Speed Traps at Night in California

[JBenson2]

I've heard that the police are very strict in enforcing the reduced truck speed limit in California. Is this just during the daytime or are they just as strict at night (2am) when there are more trucks and fewer 4 wheels on the road?

[yoopr]

California is Strict 24/7/365

[lifespalette]

Simple solution...........do the speed limit. Problem solved........Next.

CHP will usually let you get away with 62-63 mph. But stay in right lane.

[Crackaces]

There are two things in my opinion that require extra extra diligence (besides the obvious like school zones)

1. Watch your downhill speed. Especially short downhill situations less than a mile. This is the favorite hang out for California's finest. You are going 55 .. maybe 58 and then accelerate to 62 or 65 .. they Will be waiting for you. Right around mile marker 649 on I5 southbound is such a convenient place.

2. Watch out for being in a lane besides the right two lanes (right lane if only two lanes) unless signs specifically say "Trucks OK". There are merges on California's freeways where you have to quickly get into the right lanes or you will be ticketed. The confusion comes when you have to make a left exit like West CA 60 fom the I10 or the 101 / 10 / I5 interchange. Just be aware and keep your lane until it says "Trucks OK"

[terrylamar]

I've heard that the police are very strict in enforcing the reduced truck speed limit in California. Is this just during the daytime or are they just as strict at night (2am) when there are more trucks and fewer 4 wheels on the road?

This has nothing to with trucking, but I was a young LCPL in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendelton in the mid 70's. I took leave, went home and bought a Corvette. I had no idea how long it would take to get back to Camp Pendleton so I pretty much speeded across four states, Texas to California. I made pretty good time so once I crossed into California I slowed down to about 10 miles above the speed limit. I had no problems to that point, I guess I was lucky because I was going 80 mph to 100 mph. Anyway, I slowed down and was just cruising, I was looking out for cops and there were none around. All of a sudden there were lights, headlights, then overhead lights behind me. CHP didn't have radar, the sucker was pacing me with his lights off in the middle of the night and snuck up behind me.

[JBenson2]

Thanks for the responses.

I'll follow lifespalette's suggestion:
Simple solution...........do the speed limit

And I'll certainly keep a close eye on the speedometer coming down those hills.

[T * Storm]

Thanks for the responses.

I'll follow lifespalette's suggestion:
Simple solution...........do the speed limit

And I'll certainly keep a close eye on the speedometer coming down those hills.

Not to confuse the issue, but bear in mind that Northern CA and Southern CA are 2 different animals. ("Southern CA" starts south of the grapevine.") Normal speed for a car down the 101 through the valley is 75+, (I 10 between the 405 and the 5 is also a "no fly zone") do that in northern CA and expect a ticket. ALSO BEAR IN MIND MOTORCYCLES LANE SPLITTING IS LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA. as well as no bridge tolls and ok for carpool lanes.

[yoopr]

Thanks for the responses.

I'll follow lifespalette's suggestion:
Simple solution...........do the speed limit

And I'll certainly keep a close eye on the speedometer coming down those hills.

Not to confuse the issue, but bear in mind that Northern CA and Southern CA are 2 different animals. ("Southern CA" starts south of the grapevine.") Normal speed for a car down the 101 through the valley is 75+, (I 10 between the 405 and the 5 is also a "no fly zone") do that in northern CA and expect a ticket. ALSO BEAR IN MIND MOTORCYCLES LANE SPLITTING IS LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA. as well as no bridge tolls and ok for carpool lanes.

Remember that this is a Trucking forum

[T * Storm]

Thanks for the responses.

I'll follow lifespalette's suggestion:
Simple solution...........do the speed limit

And I'll certainly keep a close eye on the speedometer coming down those hills.

Not to confuse the issue, but bear in mind that Northern CA and Southern CA are 2 different animals. ("Southern CA" starts south of the grapevine.") Normal speed for a car down the 101 through the valley is 75+, (I 10 between the 405 and the 5 is also a "no fly zone") do that in northern CA and expect a ticket. ALSO BEAR IN MIND MOTORCYCLES LANE SPLITTING IS LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA. as well as no bridge tolls and ok for carpool lanes.

