Direction question

Invest in a radar detector. Its amazing how quickly a $300 investment pays for itself. :)

I always thought the Turnpike had a low number of officers, but that's just a personal observation.

I don't mind the Ohio State Highway Patrol. I'm actually in favor of the OSHP using radar on the Turnpike. I think they're fair, focused on safety, and don't use the sleazy techniques that local departments use. If you're flying at 80 in a 65, the ticket is deserved.

On the other hand, I think local departments who sit in blind spots (North Olmsted, Ohio comes to mind), at speed limit changes, etc., are terrible. Those are just cash grabs. They're not interested in safety, but rather the city budget. They'll tell you it's all about safety, but do you think they'd do it if there was not a conflict of interest? If the money from speeding tickets went to, say, a state fund and was distributed equally to communities, they wouldn't be as interested in safety. Same goes for red light cameras. It's not safety, but a tax on citizens.

I've came through a few times on the turn pike and seen at least 2 officers sitting in the middle there.

But you are right they are fair. I've been caught doing 5-6 over and the officer didn't move.

I used to take Route 2 because I didn't think it would make a difference in time, so I took the "scenic" route that I didn't have to pay for. I decided to try the turnpike one day last year, and I arrived at the park a full half-hour before I would had I taken Route 2. I live in SE Michigan so my average drive time taking 2 was around two hours. The turnpike cut it down to just over 1.5. It's only a couple dollars for the toll, but it's well worth it considering how much you'll save in time and GAS!

One more positive of the turnpike, the cops don't suck. On route 2 a couple years ago, I was the lucky recipient of a ticket from a cop hiding out where the speed limit quickly and subtly drops from 65 to 55 coming back from CP.

I maybe see one OSHP officer on the turnpike per trip, and usually they're sitting there running the LIDAR. From what I've noticed, they only bother you if you're sticking out by going way too slow, or way too fast.

I usually pull a cool 75mph traffic flow dependent. Gets me excellent gas mileage (35mpg), the police seem to not mind since I do signal, changes, ride the far right lane and move over and slow down for pulled over emergency vehicles and construction workers.

Route 2 is still my preferred route as well. Coming from the Akron area, I take the Turnpike to exit 145, then take the 1/2 mile jog on Rt. 57 to 2. I always get off at Rye Beach Road and take the back way on Cedar Point Road. It affords some of the prettiest views in the area. And I can make it from my front door to the parking lot in under 1:20.

I've not seen an overabundance of staties or local cops on either Rt. 2 or the Turnpike.

Ensign Smith said:
Route 2 is still my preferred route as well. Coming from the Akron area, I take the Turnpike to exit 145, then take the 1/2 mile jog on Rt. 57 to 2. I always get off at Rye Beach Road and take the back way on Cedar Point Road. It affords some of the prettiest views in the area. And I can make it from my front door to the parking lot in under 1:20.

I've not seen an overabundance of staties or local cops on either Rt. 2 or the Turnpike.

Local cops tend to avoid major freeways like they do in PA. It's a good thing in a sense.

^^^^I wonder where they were last night because I witnessed a driver pass me doing at least 75 (in the 55 area) just after the Davis Besse plant. A few seconds later, I was then surprised to see a cop hidden on a dirt drive on the right hand side....just sitting there. I wondered if he even saw the guy who continued vanishing into the dark of the night still doing god knows what over the limit.

ramboozle said:
I used to take Route 2 because I didn't think it would make a difference in time, so I took the "scenic" route that I didn't have to pay for. I decided to try the turnpike one day last year, and I arrived at the park a full half-hour before I would had I taken Route 2. I live in SE Michigan so my average drive time taking 2 was around two hours. The turnpike cut it down to just over 1.5. It's only a couple dollars for the toll, but it's well worth it considering how much you'll save in time and GAS!

One more positive of the turnpike, the cops don't suck. On route 2 a couple years ago, I was the lucky recipient of a ticket from a cop hiding out where the speed limit quickly and subtly drops from 65 to 55 coming back from CP.

