I was going 85 mph in the HOV lane when I see I CHP up ahead in the right lane. I slow down to 70 figuring it wouldn't make good sense to pass him at speed. A big SUV behind me had been maintaining a respectful distance, but when I slowed to 70 it got 6 feet behind me and stayed there like it was trying to pressure me to move. That made me nervous so I pulled over and crossed the double yellow lines. My luck there was another CHP behind me so I got the ticket. In Cal you often have to pass 3 exits before you can exit legally without crossing a double yellow so I can been crossing anyway instead of burning up another 5 or 10 miles of gas (also being green by not polluting). The moral dilemma: is it ok to break the law if you know you are helping save dear old mother earth?
You stand a good chance of beating the ticket by explaining to the judge that you were already going the speed limit and were being endangered by a tailgater 6 feet off your bumper so felt it necessary to get away from the tailgater.
To me, it's an issue of safety rather than morality. If I'm driving in the #1 lane (just to the right of the HOV lane), I don't expect cars to be entering or leaving the HOV lane over the double lines. If they do cross the double line, the car in the #1 lane may need to act fast to avoid them, and this may involve swerving into traffic in the #2 lane, etc. It's a very dangerous situation, and in this case, I support the CHP citing violators.
I'd just let the @$$ ride my tail and drop my speed to 65MPH. Let HIM go around illegally. Also, if the HOV lane is so clear of traffic, how clear are the other lanes? Around here, if the HOV lanes are so clear that speeds in excess of 80MPH are possible, the rest of the traffic lanes are moving almost that fast as well.
I'm with the 'slow down when tail gated' crowd. I tend to just shift into "N" and head over the far side of the lane so the tail gater has every opportunity to pass. It isn't mean as much as I want that idiot in front where I can see and avoid their next accident. Heck, I'll even motion for them to pass. Does that make me a 'slow Prius driver?' No, because I'm at or in some cases slightly over the speed limit. Rather, I just want as much distance between me and the idiot as possible and getting them around me works. Bob Wilson
the situation really sucks, but the Law enforcement is equal for everybody. More likely that you will come out very happy if you appeal the case in front of the judge.
Crossing the double yellow will get you a ticket every time. I'm sure that you would have come to an exit area within a few miles. I would have waited.
Speeding past a cop isn't a bright idea. Crossing a double yellow in front of a cop isn't a bright idea. If you are going the speed limit then maybe the cop will bust the tailgater. What do you plan to do once in court? You'll either plead "not guilty" or "guilty with an explanation". Cop's going to say "He crossed the line." Judge is going to say "Guilty." If you were avoiding an obstacle I'd say you have a chance in court. If that were the case the cops would have encountered the same obstacle & would have been occupied elsewhere & we wouldn't be having this discussion.
