Why is it?

[Norm357]

That people freak out over a simple traffic ticket? I mean geez, its not the end of the world, just pay the fine and get on with your life. :confused:

[Norm357]

heaven forbid they did something wrong!!!

NO NOT ME! I DIDNT DO ANYTHING!! YOUR WRONG!

they just dont understand that its not the end of the world.

How come your not at work? I thought you were working swing shift?
:D

[Phre4k]

I freaked out for many reasons. (I didnt show any emotions to the cop, just sat there got ticket and sat some more, then slowly left):

A. Im 17 and thought my parents would kill me:
B. Thought of having to pay 123$ for traffic school
C. Sitting 6 hours in traffic school
And lastly it was right after school so all my friends saw it and laughed. I dont think i have ever receive so many text messages within ten minutes.

[Question]

Keep that in mind Norm for the future (Mr. I like to do 90 ;) )

[retdetsgt]

That people freak out over a simple traffic ticket? I mean geez, its not the end of the world, just pay the fine and get on with your life. :confused:

You must have cheap fines in Georgia. They're expensive as hell out here. The legislature likes to use fines as a source of revenue. They even passed a bill here that limits how much a judge can reduce a fine.

Also, insurance rates go up. My wife just got a speeding ticket. I expect my insurance to go up a couple of hundred bucks a year for the next three years.

[txinvestigator1]

***flame suit on*** as much of the reason is that people just react poorly to being punished (and the fines and increased insurance costs don't help) some of the reaction comes from the manner in which normal, otherwise law-abiding citizens are spoken to by the officer making the stop.

[TheQuietCorner]

I haven't really personally experienced a poor manner of being spoken to by the Officers that have stopped me. Personally, I'm afraid to challenge or speak with anything less than complete respect to the person who has the authority to stop me and write me for everything they can, so maybe that's where I differ from other people. I've been stopped many times, (I hate to tell you all, but ten total. I was younger. Haven't been stopped for a couple years. I was only once stopped for a moving violation. All others were equipment violations) and have experienced at worst a shame on you attitude from the Officers... something I deserved. Other than that, some were a little too timid, IMO, and the others were quite controlling. Had no problem with that as it's a potentially dangerous situation.

I think the perception of an Officer being rude to the person is generally in the mind of the violator. I could have taken some of these guys as being rude, but instead decided to take it as I screwed up and now they're in control. Just my .02 opinion.

Edit: And I agree with you Norm. If I had been given a ticket, I would have personally been kinda scared (of telling my parents) but would have taken it with a "thank you" for the Officer as I did deserve one for the equipment violations a couple of those times.

[w1zard]

People see it as a high price to pay for going a few numbers over the speed limit. But the thing they don't realize is those few numbers could cost someone their life, or even theirs. -.-

[Norm357]

You must have cheap fines in Georgia. They're expensive as hell out here. The legislature likes to use fines as a source of revenue. They even passed a bill here that limits how much a judge can reduce a fine.

Also, insurance rates go up. My wife just got a speeding ticket. I expect my insurance to go up a couple of hundred bucks a year for the next three years.

Tis against state law in GA to use traffic fines as a source of revenue. :D

[Jynkxxie]

LOL This one is simple Norm. Because a percentage of people in our society do not like to take personal responsibility for themselves.

[Dayna36]

***flame suit on*** as much of the reason is that people just react poorly to being punished (and the fines and increased insurance costs don't help) some of the reaction comes from the manner in which normal, otherwise law-abiding citizens are spoken to by the officer making the stop.

Two very good reasons. Well put TX! I'll also agree with Retgetsgt that insurance rates in some places including where I live go up astronomically.

[Timecop]

It hurts when the fine costs a whole day's pay.

[mcsap]

Everybody WANTS the popo to catch the bad guy, arrest the drunks, handle the idiots in the world but don't like it when THEY are the "bad guy".

[Jeff L]

Personally, I am in support of higher fines for traffic violations. I've received tickets in VA and GA and honestly, had they been more than $100 - 150 each I probably would have been more careful the next time around. :(

[AndrewTx]

I've been stopped once -- this past January -- and I learned my lesson, believe me. I think I was a little shocked when I saw those lights flashing behind me at night, not because I wasn't going too fast but because I had become overly confident in my driving. The officer was very professional, I was angry at myself, and I'm a safer and more attentive driver as a result.

None of that's to say I didn't have a good couple hours of whining about it. :D