I found it to be the other way. The turnpike and OH-2 both had construction last year. It took me 1 hour 25 min. on the way there using 2 and 2 hours 10 minutes home on the turnpike. I was going about 8-10 mph both ways.

Route 2 or the turnpike is all about personal preference. It really matter which way, as long as you somehow make it to america's roller coast. It just sucks for the people who take the turnpike becuse they will be LATE, and will have less time to RIDE.

I've always wondered this and this seems like the most appropriate place to ask. Here at home I know what cops accept and what they don't accept in terms of speed. On the 401 the speed limit is 100 km/h and if you set the cruise at 115 km/h you're safe. On I75 in Michigan where the speed limit is 70mph I usually set my cruise at 120km/h which is around 75mph. I've never had any trouble. On the TP I usually set my cruise at 110 km/h which is 68mph. How much leeway is there? Is 10mph over the limit too much? What's your typical standard on highways?

Also, I've been thinking about buying a radar detector on ebay. I drive in the States a lot so I think it would be worth it. They're not illegal in Michigan or Ohio are they? Because they are here in Ontario. I believe it was Brandon who said "a $300 investment" has saved him a bunch. Looking on ebay I'm seeing them for around $50-100. Are those cheap-o ones? What should I be looking for?

^Cops watching speeds on the interstates aren't going to stop you for a measly 10 mph over, there's plenty worse they should be (and are) looking out for. Many cops will even let you get away with 10-15 over, but anything beyond is an absolute no-no.

With regards to the radar detector, Michigan allows them but I believe they are illegal in Ohio. I'm not totally sure.

Vince -
Yeah, you can get radar detectors for much less than $300, but after dropping around that much on the 1998 model of one of these, I've been mightily impressed by it. The only time I've ever gotten nailed for speeding has been when it was off - and that's no exaggeration. It's easily saved me from 20 or more speeding tickets over the last decade. Easily.

Again, I can't speak to other brands of detectors, but the Escort brand is highly regarded, and has never let me down, even with my 10 year old model.

Escort Radar

And no, they're not illegal here in MI or OH. In fact, they're only illegal in Virginia and Washington DC.

Yeah, you can get away with 75 in Michigan very easily. I've heard of people being pulled over for 77 in a 70. I won't go faster than 76-77 around here.

In Ohio, I try to keep it under 70 in the 65 sections. I go 60 on the dot on OH-2 in the 55 section, and 69 in the 65.

Ohio cops like to write Michigan people tickets. :)

Is it still true that 5mph over on an interstate is a no-point ticket in MI?

MI cops like to give tickets to Canadian drivers too as I learned from experience a couple years ago. I was heading home from Cuyahoga Falls and I was on 75 in Monroe and got nailed. At the time I didn't realize how fast I was going. We had spent the night there and I had to get to work the next day and needed to hustle. I'm ashamed to say how fast I was going because looking back it's just stupidity. The trooper told me that the ticket wouldn't affect my Canadian record, I just paid it and it would be done. However a couple of months later I got a letter in the mail from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation saying that they were notified of an out of province offence. Two demerit points. That was a bummer.

djDaemon said: And no, they're not illegal here in MI or OH. In fact, they're only illegal in Virginia and Washington DC.

I thought they were illegal in NY too?

No, its "indirectly illegal" in NY:

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle
with any object placed or hung in or upon the vehicle, except required or permitted equipment of the vehicle, in such a manner as to obstruct
or interfere with the view of the operator through the windshield, or to
prevent him from having a clear and full view of the road and condition
of traffic behind such vehicle.

There are also similar, but less strict "indirect" legality issues in MN and CA.

Radar detector legality

Vince, just make sure if you get one, that you always take it down before crossing the bridge/tunnel to go back home.

Or, you could just stay within a few MPH of the speed limit. ;)

That would be too easy.