A new law you might not have known about

[Winsor_Pilates]

I think it's a great idea being implemented poorly in a way that is has become a cash cow. The cost of the tickets and the poor effort at exposing people to it, make me think their priorities went wrong at some point between the bill passing and coming into effect.

Originally Posted by Regulator75

It's all the damn rubber necks that cause more accidents at the original accident scenes, now we legally have to slow down and EVERYONE who does will be looking intently at what's going on, then boom they rear end someone else who is driving too slow and rubber necking at the same time.

And yes it is a cashcow, $632.00 that's way to much. Try 50 bucks.
Oh wait we are a rich Province and the greedy cops just want more $$$.

Again.... wow...just wow... where to start with this one.

Do some research before you open your yap.

I pray you get a ticket like this.... i would love to see you confront the cop... taser,taser.

[Cube Inmate]

Originally Posted by Traffic Safety Act

115(2) A person shall not do any of the following:

(t) subject to subsection (4), drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than 60 kilometres per hour, or the maximum speed limit established or prescribed for that highway under
(i) this Act,
(ii) the Government Property Traffic Act (Canada), or
(iii) the National Parks Act (Canada),
whichever is lower, if the vehicle
(iv) is travelling on the same side of the highway as a stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck, and
(v) is passing the stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck when its flashing lamps are operating.

115(4) Subsection (2)(t) does not apply if there are 2 or more traffic lanes for traffic moving in the same direction as the vehicle and there is at least one traffic lane between the driver’s vehicle and the stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck.

btw: with the mention of "cash cow," did anybody else notice that the speed limit on Memorial Drive eastbound at 14th St has been moved again, just as I predicted it would be a couple of months ago? It was moved a little farther down the road, and will stay there for 8-12 months. Then, watch out...it'll be moved back again, and the speed traps will show up.

[Resolute 14]

Nobody cares about $50. One $50 speeding ticket doesnt scare me. I only slowed down when I got 5 tickets in two months (four photo radar). When the cost of speeding started to add up, then I changed my habits.

Besides, she was fined $600 for driving 46kph over the limit. I doubt a "regular" speeding ticket would lead to any smaller a fine. Hell, four more KPH and she would be facing a judge rather than a ticket.

I knew all about this law. It was all over the news, and it was on the front page of the Herald when it came into effect. Ignorance is not a valid excuse, especially when it somes to something that should be self evident.

[4X4]

Jeez... Here I was rejoicing the fact that Calgary finally started cracking down on slow drivers... Yeah, I misinterpreted the first few lines of the article...

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Nobody cares about $50. One $50 speeding ticket doesnt scare me. I only slowed down when I got 5 tickets in two months (four photo radar). When the cost of speeding started to add up, then I changed my habits.

Besides, she was fined $600 for driving 46kph over the limit. I doubt a "regular" speeding ticket would lead to any smaller a fine. Hell, four more KPH and she would be facing a judge rather than a ticket.

I knew all about this law. It was all over the news, and it was on the front page of the Herald when it came into effect. Ignorance is not a valid excuse, especially when it somes to something that should be self evident.

I listen to Fan960 every day, I read the herald as much as I can, and I watch the news every chance I get. Those are the only media outlets I can access with my busy schedule. I have heard NONE. Nothing.

I'd say this is a very poor attempt at notifying citizens on changes. On top of that, my parents are unaware as well. Great testament to reaching the public when my dad, a retired man, has nothing better to do but watch the news everyday.

[Bobblehead]

If anyone cares to vote, there is a poll on the Herald's web page saying "Do you think Valerie Montgomery’s $632 ticket for not slowing while passing an emergency vehicle is fair?" (it is near the bottom on the left side)

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Sounds like another CASH COW. Mooooooooooooooooo, err oink!
Damn greedy pigs.
$632.00??? What a scam, it should of been a warning or maybe at most a 50 dollar ticket. I would of wound up in jail if it was me who was pulled over for that.

Since my best friend is now an active RCMP constable pulling people over on B.C.'s highways, moo all you want, just slow down while you're mooing.

[Shawnski]

I saw it on CTV when it was launched. Heard a couple ads and comments on it on radio after that too. Nothing since though.

Damn near ran into a cop on Elbow drive yesterday though. He was going through a red light to pull someone over, but from my vantage point in the right most lane (two other lanes of traffic blocking him coming through from the left), I didn't see him, his lights, nor did he have a siren going. Luckily something didn't seem right (the light had turned green for me for about 5 seconds, but the lane to my left hadn't moved yet), and I had my foot on the brake just in case.

Sure enough, get into the intersection just as he comes right over into my lane.... too close for comfort.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Bent Wookie

Again.... wow...just wow... where to start with this one.

Do some research before you open your yap.

I pray you get a ticket like this.... i would love to see you confront the cop... taser,taser.

I personally think the law is a good idea, however, the way they've put it in with this very limited education program is making it seem like a cash cow.

