O.K..I wonder if this is a first :eek:

Can't Drive 65!

Man pulled over for going "too slow"

Bonstrom contends he was pulled over before reaching this 65 mph zone.

Erik Bonstrom considers himself a safe driver. So imagine his surprise when he was stopped along Route 50 Tuesday evening in Prince George's County, Md., -- for going too slow.

Motorist Fights Slowpoke Traffic Citation

Watch VideoA man who considers himself a safe driver is protesting a ticket he got for driving too slow.
"Coming back on Route 50, the speed limit is 55 and I was pulled over by a Maryland State trooper," Bonstrom said. "When I asked him why, he said I was going too slow and issued me an $80 ticket for going 58 in a 65."

Bonstrom said he tried to reason with the trooper as passing cars whizzed by.

"To me, you are punishing a safe driver and there are many cars that were passing me, and I guess it was just easier to pull me over than the cars that were speeding," Bonstrom said.

Bonstrom said the traffic stop is more puzzling because it came just yards before a 65 mph sign. He said he believes he was pulled over for going 58 mph on a part of the road that is actually a 55 mph zone, not 65 mph like the trooper claims.

A Maryland State Police representative said they are looking into the matter and plan to have a response within 24 hours.

Bonstrom said he plans to fight the ticket in court.

"If I was wrong, if I was speeding, then you got me and I'm wrong," Bonstrom said. "But the fact that I don't believe I'm wrong and that I wasn't breaking any laws -- that's why I'm fighting it."


link: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/I-Cant-Drive-65.html?yhp=1

That's PG County for ya.

These scofflaws never learn; it is about safety, not revenue.
This reminds me of a California story back in the 55mph days. A woman got a ticket for speeding because she was driving with the prevailing traffic. So, she started driving 55mph after that and she got a ticket for going too slow on the very same day. She went to courtg and gave the judge both tickets and had him decide what was up. Both tickets got tossed out.

I know a woman that was cited for "impeding traffic" on I-10 just east of LA. (LosAngeles---not Louisiana)
She was driving 55 and all surrounding cars were going well over 70.

I'm wondering if he was 'impeding', and if MD actually has that statue on the books.

I guess this depends on which lane he was in. Betting he was one of those aholes who drive 55-58 in the left lane and plug things up.

My understanding is that you're have to go at least 40 in a 55 or have your hazards on. Don't know about 65 mph zones.

Bryan, glad she got that ticket as long as she was not in the right lane.

I bet they have a statute for "Obstructing Traffic" I know they do in NJ.

Same thing happened to this guy....Read his initial post and then go down and read the 4 th post from MDAVIS....LOL

http://www.orlandoforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126522

He, He!!

And I drive 58 to 62 mph twice a day between Columbia and Jefferson City, MO and have had I figure the MoSHP Commander pass me many times in his big white Cruiser.

You know the plate that say's Car #3 sorta crap.... (Or whatever, I will have to write his plate # down next week!)..

Also have had Deputies tail me real close, but never-mind, I'm onto that ploy!

I figure they run me and find out I work for the State and back off.

All on the 4-lane!

pdq67

the interstates in MN have a minimum speed posted- if the speed limit is 70, then the minimum is 45. .yes.. 45 mph on roads where most people actually go closer to 80.
there is no lower limit posted on any other roads- just the maximum.
this is probably just a case of a cop that wanted to get somewhere- shift change at Dunkin Donuts, perhaps- and he got stuck behind a slow driver. by the time he figured he was late anyways, he decided to punish the guy that made him late.

I don't believe we have an Obstructing Traffic statue.
I was in traffic court once, when they called a lady up for a driving to slow ticket, the judge asked the officer if there was a minimum speed limit posted, officer said no, judge told the lady to have a nice day. Guy shouldn't have a problem either if he goes to court. Around here I believe there has to be a minimum posted limit in order to issue those tickets, I think the Bay Bridge has a min limit.

