California sr 87 -Traffic ticket!

RZAR66 wrote:

fpoole wrote:
Yah, I avoid Calif at all costs..

I wish there were more people like you.

And LESS PEOPLE like You.....:R

Many of us are trying to justify the OP's wanderings within his lane, for which he apparently had failed. He needs to be punished for his transgressions and be more careful in the future. There is no excuse for being careless (and dangerous) and he needs to perform better in the future. It was a learning experience. I trust the observations of the LEO in making that determination.

obgraham wrote:
I know you guys will be on me like a Doberman on a dropped ribeye,

Why would any responsible adult drop a ribeye? You need to take a little better care of a quality steak like a ribeye. Someone that would be careless enough to drop a steak would probably also wander outside of the lines on the highway.

I know you guys will be on me like a Doberman on a dropped ribeye, but anyway:

We've lost sight of the real issue in favor of the minutae. Driving safely. To me, OP's offense is a bit like driving 39 in a 35 zone: sure, illegal, but likely not a threat to safety.

Let's look at a different scenario: you're coming down a winding 2 laner, plenty of turns along the way. You come up to a left bend, and can see a mile down the road, which is completely empty. Repeat that: empty. No oncoming traffic, nobody entering the highway, no bikes, no pedestrians. (Hopefully no cops!)I'll frequently crowd the centerline in that case, maybe even drift over it. Cuts fatigue, saves the passengers, gets you ready for the next turn to the right. The important thing is WATCH THE ROAD and WATCH THE TRAFFIC!

I don't see that as a safety issue at all. Those of you who do are just picking at nits and imagining stuff here.

I know, I got out my asbestos suit.

Not going to rag on the OP, sometimes stuff happens. But in my years in the Fire Department in the Santa Cruz Mountains most of the henious injury "accidents" were from failure to maintain your lane.

During my 25 years in law enforcement, I've pulled hundreds of vehicles over for "failure to maintain lane". Out of those hundreds, some were arrested for DUI, some were cited for the violation and other issues but most were warned. If I cited someone for just the lane violation, it was usually because they almost hit me or they had an attitude that needed adjusted. The fine is less than $50.00 but the courts add fees that are ridiculous.

We had to run US11 in WV a number of times with a ClassA and toad. Found out the best way was to let DW drive out in front with a radio to tell me if there was anything coming around the next curve. If the situation warrants it, we still do it that way. Up in WV, we had to use radios cause there was no cell service. We do the same with cell phones when possible, with mine on speaker, its hands off communications.

Highway 97 should be easy to navigate and stay between the "navigational beacons" as made famous in a favorite song. We recently did Highway 205 East of there, which is especially narrow South of French Glen. I was exhausted after driving several hours with that minimal road width (especially while dodging cattle in that open range environment).

Much of the highway had center rumble strips. That will keep you awake!

Highway 205

Freeborn530 wrote:
Returning from Lake Tahoe to Seattle on California sr 87, a winding, mountain, two lane road in my truck camper pulling my boat I was ticket ed by CHP for lane violation! Officer observed that on this twisted, winding road I failed to maintain my lane. Ticket cost $238. Public safety or revenue inhansment?

I have read most of the responses....

My view is a lot different than most... $238 is pocket change for people that own trucks and RV's

For me... I'd be embarrased to do something so bad that I got stopped.

But, more important... what would really bother me is the "points" on my drivers license that would cause the cost of my insurance policy's to go up on all of our vehicles.

I read others complaining about drivers not driving fast enough: Most roads have a maximum speed.... but we are supposed to drive at a speed that is safe... and not faster than the maximum.

Interstate highways have minimum speeds... if you can't safely maintain that speed you are not supposed to be on that road.

I have never seen a sign that says you must break the speed limit, I have never seen a sign that says it's OK to cross the double yellow lines because you want to drive the maximum legal speed limit and that makes control a little harder.

To the OP... how much extra will this ticket cost for all of your insured vehicles. (even your TC if it's on your policy.

Whee!... I wish you hadn't posted this... now I have to work harder to keep from getting a ticket.

Sleepy

More To See wrote:
I'd love to be behind all the hard nose "stay between the lines" responders when they come up behind some bicycles out on a mountain road.

I'll bet none would follow along for miles at 5 miles an hour instead of just violating the yellow lines and sweeping on past at a somewhat safe location.

Sometimes you gotta use a little common sense.

How would the CHP pass the cyclist giving the proper distance and location and NOT crossing the lines?
Looks like your not getting any sympathy here Mr OP.