesting. Add to that, he still has his old paper licence and that really confused the hell out of the cops. In the end they let him off with a warning.

LesD

Back to the original question.....................

http://www.historic66.com/

Gloomendoom

LesD wrote: »

Back to the original question.....................

Yes, sorry!

There are some interesting things along the way, but mostly it's miles and miles of this...

ferf1223

not sure if it's the same in the US, but I got a speeding ticket in a rental car in Australia (camera, not pulled over - no idea it happened until I got the letter from the rental car agency with a copy of the ticket indicating that they had assessed a fee of $100AUD (I think it was) as an admin charge for the ticket...I was going 5km over the limit...the speeding ticket wasn't cheap either - though at the time, the exchange rate made it less painful.
Just to keep in mind that it may not just be the price of the ticket...the rental car agency might also take their piece.

That said, we normally do about 10 miles over the limit in the US.