Be careful driving in snowstorms in VT (or anywhere for that matter)

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Probably already in this thread, but VT is doing an ad blitz that the recommended speed limit in such storms is 45 on the interstates and 40 on other roads. It's been a bad winter for driving.

I drive like a grandma but with those limits, I'd feel like Mario Andretti..I can't drive 45..but 50mph with a capable vehicle is not crazy...it's all about being in control..

 

[jerseyrob]

Let me get this right. Most of these officers were hit during snowstorms while having someone pulled over, so they decide to start pulling more people over during snowstorms?

 

[SnowPlow]

Driving from Albany/Troy area to Mt. Snow in a major storm in March '07 was insane. But it was worth it once I got there!!!

 

[Glenn]

I'm still trying to comprehend how someone manages to hit a police car...that has it's lights on.

 

[frozencorn]

When I lived in VT, 89 was like the freaking Autobahn. I think I saw a statie on that road twice in four years.

 

[thetrailboss]

Let me get this right. Most of these officers were hit during snowstorms while having someone pulled over, so they decide to start pulling more people over during snowstorms?

No. They were pulled over because they are rendering assistance to drivers.

 

[billski]

Try going less than 70mph on I-91 in Southern Vermont, no matter what the weather. Your likely to get tailgated and aggresively passed.

Hmm. I drive 65 on I-91 all the time and haven't died yet

I used to have your perspective, but I've learned to slow down and chill. It costs me maybe 10-15 minutes, I don't care.

If someone harasses me, I'll just pull out the digital camera and take a couple snaps, driver, license and put it away. At my funeral they will uncover it for evidence.:???:

 

[billski]

I drive like a grandma but with those limits, I'd feel like Mario Andretti..I can't drive 45..but 50mph with a capable vehicle is not crazy...it's all about being in control..

AND NOT endangering others in the process!

 

[Geoff]

In Vermont, I've given up. They've won. I use the cruise control and go the speed limit. I drive like I'm taking my drivers licence exam. I'm sure it annoys the hell out of the flatlanders behind me but I'm sick & tired of getting tickets. They pull anybody and everybody over for the least possible excuse. In the last week, I know people who got pulled over for: License plate light out. Failure to use turn signal (coming out of a driveway). Failure to stop at a stop sign (they probably slowed to 2 mph but didn't come to a complete stop).

At some point after the Vermont economy completely craters from chasing away the tourists, this might change but it's rediculous right now. Every town has a contract sheriff since 50% of the tickets the guy writes go directly to the town. The state police have firm instructions to write tickets to fund their pay checks.

 

[thetrailboss]

In Vermont, I've given up. They've won. I use the cruise control and go the speed limit. I drive like I'm taking my drivers licence exam. I'm sure it annoys the hell out of the flatlanders behind me but I'm sick & tired of getting tickets. They pull anybody and everybody over for the least possible excuse. In the last week, I know people who got pulled over for: License plate light out. Failure to use turn signal (coming out of a driveway). Failure to stop at a stop sign (they probably slowed to 2 mph but didn't come to a complete stop).

At some point after the Vermont economy completely craters from chasing away the tourists, this might change but it's rediculous right now. Every town has a contract sheriff since 50% of the tickets the guy writes go directly to the town. The state police have firm instructions to write tickets to fund their pay checks.

Not to get political, but I think that there is some revenue concern as well.

I will also say that some towns/officers are tougher than others. I think that everyone knows of the Bridgewater Speedtrap on the way to Killington.

 

[Geoff]

Not to get political, but I think that there is some revenue concern as well.

I will also say that some towns/officers are tougher than others. I think that everyone knows of the Bridgewater Speedtrap on the way to Killington.

It's actually now a speed trap gauntlet. I drove to West Lebanon yesterday. I saw four separate speed traps on Route 4. The Woodstock town cop and Bridgewater rental sheriff are always there. There were two more in Quechee near the bridge and outlet hell and Killington and both of those were state troopers. I think four speed traps in a 30 mile segment of road is a little excessive.

The state police recently complained to Killington because the two radar speed signs were cutting into their ticket revenue on the access road. I don't get the priority. Isn't it supposed to be safety and protection of the public? My next door neighbor's alarm went off a couple of months ago when somebody who had a key but didn't know how to operate the panel tripped it. The state police showed up 3 hours later.

 

[SkiDork]

In Vermont, I've given up. They've won. I use the cruise control and go the speed limit. I drive like I'm taking my drivers licence exam. I'm sure it annoys the hell out of the flatlanders behind me but I'm sick & tired of getting tickets. They pull anybody and everybody over for the least possible excuse. In the last week, I know people who got pulled over for: License plate light out. Failure to use turn signal (coming out of a driveway). Failure to stop at a stop sign (they probably slowed to 2 mph but didn't come to a complete stop).

At some point after the Vermont economy completely craters from chasing away the tourists, this might change but it's rediculous right now. Every town has a contract sheriff since 50% of the tickets the guy writes go directly to the town. The state police have firm instructions to write tickets to fund their pay checks.

I was leading a caravan back from Sunapee last weekend - some of the folks behind me knew me. Later on they said "we were wondering who the anal retentive doing 25 through Woodstock was" LOL

I'm wit you. I'm setting that cruise ctrl and using the GPS for the speedo while doing it.

