Survey: Most States Allow Speed Cushion

The Associated Press reports that police tend to give a ten-mile-per-hour cushion to motorists. I agree with the article completely. When the speed limit on the majority of urban freeways within California went from 55 mph to 65 mph, a speed motorists were already traveling due to the same practice of allowing the cushion, I knew we were headed for even higher speeds. Motorists are so accustomed to the extra 10 mph that their speeds crept on up to 75 mph. Being in a law enforcement agency that has the mission to patrol the freeways, this is unacceptable and unsafe.

What should an officer do? Of course, enforce the speed limit, not the 10 mph over. That means writing citations at 66 mph!? Well, that's unheard of, and you want to know why? Let me ask you this, ever been in court and have the traffic commissioner, or judge, state for the record that there must be a cushion to allow for mistakes by the officer, calibration, whatever? An officer hears that and he or she will forever be allowing for the variance this includes. He or she will pass on the word, and believe me, every officer in the courtroom who heard the same judicial announcement will pass the word and nothing travels faster than words between police officers.

The culture has to change on all levels. The courts' officers who make these pronouncements have to realize the impact they have because their judgment is the final word. Police will not issue citations that the local court won't support. It damages the officers' credibility within that court, and makes him or her ineffective. Officers have to be firm and fair - key word here is fair - and enforce the law for the safety of the public evenly. And you, the rest of us, the largest common denominator, have to slow down. The expectation of 10 mph over the limit is crazy, and dangerous, I mean, how fast do you need to go!