BretD 88GTA

Speeders Push Past 100 MPH


CHP says the number of tickets issued for three-digit speeds has tripled in 10 years.



By Jia-Rui Chong, Times Staff Writer


Kenneth Smith wanted to get to Corona by 7 p.m. to pick up a glass vase on layaway. Instead, the 18-year old ended up with his first speeding ticket — for driving 101 mph.

"I was going downhill at what I thought was 90," Smith said, standing on the shoulder of the Cajon Pass recently as CHP Officer Mark D. Conner issued the citation. "I didn't even notice, because the music was on, I was dialing numbers on my phone and I was switching lanes."







Smith is not alone. Speeds of more than 100 mph are not uncommon throughout California.

The number of California Highway Patrol citations for driving more than 100 mph has tripled statewide over the last decade. In 1992, for example, 5,290 drivers received tickets, compared with 15,372 last year. In parts of the Inland Empire, such as San Bernardino and Temecula, the numbers have more than quadrupled in the last 10 years, from 184 in 1992 to 856 last year.

High ticket areas include the 17-mile Baker Grade on Interstate 15 southbound from Las Vegas and Interstate 10 from Banning through Indio, CHP officials said.

Inland Empire law enforcement officers said they have seen all types of people breaking 100 mph on the freeways, from older men to young mothers with babies in their cars.

"It's any car from the Saturn to the Porsche," said Lee Nuez, a spokesman for the CHP's Inland Division. "Speed is no respecter of vehicles out here."

Excuses abound. Lateness is typical. Some blame illness; others say they don't even notice their speedometers hitting the triple digits.

Jim Sprowls, on his way back from a fishing trip in Hesperia, said he was just following the flow of traffic that was going 80 mph in a 70 mph zone.

"I may have been going over the speed limit," the Rialto resident said. But there "ain't no one going the speed limit."

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Humorous Excuses

Some of the excuses make even experienced officers chuckle. Indio CHP Officer Tami Low said drivers have told her they were hypnotized by books on tape.

"Something I get often is, 'I had to use the restroom,' " Low said. "I tell them, 'But you just passed a rest stop. Why didn't you stop at the Chevron a mile back?' Then they give me this 'You got me' look."

Low acknowledged that some drivers may hit the pedal too hard without realizing it.

"Usually people are traveling long distances when they go through here," she said. "It's two lanes in either direction with nothing to look at and not a lot of exits. The speed can creep up to 100 and you don't realize it."

While that might appear hard to imagine to city motorists who would be happy to go more than 60 mph, most of the citations are given to people on less congested freeways.

Light traffic volume on seemingly endless straightaways and smoother-driving cars can tempt many motorists to nose the needle above 100 mph, particularly if adrenaline is pumping on a trip to Las Vegas, some officers said.

They also said that the growing desert population, with many people trying to cut time from their commute to Los Angeles, drives up the statistics.

Some CHP officials cautioned, however, that the bumped-up numbers may reflect an improved detection method.

"In 2000, we started using radar on the freeways, which makes it easier to catch people," said Ron Seldon, a CHP spokesman in San Bernardino. "Now we can sit in a spot and wait for them to come to us. It's like putting out a fishing net."

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Putting Others at Risk

Officers said they rarely give 100-plus speeders a break because they are traveling so fast and putting others at risk.

Two Upland men died in January when an overcorrection on a turn made their car vault off the side of Temescal Canyon Road near Corona.

CHP Officer Maurice Walker, who was at the accident, said he could tell the car was going more than 100 mph by the length of the accident scene, the skid marks and witness statements.

The Subaru Impreza WRX flew 500 feet through the air, striking a tree and a fence before it hit the trailer of a big rig. The impact, which shoved the trailer four feet, killed the driver and a passenger.

"Judges take a dim view of cases over 100 mph," said J. Michael Welch, presiding judge for San Bernardino County. "Fines tend to be $500, and they may take the license."

