# Ticketed for Going Driving BELOW the Minimum Speed: How Common?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 1, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300 "2007-05-01T13:45:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/1 "2007-05-01T13:45:52Z")
I notice that there are minimum speeds posted on the interstate; usually about 30 mph lower than the maximum speed. For example: max. 70, min 40.
I’m curious just how often law enforcement officers ticket people for driving below the minimum speed (excluding drunks). Has this ever happened to you, or anyone you know?
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### Author:  [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/2 "2007-05-01T14:05:07Z")
My brother in law is a cop. He has told me before that they look for people who are driving too fast or too slow, as both are a possible indication of a drunk or otherwise impaired driver. If you drive too slow past a cop you are very likely to be pulled over, whether you are drunk or not.
Excluding drunks, though, I have never personally known anyone to be ticketed for going too slow. Then again, if you exclude drunks, I’ve never known anyone to drive that slow either.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/3 "2007-05-01T14:10:41Z")
While I’m sure, as **engineer\_comp\_geek** says, it’s a tell-tale sign of impairment for someone to be driving too slow, I’ve always understood that interstates have posted minimum speed limits mainly to keep people from driving farm vehicles (tractors, etc.) on the interstate.
But then, I grew up in a pretty agricultural state.
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### Author:  [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/4 "2007-05-01T14:23:02Z")
You will also notice on the minimum speed signs that they say in small letters “When Conditions Allow” or something similar.
I have been on the freeway during rush hour when it would literally be impossible to drive at the minimum speed.
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/5 "2007-05-01T14:46:00Z")
There’s a local strip of road that I find intriguing. On the way into town, you first pass a sign that says, “Speed Limit 60 - Minimum 45”. About a mile farther along, there’s another sign, which says, “Speed Limit 45.”
So, if I’m getting this right, if you’re doing anything other than exactly 45 at the moment you pass that second sign, you can be ticketed.
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### Author:  [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2007, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/6 "2007-05-01T15:05:35Z")
[QUOTE=FatBaldGuy]
You will also notice on the minimum speed signs that they say in small letters “When Conditions Allow” or something similar.
[/QUOTE]
I once had to pick people up from the airport in the middle of the night, after it had snowed, and before the snow ploughs had worked on the interstates. Fortunately, traffic was very light – and most people were driving 30 to 40 mph below the speed limit. Although there wasn’t a minimum speed on that interstate, I doubt if they’d have been ticketed if there had been.
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### Author:  [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2007, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/7 "2007-05-01T16:09:21Z")
Ticketed for Going Driving BELOW the Minimum Speed: How Common?
My glib reply would be “Not often enough”.
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2007, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/8 "2007-05-01T22:16:08Z")
[QUOTE=Max Torque]
There’s a local strip of road that I find intriguing. On the way into town, you first pass a sign that says, “Speed Limit 60 - Minimum 45”. About a mile farther along, there’s another sign, which says, “Speed Limit 45.”
So, if I’m getting this right, if you’re doing anything other than exactly 45 at the moment you pass that second sign, you can be ticketed.
[/QUOTE]
But is the second 45 an upper limit or a lower limit? 🙂
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### Author:  [@wendigo1974](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wendigo1974)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/9 "2007-05-01T22:21:51Z")
[QUOTE=Max Torque]
There’s a local strip of road that I find intriguing. On the way into town, you first pass a sign that says, “Speed Limit 60 - Minimum 45”. About a mile farther along, there’s another sign, which says, “Speed Limit 45.”
So, if I’m getting this right, if you’re doing anything other than exactly 45 at the moment you pass that second sign, you can be ticketed.
[/QUOTE]
Is that not how slow down indications work.
Your going from freeway speeds to civic speeds so they give you a miles grace.
Limit = Maximum
Seems quite straight forward.
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/10 "2007-05-02T01:08:50Z")
[QUOTE=wendigo1974]
Is that not how slow down indications work.
Your going from freeway speeds to civic speeds so they give you a miles grace.
Limit = Maximum
Seems quite straight forward.
[/QUOTE]
Ontarian speed-limit signs actually _say_ “maximum” \* instead of “speed limit”. Even more straight-forward\*\*. 🙂
[sub]\*Or “minimum”, but I can’t recall seeing one of those for a long time if ever.
\*\*And it has the advantage of being bilingual as well.[/sub]
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### Author:  [@Capa84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capa84)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2007, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/11 "2007-05-02T04:33:24Z")
[QUOTE=wendigo1974]
Is that not how slow down indications work.
Your going from freeway speeds to civic speeds so they give you a miles grace.
Limit = Maximum
Seems quite straight forward.