He's wrong either way...if the limit was 55 as he proclaims he was doing 58. I'll bet you he is one of those that gets on the highway and goes straight to the fast lane before they are up to speed. You can bet he did something that was deemed unsafe or annoyed the trooper.

If there is no impeding or obstructing traffic law then doing 45 in a 65 is the same as doing 7 mph in a 65. It would also allow those little scooters and mopeds that have a max speed of 40 MPH to be on the highway. I also believe that if there is no obstructing traffic law that you could stand in the road and cause a jam and there isnt a darn thing anyone can do, protestors could block traffic and not be removed. So I dont think there is a state that doesnt have this on the books in one form or another.

And I couldnt make a judgement without seeing what the road and traffic conditions were on that particular day and how that driver was affecting the flow. Its not cut and dry based on posted speed and theoretically (I have seen this argued in court and won by a speeder) speed limits are set by what 80 percent of traffic around you is doing (if I remember the percentage right, might be off a bit but true story)

So if your in the fast lane doing 70, speed limit is 65 but fast lane and lane next to you are all solid at 77 mph then you are the problem on the road even though you are within the POSTED speed limit.

Also theres been traffic studies conducted that have shown that these slower drivers cause more accidents than speeders. They are also usually the people on the phone with their blinker on for 10 miles that for some reason or another HAVE to look left or right at every car they pass to see whos driving it. I dont understand this phenominon. Same folks that when talking to a passenger they feel they have to look at them while they speak to them. You've seen these people. Looking forward, start talking and they are looking at the passenger for 20 seconds straight. Or they gawk at every car they pass. I bet this guy here wasnt just tooling along but again, not enough info to make a call without being there.

Just recently, here in Okla, they have started pulling drivers over (on divided or 4-lane) who get into the LEFT lane and then go slower than the rest of the traffic. THANK GOD, IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :hurray:

He, He!!

And I drive 58 to 62 mph twice a day between Columbia and Jefferson City, MO and have had I figure the MoSHP Commander pass me many times in his big white Cruiser.

You know the plate that say's Car #3 sorta crap.... (Or whatever, I will have to write his plate # down next week!)..

Also have had Deputies tail me real close, but never-mind, I'm onto that ploy!

I figure they run me and find out I work for the State and back off.

All on the 4-lane!

pdq67


Hey Paul,
I have a son who lives in Ashland.
He's an environmental engineer for the state in Jeff City and his wife is a claims supervisor for State Farm in Columbia. You probably pass one or both of them each day! :D

Also theres been traffic studies conducted that have shown that these slower drivers cause more accidents than speeders.

I Agree!
I was on my morning commute on westbound I80, when ahead I see dust flying and brake lights in all 3 lanes, I start to slow expecting to see a big wreck but instead there is a little Toyota in the middle lane going at least 20-25 mph slower than the flow. Cars were diving into the other lanes to avoid running over this little a-hole. As I passed I saw him eating something and completely obvious to the situation he was causing. That car alone probably caused a huge chain reaction traffic jam for hours.

So when I read about someone getting a ticket for driving too slow, all I can say is IT's ABOUT TIME!

One more person who shouldn't be in law enforcement.

Just recently, here in Okla, they have started pulling drivers over (on divided or 4-lane) who get into the LEFT lane and then go slower than the rest of the traffic. THANK GOD, IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :hurray:


I agree it's annoying but to pull someone over for it is a bunch of crap in my opinion. Many times if you are in the far right lane doing say 70 in a 65 you have to deal with merging traffic constantly.If you are in the left lane doing 70 and everyone else is doing 80 you should not be pulled over.

Like Derek said, in MN we have a minimum sign. We also have these:
http://blog.cholbi.com/wp-admin/images/EndSpeedLimit.jpg

Same thing happened to this guy....Read his initial post and then go down and read the 4 th post from MDAVIS....LOL

http://www.orlandoforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126522

That link has been shown before on a similiar post and it's still FUNNY as ever. :thumbsup:

Like Derek said, in MN we have a minimum sign. We also have these:
http://blog.cholbi.com/wp-admin/images/EndSpeedLimit.jpg

Derek didn't post that, i did..