Remember that this is a Trucking forum

I do, but I've never driven a truck. Just my observation while driving a motorcycle and cage (4 wheeled vehicle). I could be very wrong but I noticed the difference between No and So CA, so I figured the reason for the 2 different leniency levels referred to in this thread were due to which part of the state your in.

Bottom line; don't break the law and you'll have nothing to worry about.

[T * Storm]

duplicate post

[yoopr]

I know that on Cajon the 4 wheelers really put their foot into it.
Yeah-drivers in Northern Ca and So Cal are totally Different. When I used to run CA. Running North, or South, I always took 99. Less hassle than 5.

[T * Storm]

I know that on Cajon the 4 wheelers really put their foot into it.
Yeah-drivers in Northern Ca and So Cal are totally Different. When I used to run CA. Running North, or South, I always took 99. Less hassle than 5.

A lot less pot holes caused by them dam truckers too. 8)

I run the 5 two to three times a week. You can do 62-63 mph. Done it for the past 5 years. Never even given a second look by CHP.

[ssoutlaw]

Simple solution...........do the speed limit. Problem solved........Next.

I don't think he was asking about a legal speed, so answer the question or leave it alone. Sounds like the guys on the radio who want to look like the perfect person... This forum thread is to help new drivers so why act like the rest of the smart A@#% on the radio. Just my 2 cents...lol

I'm a newbie and just came back to NH from NC picking up my new trailer. I pretty much drove at night 5mph above the speed limit. I was being blown off big time by everyone and there brother. I don't have a CB yet so I can imagine what was being said.

[Ian Williams]

Stay in the right lane and keep it under 60 and you'll be fine. In the 6 months that I've been driving from Sacramento to Reno I've been passed by CHP while cruising at 60 in the right lane at least a dozen times.

Another spot in in NorCal to slow down is the downgrade between Yuba Gap (MM161) and Emigrant Gap on I80. About 2/3 of the way down the grade there is a turn in the road, they love to sit there and write folks who pick up speed.

[PackRatTDI]

I did 60-65 mph all the time in California, sometimes even 68. I ran with a CR England driver doing 68 across I-10 once and we even came across a CHP officer parked on the side of the road and he paid us no mind. Came across one sitting in the dark on 99 between Bakersfield and Sacramento and he paid me no mind either. I guess chippies in the southern part of the state have better things to do than enforce the CAL-TRANS split speed limit.

I found the situation was much the same in Illinois. Even overheard a conversation between 2 Illinois SP officers and truck drivers at a restaurant. The SP officers pretty much confirmed what I had always heard, stay to the right and don't exceed 65 mph and they'll leave you alone.

Ohio and Texas were always different stories, of course. I remember the first time I got into my 68 mph T2000 was the same week that Texas was removing all the 60/55 mph truck speed limits. Damn that was a good day. 8)

[Barrelburner]

Stay in the right lane and keep it under 60 and you'll be fine. In the 6 months that I've been driving from Sacramento to Reno I've been passed by CHP while cruising at 60 in the right lane at least a dozen times.

Another spot in in NorCal to slow down is the downgrade between Yuba Gap (MM161) and Emigrant Gap on I80. About 2/3 of the way down the grade there is a turn in the road, they love to sit there and write folks who pick up speed.

Absolutely right. Right there on westbound I-80 at Laing Rd is CHP's favorite spot on the whole mountain. They catch speeders going down the hill, and pull them over in the vista point where they are safe from passing traffic.

[Barrelburner]

I did 60-65 mph all the time in California, sometimes even 68. I ran with a CR England driver doing 68 across I-10 once and we even came across a CHP officer parked on the side of the road and he paid us no mind. Came across one sitting in the dark on 99 between Bakersfield and Sacramento and he paid me no mind either. I guess chippies in the southern part of the state have better things to do than enforce the CAL-TRANS split speed limit.

I found the situation was much the same in Illinois. Even overheard a conversation between 2 Illinois SP officers and truck drivers at a restaurant. The SP officers pretty much confirmed what I had always heard, stay to the right and don't exceed 65 mph and they'll leave you alone.

Ohio and Texas were always different stories, of course. I remember the first time I got into my 68 mph T2000 was the same week that Texas was removing all the 60/55 mph truck speed limits. Damn that was a good day. 8)

I've always thought that California speed enforcement and Illinois speed enforcement was much the same.