Not only have his traffic commissioners seen double the number of 100-plus-mph offenders in their courts since last year, but the violations seem more flagrant too, Welch said.

"We also see more extremes," he said. "There are people in Barstow cited for 120 to 130 mph."

Occasionally, local police will catch 100-plus speeders on city streets. Two weeks ago, Victorville police caught a motorist going more than 100 mph on a four-lane road.

Lyman Baker, a spokesman for the Victorville Police Department, said the 33-year-old man told them he was late to pick up his daughter.

Meanwhile, at the 70-mph Cajon Pass on Interstate 15, the CHP's Conner was having an average afternoon. With his patrol car parked on the center divider, the 23-year CHP veteran aimed his radar gun between two trees and spotted a Chevrolet Blazer blowing past smaller cars and lumbering trucks at 101 mph.

"I'm late to pick up my girlfriend," said the 17-year-old boy, who was driving his mother's car. He declined to give his name because he said he was in enough trouble with his mother, adding, "Now I'm even later."

demonchild

whoa sounds like the ticket i got...

Russ-So Cal

What cracks me up is the kid who thought he was only going 90, because he was busy dialing his cell phone, listening to music and changing lanes! If your going to drive 100mph, at least pay attention to your driving.

FruityOne

I may not live in california but we have our own long stretchs of unmonitored road. In my GTA its SO easy to cruize at 100mph! I'm still used to driving a 93' escort 4banger with 88hp. In the escort I can barely make 70mph without KNOWING I am traveling that fast, but the GTA does 70mph with ease, blowing past 80mph and 90mph is no problem with light throttle on the highway during passes. Several times I've cought myself at 100mph after a pass and I feel as if I've barely touched the pedal.

I did get my car up to about 135mph the other day and still had about 400rpms left before the peak hp rpm at 4,500. Never gonna go that fast again. Nuh uh, I passed a car like it was standing still. I was able to see about 1 mile ahead of me, there were no entrances/exits to the highway, and it was concrete divider walls. I did it with brights on, and occasional beeping of the horn. Never gonna go that fast again, it was fine till I blew past the car and realised that 135mph is about twice as fast as the traffic flow normally.

shotgun

Five years ago I got caught doing over 120 (I was 16) I immediately admited I was at fault and waited for my punishment. He wrote it for 85 (wreckless driving, 20 over 65, but I told the judge 83 that was her first question. So she didn't give me two counts for wreckless driving.) I guess my point is don't make up stories, cops hear enough lies and when someone admits there wrong maybe they'll help you out... I admit I did lie when I told the judge I was doing 83 but I had to go to traffic school and get it erased so my insurrance didn't go up... I was barely able to pay up as it was...

BrandenCali

I got hit on the I-10 coming past redlands entering San Berdino 89 in a 65. Im not sure if I can get traffic school. Court is late July plenty of time to save up for the big one

rezinn

That's funny.. I was running late taking my girlfriend home yesterday and hit 100 on the 60 passing some guy that was swerving around infront of me. What people don't realize is that when you speed in traffic, you don't get tickets. It's when you speed in the wide open that you're caught. At least in my experience.

BretD 88GTA

Branden,
Your fine might not be too bad since you were San Bernardino County. I got tagged last year on the I-15 for 85 in a 70 zone. The fine was $90.

If you can get traffic school, definitely do the home study course. It cost around $20+ and you essentially take the exam in the comfort of your own home. No wasting a Saturday afternoon sitting in a classroom. For San Bernardino, you then have to have the exam signed off by a Notary Public before sending it in to the courthouse.

BrandenCali

Really Bret 90 bucks that's cool. If it's under 200 I will be happy, and if I can do the online traffic school that would be even greater. I have the school ready and waiting. Hopefully they will let me have traffic school.

BretD 88GTA

Branden,
For Traffic School I wouldn't do the online class. The course I used was one that gets mailed to you. You then sit down, read the exam questions, find the answers in the book and mark the answers. There's no time limit like the online class has.