I also find it interesting that the cop had his gun pulled out to get an accurate speed check while he was "pulling someone else over".

They needed to get the word out a little bit better to be honest.

[CaramonLS]

Oh btw CP, did you know about the law?

[Buff]

I read about this law in the Lethbridge Herald one fine morning and I think I even saw it on TV, but I can't remember. I know that the City of Lethbridge used to have commercial spots on TV here in Lethbridge to remind people to obey the rules of construction zones and such.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

You don't renew your drivers license every year, just your plates and the driver gets a ticket. Even then, you can register 2 years at a time. And this new law was only passed in the spring 2005 session - not even a year ago.

I think media ads can easily be overlooked, but I can't think of any way of notification that would be perfect, not fliers in the registrations, nor in the mail.

How far does the gov't need to go for due diligence in letting the public know about changes?

How far? All I was suggesting was putting it somewhere that drivers would see it. I don't know of anybody in my group of friends who reads the paper; why pay for news that is about 18 hours old when fresh news is on the TV immediately.

What about signs on the highways? Going into Saskatchewan I see their signs for such laws, but nothing coming into Alberta.

I agree that this law is common sense; and I slow down anyways myself. But to impose such a large fine; it does beg the question as to if they thought that people had been adequitely informed. And all they would have had to do is conduct a poll to see what we've figured out here; that the ad campagn didn't work.

[FurnaceFace]

This is their education programme, and it worked better than any marketing campaign could have. She gets a $632 ticket, whines to The Herald, big article, lots of viral advertising from message boards, word of mouth and the like. We're aware of the law now. People going mach 2 slow down. Cops, road construction workers, tow truck drivers, people changing flats, don't get killed as often.

Meanwhile The Province quietly commutes her ticket down to something more affordable for her or ends up giving her a warning. Sounds like a great campaign for $632.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by Bent Wookie

Again.... wow...just wow... where to start with this one.

Do some research before you open your yap.

I pray you get a ticket like this.... i would love to see you confront the cop... taser,taser.

weren't you the one claimed a while back that you fully believed a calgary cop had/would never abuse their privileges?


you sound to me like a plain old cop apologetic, that they can do no wrong. Cops are humans too and many humans have greed in them, the police force is not exempt from the disapointments of being a human being.

[FlamesKickAss]

I kinda agree with this law. But 60 on a 110 highway is going to cause a major accident in my opinion if not everyone knows about it and someone slams on their brakes and the person behind can't go anywhere. Therefore the gov't should have sent out something, they have spent money on more useless brochures. But I guess they need it to help give us our $400

[Resolute 14]

On most divided highways in Alberta, you can very easily change lanes without difficulty, never having to slow down.

Most highways are extremely flat as well, and in most cases, the only reason why you shouldnt see flashing lights of an emergency vehicle well in advance is that you simply were not paying attention. There is usually plenty of time to slow down without having to slam on the brakes.

The person behind should be leaving enough room between him and the vehicle in front of him.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

On most divided highways in Alberta, you can very easily change lanes without difficulty, never having to slow down.

Most highways are extremely flat as well, and in most cases, the only reason why you shouldnt see flashing lights of an emergency vehicle well in advance is that you simply were not paying attention. There is usually plenty of time to slow down without having to slam on the brakes.

The person behind should be leaving enough room between him and the vehicle in front of him.

Remember this is assuming that the average person actually knows how to drive, which normally isn't the case. They had out lisences like candy these days.

Originally Posted by Flaming Homer

weren't you the one claimed a while back that you fully believed a calgary cop had/would never abuse their privileges?


you sound to me like a plain old cop apologetic, that they can do no wrong. Cops are humans too and many humans have greed in them, the police force is not exempt from the disapointments of being a human being.

I'm not sure what you are talking about... abuse their privileges? are you referring to the use of a taser and writing a ticket... neither of which is a privilege, only a tool.

Greed? seriously man... do u think a cop that writes a ticket simply gets the cheque made out to him? Greed? No... performance expectation, yes.

And werent you the guy that had some big news flash of a story a while back about some big court drama where you were going to expose the corruption inherent with out police? I'm still waitin.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by Bent Wookie

I'm not sure what you are talking about... abuse their privileges? are you referring to the use of a taser and writing a ticket... neither of which is a privilege, only a tool.

Greed? seriously man... do u think a cop that writes a ticket simply gets the cheque made out to him? Greed? No... performance expectation, yes.

And werent you the guy that had some big news flash of a story a while back about some big court drama where you were going to expose the corruption inherent with out police? I'm still waitin.

nope, the court for all of that is done. And it wasn't corruption on a major extent just your run of the mill cop abusing the law and then getting away with it in court.

And it was you who said that you full heartedly believed that a cop had NEVER abused their priveleges in Calgary, yet you fully endorse the use of a taser on somebody who said he'd give the cop a piece of his mind (I interpreted it non-violently)