El Paso DPS Highway Stop

[Viffer]

A few weeks ago, my wife and I were leaving El Paso on Interstate 20 at 3:00 am in the morning. Just outside the city, we saw a speed limit sign that read 80 mph. We both looked at each other and said "smokin" and I put the peddle to the metal. But actually 80 mph felt too fast so I slowed to about 75 mph and passed a DPS vehicle that had pulled someone over. I said, "that guy must have been going really fast if the speed limit is 80 mph." As I passed the DPS vehicle, I moved into the left lane and stayed there for awhile before returning to the right lane. We were still talking about the 80 mph speed limit when the DPS vehicle flashes us about 3-5 miles down the road. "Damn."

After we pulled over, he says I'm speeding when my wife ways, "the speed limit sign said 80!" He said, actually you're traveling 75 mph, but the speed limit is 80 only in the daytime. It's 60 at night and you were driving in the left lane which is also illegal. Damn ... his right. A bit brain dead at 3:00 am.

He took my license and insurance card to his vehicle, returned and then visited for about 10 minutes about "this and that." Finally he said take this warning ticket and drive safely. And we did.

[joe817]

A warning ticket doing 75 in a 60? I'll say you are one lucky guy. I'm sure courtesy helped. Congrats!

80 as a speed limit? I didn't even know it existed.

[USA1]

80 as a speed limit? I didn't even know it existed.

same here .

of course that's what everybody is doin up and down the freeways here anyway .

[Viffer]

Actually the day time speed limit is 80 mph from just east of El Paso to just west of the Midland-Odessa area. Something like 175 miles for so (except around Van Horn). And I was getting passed even at 80 mph!

[A-R]

There are quite a few 80 mph speed limits in far west Texas on I-10 and Highway 90 ... been out that way twice now.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Although it's true that selected highways in West Texas have 80 MPH
speed limits, does anyone know if these roads have BOTH speed limit signs -
the "Day" and "Night" limits?

If they only post the "80 MPH" and not the night limit, that would appear to get
you out of any night time ticket for 61 to 80 MPH. IMHO.

SIA

[USA1]

Although it's true that selected highways in West Texas have 80 MPH
speed limits, does anyone know if these roads have BOTH speed limit signs -
the "Day" and "Night" limits?

If they only post the "80 MPH" and not the night limit, that would appear to get
you out of any night time ticket for 61 to 80 MPH. IMHO.

SIA

i have seen signs that have the regular looking sign ,
and just below that is a black sign with white letters posting the night speed .

[USA1]

[surprise_i'm_armed]

USA1:
You sure had the right picture for this thread.

Look again at the above picture. The 80 MPH day speed limit is only good
for 50 yards until you hit the 70 MPH day speed limit.

Seems like entrapment to me. :-)

SIA

[magicglock]

Not quite....the picture doesn't show the second sign very well. I believe the second sign has language at the top that only applies to Trucks or Commercial Vehicles. So daytime passenger vehicle limit is 80 while truck/commercial daytime limit is 70. Correct me if I am wrong.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

magicglock:
You may have assessed that photo correctly, but the '70' sign is too blurry to read.

SIA

[USA1]

magicglock , your right ..

i can just make out the word truck speed limit

[boomerang]

Here's a link to a different picture where both sets of signs are legible.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... -01-11.jpg

[USA1]

Here's a link to a different picture where both sets of signs are legible.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... -01-11.jpg

man , thats like "high definition "
good find

[KD5NRH]

Not quite....the picture doesn't show the second sign very well. I believe the second sign has language at the top that only applies to Trucks or Commercial Vehicles. So daytime passenger vehicle limit is 80 while truck/commercial daytime limit is 70. Correct me if I am wrong.

Yes, because it wouldn't be safer to have everybody going the same speed, you know.

That's also why I have a problem with day/night limits, since not everybody is going to think the changeover is at the exact same time. Don't even get me started on school zones posted by time, making everybody look at the clock instead of the road.