Ticket..Almost

[dpg]

Well, it happened this weekend. Got pulled over for not putting on a right blinker for turning onto rt 25. I mean come on!! Honestly, how many people turn out of a road onto another and do not use a blinker? I mean I admit I was wrong but geez Doesn't mean much now but for what it was worth I was behind 5 other cars that did it during my 3 hour trip on Sunday. I still insist it would not have happened if my plates did not read "Massachusetts."

[itchin for fishin]

We're trying to boost up revenue in our state so we want you to get NH plates so you can pay the additional taxes on your car. (Although your ticket is probably a lot cheaper)

[Tired of Waiting]

Originally Posted by itchin for fishin

We're trying to boost up revenue in our state so we want you to get NH plates so you can pay the additional taxes on your car. (Although your ticket is probably a lot cheaper)

Each year in Mass we pay $25 per $1000 in valuation for auto excise tax. Then we also have 5% sales tax on every car purchase, new and old. Is NH's higher?

ToW

[jrc]

According to NH 261:153

...on each vehicle offered for registration a sum equal to 18 mills on each dollar of the maker's list price for a current model year vehicle, 15 mills on each dollar of the maker's list price for the first preceding model year vehicle, 12 mills on each dollar of the maker's list price for the second preceding model year vehicle, 9 mills on each dollar of the maker's list price for the third preceding model year vehicle, 6 mills on each dollar of the maker's list price for the fourth preceding model year vehicle, and 3 mills on each dollar of the maker's list price for the fifth preceding model year vehicle and any model year prior thereto.

For comparison 18 mills = $18 per $1000 and there is no 5% sales tax

[Nellie]

I just use my blinker no matter where I am turning into! It's just easier

[csuhockey3]

Originally Posted by dpg

I mean come on!! Honestly, how many people turn out of a road onto another and do not use a blinker? I mean I admit I was wrong but geez

Pointing to other people's behavior is a lame excuse to justify your own. You were pulled over because you were lazy with your driving. You didn't get a ticket, so what's the issue? So what that your "plates read Massachusetts" -- you agree you were in the wrong, so get over it.

[itchin for fishin]

I didn't realize Mass car taxes were so high. Wow! When Kerry says "help is on the way" is he talking about the taxes in Mass? (couldn't resist)

[dpg]

Geez csuhockey3 the sting still hurts!! Actually not only didn't I get a ticket I was not written a warning, I actually found that kind of strange. Maybe that's the NH way but I tend to doubt it. In talking with other people yesterday they said if a warning was not written (standard practice) it was more than likely a seatbelt check in disguise. Yup, I was wrong I admit it and also too dumb to keep checking behind me! Again, I was not turning off rte 25, I ALWAYS use directionals for that. I was pulling ONTO rte 25. Every single time you take a right out of a side street you use your right directional? Ya right!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm 43 and have one (speeding) ticket in my entire life, not exactly reckless driving. Oh, no (written) warnings either.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by dpg

In talking with other people yesterday they said if a warning was not written (standard practice) it was more than likely a seatbelt check in disguise.

In New Hampshire (contrary to much belief) there is no statewide standard (standard practice) or tracking for "written warnings".

Only citations issued on the statewide summons forms are submitted and tracked by the Motor Vehicle Department. Warnings, and how they are issued and tracked are at the discretion of the local agency. Some agencies have the officer write the warning up and give you a copy. Others only track the warning internally, issuing nothing to the offender. And in exceedingly rare cases, warnings are verbal with no record whatsoever. In any case, there is no state regulation governing how a particular agency handles warning issues.

Finally, earlier this year the Department of Safety issued its annual "call to arms" (so to speak) on motor vehicle offenses it would like to see all agencies enforce aggressivley. One of the offenses highlighted for enforcement was failing to signal turns. Perhaps this officer was aggressively pursuing that directive.

[Waterbaby]

"In talking with other people yesterday they said if a warning was not written (standard practice) it was more than likely a seatbelt check in disguise.In talking with other people yesterday they said if a warning was not written (standard practice) it was more than likely a seatbelt check in disguise."

But NH doesn't have a seatbelt law, except for (I think) 18 and under......we're the only state in the nation that hasn't implemented one.

[chipj29]

I have to say I agree with what csuhockey said, although I may have said it differently. Turn signals are required by law, and just because no one else uses them doesn't mean that you don't have to use them either. Yes, I do use my blinker when turning out of side streets. About the only time I don't use it is when turning out of my own driveway. Is it overkill? I don't think so. I am not saying you were being reckless in any way. However, like I said, using a blinker is required by law. It is about time the police in NH got on the ball and starteed pulling people over for lack of blinker use. In fact, I have long thought that our school funding crisis could be solved in 6 months if the police issued tickets each time they saw an offender. Watch how few people use blinkers at highway on or off ramps. Gov Benson, can you hear me now? lol

By the way, I drive to MA daily, and lack of blinkers is very common there too, not just in NH.

[SIKSUKR]

Directionals are used for the most part to warn others behind you that you will be slowing down to make a turn.A safety issue no doubt.Other times,if there is nobody behind you,they should be used as a courtesy for oncoming traffic.I hardly ever use them if there are no cars in site.Who are you signaling for,the squirrels?There are places where you can only go in one direction turning(end of an exit ramp for instance) which seems kind of dumb that you have to signal for the one and only choice you have.I do find it very annoying when someone in front of me doesn't signal to turn,but only if it impedes me.Why does it matter if the car makes a right a 1/2 mile in front of me without signaling?Most police use discetion in reguard to enforcing directional violations. SS

[dpg]

Siksukr... My point exactly. When pulling out of the road it happened on there were two lanes left and right. I was pulling out from the right lane - going right..duh.. In front of me was a swamp and I was too dumb to notice the cruiser behind me, yup I know my fault 110%

Hey, whatever, done is done I've beat this horse to death. I just can't (and will never) believe everybody responding negative to me uses their directionals ALWAYS - NO WAY!!