Once I had my test ready, I then went to a local Mail Boxes Etc., "officially" filled out the exam form and had it notarized. You then mail back the exam to the Traffic School. They check your exam and send you a completion form, which you send to the courthouse.

MRZ28HO

Thanks for the warning Bret, I'll take the 'other way around' now.

shotgun

I took the web traffic school and the only time limit I remember is that they expect you to read very slowly. If you try to answer questions to soon it'll tell you have to sit there a few minutes before you can move on... I thought it was great, drinking beer and doing my traffic school after work at 2 in the morning... fun stuff.

BrandenCali

So how do I find out how to do that type of traffic school? Does the court give me some places like that to contact? If they do give me traffic school. The easiest is the best for me.

FruityOne

I've always felt it was the opposite way. If you are in traffic and you're moving faster than the pack they WILL nab you because you stick out like a sore thumb! If traffic does 80mph and you do 80mph they won't really bother you unless its time to meet quota, or they just wanna nab you for whatever reason. If your in the wide open you may be able to get away with 10mph over the limit, but excessive speeding will always catch you if they see it.

Here's a common tip that amazingly enough some people haven't caught onto yet. Look for christmas tree lights ahead of you, if there is a cop then you can bet that 90% of the people will step on the brakes. If you see that about 1/4 mile ahead it may already be too late for you, but watch for it. Its saved me many a time.

BretD 88GTA

Branden,
Yes, if the court apporoves you for Traffic School, they will send you a list of schools that qualify.

The one I used was called California Jammin Traffic School. It's located close by in Orange County. It only took a day or two to receive my booklet and exam from them.
http://www.trafficjamn.net/

Don't do the online class. Order the workbook.

BrandenCali

Thanks for the Info Bret, I hope I don't have to beg for traffic school, but there could be a chance they offer it for a speeder like me Well It's good that this subject was brought up, I learned something new about the traffic schools. And I will just await with my fingers crossed. As today on Harbor Blvd. crossing on Adams in Costa Mesa, I look up and see some lights on all 4 sides of the streets and camera's, I guess they are getting serious every where. Led alone the new Radar they have now I guess you just waste your money on Radar detectors now days. I will for sure book mark that School I noticed it was cheap. So no speeding for me for awhile The Roc is burning oil engine making noise, It's wanting a rebuild.

BrandenCali

My bail amount today, a total of $183.00 Send Traffic School information additional 29.00 required. This fee is non refundable additional information will be sent to you. Hrmm So the fee for the court for traffic school is 29 bucks, How do I know if Im wasting 29 bucks for them to order donuts and coffee haha. I call the clerk and find out? I await to see the judge and they tell me im eligible for traffic school? I contest the ticket in court if the officer is not there =/ maybe not..

demonchild

if you contest the ticket you will have absolutly no chance at traffic school. if your guilty dont play with your luck.

BrandenCali

No need to take any risk and loose the chance to get traffic school..

BrandenCali

I am going to be able to get traffic school. I have never used me get out of jail free card yet, They say the limit is 99mph and 18 months. And better yet once every thing is complete and the completion is filed with the court the ticket is dismissed and does not appear on record they say. They send a book of choices of school so hopefully there is some good ones, So great this is going to be pain free other than the big bucks

BretD 88GTA

Branden,
Yeah, traffic school keeps the ticket off your record and prevents you from getting hammered by your insurance. http://www.trafficjamn.net/ should be included in the list your receive. For $17 and the ability to take the test at your liesure, you can't beat it.

BrandenCali

I received my work book today and I completed the test. It was real easy. But it does not say any thing about Notary, it says send in the exam to them and they will either send the certificate to the court or to you to send in.

BretD 88GTA

Where did you receive your ticket? If it was in San Bernardino County then you will need to have it notarized. If it was in LA County, then you shouldn't need to.

The web site for the traffic school will have more info.