 

[Marc]

No. They were pulled over because they are rendering assistance to drivers.

Indeed, most of the time the cruiser is parked defensively to protect an accident scene.

Although I don't think they should be all that surprised that in a above normal snowfall winter they're seeing above normal accident rates.

 

[Glenn]

I use the cruise control on the highway in CT, MA and VT. I put it at 70, stuff the Jeep in the right lane and drink my coffee (one on the way up, one on the way down). The Jeep is a bit more of a "crusing" at a leasurely pace vehicle, so I really don't mind. Plus, I'm not killing our ski day.

I find the most heavily patrolled area is south of Greenfield down to Northampton. I always see at least 3-4 people pulled over heading home Sunday. All CT or NY plates too.

In town, in the Mount Snow area...There's a cop that will always sit at the top of the small hill on 9 when you're heading West. He's maybe 1/4 mile from the intersection of 9 and 100. I keep it at 25 there regardless.

I'm convinced an out of state place is a big scarlet letter screaming: "Pull me over! There's an 80% chance I'll jut pay fine since I'm a flatlander and don't want to drive 4 hours in one day to fight at $100 ticket."

*Edit: Two weeks ago, the people behind us on the Challenger lift were loudly bragging about all the tickets they receieved this year. "The guy wouldn't let me off! I told him my kids wanted to go to dinner!"

 

[riverc0il]

In Vermont, I've given up. They've won. I use the cruise control and go the speed limit. I drive like I'm taking my drivers licence exam. I'm sure it annoys the hell out of the flatlanders behind me but I'm sick & tired of getting tickets. They pull anybody and everybody over for the least possible excuse. In the last week, I know people who got pulled over for: License plate light out. Failure to use turn signal (coming out of a driveway). Failure to stop at a stop sign (they probably slowed to 2 mph but didn't come to a complete stop).

At some point after the Vermont economy completely craters from chasing away the tourists, this might change but it's rediculous right now. Every town has a contract sheriff since 50% of the tickets the guy writes go directly to the town. The state police have firm instructions to write tickets to fund their pay checks.

Maybe its just you. I lived in VT for two years and have driven there for skiing for more than half a dozen years (often times driving through towns) and have never gotten a ticket. I often drive 5 MPH over the limit, for the record.

 

[tjf67]

Maybe its just you. I lived in VT for two years and have driven there for skiing for more than half a dozen years (often times driving through towns) and have never gotten a ticket. I often drive 5 MPH over the limit, for the record.

You mean those signs on the side of the road mean something? Whoda thunk it

 

[from_the_NEK]

Maybe its just you. I lived in VT for two years and have driven there for skiing for more than half a dozen years (often times driving through towns) and have never gotten a ticket. I often drive 5 MPH over the limit, for the record.

I-91 north of Lyndon doesn't have many trooper. Typically your safe from the man at 70. However, I have seen a Quebec car get pulled over on the interstate one morning on the the way to work. Everyone was stacked up behind a county Sheriff going 65. The Quebec car decided to creep past (maybe 2 miles an hour faster that the sheriff). Once the car was past the cruiser, the lights came on :roll:

 

[riverc0il]

I-91 north of Lyndon doesn't have many trooper. Typically your safe from the man at 70. However, I have seen a Quebec car get pulled over on the interstate one morning on the the way to work. Everyone was stacked up behind a county Sheriff going 65. The Quebec car decided to creep past (maybe 2 miles an hour faster that the sheriff). Once the car was past the cruiser, the lights came on :roll:

I have on occasion seen troopers in the pull outs as you just start ascending Sheffield Heights. Probably looking to bag people on the south bound. I-93 North a short ways after the rest area and on the downhill heading towards Exit 1 is another popular hang out. It certainly is not like the cop patrols on Route 4 in the Wood stock area, that is for sure! But they are out there. I got a warning on Route 2 once which has occasional patrols.

 

[billski]

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090220/NEWS02/902200362/1003/NEWS02
ENFIELD, N.H. — After nearly three weeks without major snowfall, a storm has hit New Hampshire, causing a number of accidents and closing down part of Interstate 89.

 

[Zand]

I usually set my cruise around 70 in VT. I tend to go a bit fast on the rural roads such as 103 between Chester and Ludlow... in fact I did about 58 past a cop yesterday and he didn't do anything. He was waiting for the real idiots to go through though, such as a lot of people (at least 6) passed me like I was standing still when the truck lane came up on 103 even though I did about 60 through there (it's a 50). Some people are just in too much of a hurry. When I'm in any town in VT, I do the speed limit. However I didn't pass a single cop from Exit 6 to Skyeship base on my way to Killington yesterday which was surprising. Usually see a cop in Chester or Plymouth Union but not yesterday. Lots out on the way home being a Friday night.

I'm still a bit paranoid being under 18 because I get one ticket and I'm done for 90 days. I've never been pulled over, but got followed once on the way to Wachusett doing 50ish in a 40. Scared the shit out of me but luckily I was in my moms car that day because she hasn't gotten a ticket in 30 years of driving, so when they ran the plates they probably saw there weren't any past problems.