[/QUOTE]
actually the speed limit is enforceable exactly at the sign. 99% of the cities in the US give you some leeway, except for a few notorious speedtraps. One of them, Waldo, FL, is near here, and it’s a pretty well known fact that you have to be at the speed limit right when you pass the sign as you come into town or you will get a ticket.
AAA even went as far as to put up a billboard approaching the town to warn incoming motorists.
[http://www.speedtrap.org/speedtraps/comments.asp?state=FL&city=Waldo&st=27596](http://www.speedtrap.org/speedtraps/comments.asp?state=FL&city=Waldo&st=27596)
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### Author:  [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/12 "2007-05-02T04:39:30Z")
[QUOTE=Max Torque]
There’s a local strip of road that I find intriguing. On the way into town, you first pass a sign that says, “Speed Limit 60 - Minimum 45”. About a mile farther along, there’s another sign, which says, “Speed Limit 45.”
[/QUOTE]
Funny, when i read this, i thought it sounded suspiciously like Lubbock. And then i looked at your location. Viola!
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### Author:  [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2007, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/13 "2007-05-02T04:53:53Z")
[QUOTE=BwanaBob]
Ticketed for Going Driving BELOW the Minimum Speed: How Common?
My glib reply would be “Not often enough”.
[/QUOTE]
Q
F
T
in Seattle people tend to drive between 50 and 70 on our wonderful 60mph freeways when traffic is clear. I just wish the boneheads doing 50 werent in the passing lane 24/7
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/14 "2007-05-02T15:25:55Z")
[QUOTE=alanak]
Funny, when i read this, i thought it sounded suspiciously like Lubbock. And then i looked at your location. Viola!
[/QUOTE]
Yep. Ain’t the construction on the Marsha Sharp Freeway grand?
“Lubbock - Where All We Have To Name Stuff For Is Buddy Holly Or A Women’s Basketball Coach”.
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### Author:  [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/15 "2007-05-02T17:28:04Z")
My mother is almost proud of the fact that she was ticketed once, back in the 1970’s, for going 35mph on I-35 in Kansas when her VW bug, running on at most one cylinder, was trying to chug its way from Wichita to Kansas City. Apparently, I was in the car at the time but too young to remember.
And I’m glad I don’t remember. Imagine 35mph in a broken-down swaybacked VW bug with no air conditioning in 110F Kansas heat, belching smoke all the way…for more than 6 hours.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2007, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/16 "2007-05-02T21:04:54Z")
[QUOTE=alanak]
Funny, when i read this, i thought it sounded suspiciously like Lubbock. And then i looked at your location. Viola!
[/QUOTE]
How bass of you. :dubious:
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### Author:  [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/17 "2007-05-02T21:45:39Z")
I’ve seen people attempting to tow rickety old overloaded trailers down the freeway going way under the speed limit because if they went any faster they’d lose their load.
I’ve also seen cops with these type of people pulled over.
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### Author:  [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/18 "2007-05-02T22:18:13Z")
Heh. The only place I’ve ever seen a “minimum speed” sign was in Oahu. I always assumed that the the locals were so laid back and unhurried that the signs were needed to remind them to keep up their speed on the freeway. I know that when _I’m_ over there, a kind of pleasant slowness starts to creep over me and freeways seem way too frenetic to tolerate.
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### Author:  [@wendigo1974](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wendigo1974)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketed-for-going-driving-below-the-minimum-speed-how-common/402300/19 "2007-05-02T22:39:51Z")
[QUOTE=Capa84]
actually the speed limit is enforceable exactly at the sign. 99% of the cities in the US give you some leeway, except for a few notorious speedtraps. One of them, Waldo, FL, is near here, and it’s a pretty well known fact that you have to be at the speed limit right when you pass the sign as you come into town or you will get a ticket.
AAA even went as far as to put up a billboard approaching the town to warn incoming motorists.
[http://www.speedtrap.org/speedtraps/comments.asp?state=FL&city=Waldo&st=27596](http://www.speedtrap.org/speedtraps/comments.asp?state=FL&city=Waldo&st=27596)
[/QUOTE]
I think you misconstrued what I meant there.
The OP I was replying to was speculating whether he had to do exactly the speed specified given previous Max/Min he was presented with.
On UK roads they may give you a countdown chevron marker sign going down from A road speeds to B road speeds (70 - 60) usually culminating in a roundabout though so keeping the foot on the gas could end up a little messy.
UK law sees the sign as the indicator for the speed you should be travelling at or lower as you go past it. Thats where they put speed cameras.
On B roads they are more than happy to have a 60 limit hit a 30 limit with no prior indication. With more cameras to boot.