Speeders have their field day in court

It's not only the speeding, it's all the traffic laws being abused. Counting the number of people I see pulled over, you can get away with almost anything before you are. Since everyone is normally speeding, not many see it as a threat.
I hope someone important, with influence, reads your article and makes them as sick as it made me. You have to understand that Judges speed, their family and friends speed, they just might be refecting on their own actions.

There is too much money and too many full time jobs dependant upon driving under the influence for the state to worry about the petty little bad driver, they can cause countless wrecks or even death and barely get punished!!!

Does anyone know why Dresser get's a hard on for anyone who drives faster than he does? With all the distracted drivers on the road doing everything under the sun and not exceeding the speed limit, but are the major cause for most traffic disasters. He chooses to get his jollies off on speed. I know this column is his slot while he waits for retirement, but you think this coulmn would be written by some who know something about traffic flow and the ability to do more than keep you car in a straight line. I guarantee you Dresser will be one of those seniors who should have stop driving at 55yrs, but will still on the road because he is not exceeding the speed limit even though he will spend most of his time drifting into your lane and blaming you for going to fast.

I agree that the judges need to enforce the laws just like police do. I would also like to see police pull people over for other things, like "unsafe lane changing", which they almost never do by itself, it's usually an also-ran charge to high speed. I'd love to see someone get pulled over for changing lanes without a blinker and all the other road violations that occur regularly.

Why don't they? It's my opinion that it is because it's not enough bang for the buck. Unsafe lane changing only gets them $40. Why pull them over when there are coffers to fill? Why not just pull someone over who's going over the speed limit over and over again.

This judge is not letting a bad man get away with something, he's keeping the revenue stream going. They've gotten more money out of him because he hasn't changed his ways. If he was really harsh with him, they might have only gotten the first $290 from him and that would be it.

Amen. Worst part of the job - going to court.
No one is held accountable for their behavior anymore.
It IS very discouraging.

The powers that be in Maryland have seen fit to develop as much land as possible and crowd our roads with millions of vehicles, making life MISERABLE for people with any kind of commute. Drivers poke along like pawns in some kind of sick play. Do I speed when I get the chance, and maybe makeup a little of my valuable time? You're damn right I do. Eighty miles per hour on Route 29 on the way home from work? Every day if I can! It's a good way to compensate for time wasted on the Beltway and I-95 poking along behind cell phone maggots, white-knuckled Asian women gripping the wheel in abject fear, hundreds of tractor trailers that can't get out of their own way, and hybrid car owners trying to squeeze every drop of gas out at others' inconvenience. The State of Maryland seems to want me to wallow in one giant traffic jam every day. Sorry but I'm doing my best to escape the madness, as fast as possible.

Hah I had a 79 in a 55 and the judge raised it from $290 to $500 just because he could. Trying to talk your way out of it didn't work. Just go to Elkton where court has the credibility of the little rascals.

I recently moved to delaware. I occasionally have to go back to towson area for doctor's visits. In early april after i reached Route #97 from annapolis to beltway I played a game. I counted the number of cars that passed me as I stayed reasonably within the 65 mile speed limit. I counted 86 such speeders, some doing at least over 80. Next I did the same after reaching the beltway to towson. Counted 121 this stretch. Yes, the some judges are way out of line with their punishment in traffic court. But I feel the police need to crack down seriously with the gross violations of the speed limit I realize they cannot be everywhere at all times, but one could paint the same scenerio I did on a daily basis in the Baltimore metro area!!!!

FOR WALLY AND GET REAL

You couldn't create a social system out of people like you, you'd have all parasites and no hosts.

You guys are probably major players in the economic and political systems of our day. What do you do, sell office supplies?

Should I be able to tell that this reporter is older and doesn't like those young whippersnappers passing him on the highway?

Where is the conclusion to the guy with all the tickets?

Take a look around Maryland roads you might see a few 40 speed limits and everyone is going 60 when they can. If you do it at the wrong time of day with less drivers on the road you'll get caught.

I'm not saying speeding should be condoned. Maryland has a bigger problem with people talking on cellphones. Let's not forget other states also have a minimum speed requirement on the highways and only passing and driving in the left hand lane. Perhaps things like this is why we have such a high percentage of highway accidents and traffic congestion but no where near the people per capita.

Please, Michael are you that naive to believe that the system is actually about anything but the dollar? If you think that this sate is concerned for your safety then I pity you and yours as you have succumbed to the politicians crapola that passes for government here

They're all liberal judges. Way to lenient, and its their responsibility to help do their part in public safety, but not in todays world.

My question is, why didn't the PBJ device kick in? According to statute, while in a PBJ status if another offense occurs the new charges as well as the old charges are instituted along with the corresponding penalties. I thought that was automatic. Or is that another "up to the discretion of the courts"? If so, then that is the true injustice.

Maybe if the state felt the need to design the roads in to promote traffic flow rather than congestion, then perhaps people wouldn't feel the need to exceed the speed limit so much. Maybe, if the state built a MARC line between Frederick and Baltimore and cleaned up the Owings Mills system, more people would be inclined to ride the train. Instead, we get the light rail, which is pretty much useless. If the state was so worried about traffic issues, then why didn't they pass the cell phone legislation? Invariably, when you have someone in the left lane holdiong up traffic, or merging into the side of another car, they have a phone pressed to the side of their head. Just require hands free and you'd see an immediate improvement in traffic flow.

I'm guessing that some of these traffic judges know what a joke Maryland is when it comes to traffic issues.

For Bob K from AOL

That should be "too" lenient - not "to" lenient. Go back for your high school equivalency degree. The extra education will make more things in life understandable and help you cope better.

pfifeman

Is it not possible for things in your world to have more than one purpose (e.g., increase safety and raise revenue)? Are you still working on the "chew gum and walk at the same time" trick? Good luck.

Get Article/just hope some district court judges read this & get tough for a week or so

Some college kids in atlanta did an experiment in driving the speed limit on the local beltway across all four lanes. It resulted in a huge back up.
Here is the link to the video.
http://video.google.com/videoplay...

Thank you Robert, Now if only Dresser could use those reporting skills he is supposed to have and do his job.

why isn't the name of the judge disclosed? If we knew this individual and the lack of responsibility his rulings enable, we might be able to begin the process of kicking him(or her) off the bench!