Nothing left for me to say.

[Ski Man]

There's nothing that I find more obnoxious than people not using their blinkers. No offense if it's not something you do often, but I think that it's much more dangerous than going 10mph over the speed limit, and should be punished more severely. I've found that a lot of NH drivers, especially those in larger cars and trucks, totally ignore their blinkers.

[Island-Ho]

I have to agree with what Ski Man says. In addition, if you make a turn in front of me and fail to signal, you will most likely hear my horn or see a high beam flash. Yes, I do make it a point to always use my directional signal, unless in the rare instance there is absolutely no one around! It's just common courtesy, as well as the law - even when changing lanes on the highway or taking the exit ramp. I won't single out HN or MA drivers, they are all equally bad.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Island-Ho

I have to agree with what Ski Man says. In addition, if you make a turn in front of me and fail to signal, you will most likely hear my horn or see a high beam flash. Yes, I do make it a point to always use my directional signal, unless in the rare instance there is absolutely no one around! It's just common courtesy, as well as the law - even when changing lanes on the highway or taking the exit ramp. I won't single out HN or MA drivers, they are all equally bad.

"Even" while changing lanes? I would say ESPECIALLY while changing lanes. I think (as a motorcyclist in constant danger of getting hit by people that don't notice me) that's the most important time to use them. It's nice to know when someone intends to change lanes, especially when they don't know you occupy the space they are about to move to and failure to get out of their way could kill you. I use my signals pretty religiously.

[Newbiesaukee]

It is much more effective to repeat an action all the time so that it does not require thought. If it is "automatic" to signal when you turn, you do it. The split second it takes to decide whether you 'need" to use a signal is a split second you can more safely be concentrating on driving. A small thing perhaps, but the split second can be lifesaving.

Where I live half the year, way south, drivers treat red lights the same way they treat stop signs. You stop and if no one seems to be around, you go ( and I do not mean just on right turns).

The issue with the turn signals is not " who is right" and why you were stopped. It is just safer to do it automatiically.

[madrasahs]

Originally Posted by Newbiesaukee

Where I live half the year, way south, drivers treat red lights the same way they treat stop signs. You stop and if no one seems to be around, you go ( and I do not mean just on right turns).

Last year, Kentucky passed a law that allowed motorcycles to procede through red traffic lights "...using caution". Of course.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by madrasahs

Last year, Kentucky passed a law that allowed motorcycles to procede through red traffic lights "...using caution". Of course.

There is a very good reason for this. Quite often a bike, due to it's small mass, does not trigger the sensor in the ground that tells the light control circuit a large metallic object is waiting for a green light. The idea was not to let motorcyclists ignore lights, just to let them go through the light if they can't trigger it. Triggers in New England have become more sensitive over the years and I rarely have trouble these days.

[Skip]

Dave R. is correct in his explanation of the change of law that occured in the State of Tennessee last year (not Kentucky).

The following extract is from Title 55 of the Tennessee motor Vehicle Code, Section 55-8-110 Traffic Control Signals, Section 8 (b):

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the driver of a motorcycle approaching an intersection that is controlled by a traffic-control signal utilizing a vehicle detection device that is inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle shall come to a full and complete stop at the intersection and, after exercising due care as provided by law, may proceed with due caution when it is safe to do so. It is not a defense to a violation of § 55-8-109 that the driver of a motorcycle proceeded under the belief that a traffic-control signal utilized a vehicle detection device or was inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle when such signal did not utilize a vehicle detection device or that any such device was not in fact inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle.

[Outlaw]

Many, many years ago I was taking a left turn on to Route 3 from the 4 way stop in Meredith (back when the IGA was there) -- using my directional to signal the turn. All I remember is after they pulled me and mine out of the over turned truck (my new truck of 7 days -- ) I saw that the directional was still blinking. This was noted in the police report along with skid marks the other gentleman, who failed to stop at the red light, left and his estimated speed in excess of 35 mph. The police officer at the scene did comment to us on the blinking signal on the truck, as it now lay on its side, after speaking with us that it certainly appears we properly signaled.

I have always used my signals no matter what (sometimes in the most obvious places -- like when you can ONLY make a left turn - duh) and even though I may feel foolish for doing that, I remember how important it was that day to use the signals which without doubt was evidence to me, the insurance company and the police that we were not in the wrong. The way I figure it, I want people to know my intentions and to prepare and take the necessary actions to avoid any accidents. Signals are not going to prevent all accidents but it will help avoid some.

[BBS2]

Of course then there is the other problem with people having their turn signal on and not meaning it I was almost t-boned by a woman in a truck who had her right turn signal on. I believed her and started to pull out. Wow did she have some words for me until I directed her attention to her blinking signal, then she just sped away.

[madrasahs]

Originally Posted by BBS2

"...I believed her and started to pull out..."

Sometimes you have to "hold off" on signaling until you've passed the vehicle (usually an SUV) who is waiting for the opportunity to seize an opening in traffic.

THEN signal your intention to pull into your intended drive past the SUV, easing off your speed gradually to slow those following.