We have posted minimums on the interstate here of 45mph. But if you are out there doing 45 they will pull you over to see what the problem is. Especially if the traffic is heavy!
You are only supposed to stay in the left lane long enough to pass a slower vehicle. if you stay out too long and they see you it will get you a ticket!
A manager from Wal-Mart was all alone with no traffic in sight cruising down in the left lane and got a ticket for it! That was just wrong.
The Idea of that law was to keep slower traffic from getting in the passing lane and causing backups!

Just recently, here in Okla, they have started pulling drivers over (on divided or 4-lane) who get into the LEFT lane and then go slower than the rest of the traffic. THANK GOD, IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :hurray:

AWESOME!!!! Now THAT'S about public safety!!!!:hurray:

In NY the interstates are 55 or 65. no minimum, but there are signs stating that flashers are required under 45 MPH.

I think a ticket for 58 in a 65 is ridiculous. Must be something else involved.

I Agree!
I was on my morning commute on westbound I80, when ahead I see dust flying and brake lights in all 3 lanes, I start to slow expecting to see a big wreck but instead there is a little Toyota in the middle lane going at least 20-25 mph slower than the flow. Cars were diving into the other lanes to avoid running over this little a-hole. As I passed I saw him eating something and completely obvious to the situation he was causing. That car alone probably caused a huge chain reaction traffic jam for hours.

So when I read about someone getting a ticket for driving too slow, all I can say is IT's ABOUT TIME!

Seen that too many times. I drive 580e and 580w every day from Dublin to Tracy. Its amazing how oblivious some of these idiots are. Some guy the other day didnt realize he was driving on the shoulder for about 6 miles. Just tooling along kicking up gravel, hitting pieces or truck tire. Finally figured it out when he came up to a broken down car getting towed.

Lots of morons on the road. Glad I drive a fullsize truck with a classIII hitch. :D

I wish MO had the same deal Texas has where when you are going too slow and somebody come's up on you fast, you can pull over to the right and keep on tooling down the road on the shoulder to let him by and then pull back onto the hwy and continue!

This is way cool by me!

They blink their headlights day or night to let you know that you need to pull over on the shoulder to let them go by.

pdq67

I believe Md. has a law of no less than 10mph of posted limit.... which he wasn't doing either :noway:

If any of you have been watching the news on this one ....
1. He was cited for obstructing traffic.
2. He actually was in a 55 mph zone when he was pulled over, it was right before the limit goes up to 65 on Rt 50. So he was actually over the speed limit at the point he was stopped :(

It did not sound like he was in the left lane.

I know a lot of you guys are going to flame me for this, but personally I think that if a single person was going over the speed limit, even by 1 mph at that point ... they should have been stopped for that violation before someone was stopped for going too slow. People just need to slow down some, especially in heavy traffic areas and if any of you have driven rt50 on a Friday afternoon, you know what I mean.

Just my opinion,

I've driven on RT 50 in that area...and yeah...people friggin fly on that road and not just driving fast, but wrecklessly too boot. 301, 4, 495, 95, 695 are no better.

I guess this depends on which lane he was in. Betting he was one of those aholes who drive 55-58 in the left lane and plug things up.


We call those folks "Sun City residents". They usually have their turn signal on for miles......

If we drove our Chevelles every day,the left lane would be ours!:D I really get a kick out of people when they look in the rear view and see my black car behind them,they move over in a hurry.:yes:

If we drove our Chevelles every day,the left lane would be ours!:D I really get a kick out of people when they look in the rear view and see my black car behind them,they move over in a hurry.:yes:

No it wouldn't because old Edna or Maud would still be in the left lane doing 40 MPH in her old Buick. l:)

No it wouldn't because old Edna or Maud would still be in the left lane doing 40 MPH in her old Buick. l:)

With the turn signal on.:sad:

With the turn signal on.:sad:

For about 10 miles.

Do the S/E drivers still fly low on I-75 in/through/out of Atlanta??

pdq67