Erik Chalhoub here, always trying to conserve gas and preserve my vehicle. Fuel and maintenance are expensive.
As such, I consider myself a good driver who follows the speed limit, occasionally going no more than 5 to 10mph over the limit. I know that’s frustrating to hear for the majority of California drivers, but I don’t need to add a speeding ticket to my bills.
I frequently travel San Miguel Canyon Road through Prunedale. A few years ago, after a major repaving of the road, the speed limit was reduced from 55mph to 45mph. Didn’t make any difference, though, as the average speed is still well over 60mph.
Recently on that road, a California Highway Patrol officer pulled up behind me. I immediately become self-conscious of my driving any time that happens, so I made sure I maintained the 45mph speed limit. Yet, the officer was tailgating me; had they put on their lights and sirens to pass, I would’ve pulled over to let them through.
I inched up to 50mph, but my rearview mirror was still filled with black-and-white. At 55mph, it wasn’t much better.
It was disappointing to see that an officer meant to enforce the rules of the road wasn’t following it themselves. Even more discouraging was the news that Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto got pulled over for speeding not only once or twice, but at least three times over the past year.
Dashcam footage from the CHP shows Nieto being pulled over for reportedly going 95mph on the stretch of Highway 101 in South County with a speed limit of 65mph. No citations were issued in any of the incidents.
Nieto released a statement yesterday, July 25, after requests from various media over the past few weeks (including from myself).
“As Sheriff, I understand the importance of adhering to our traffic regulations,” she said. “I should set a better example for my community, and I’m committed to doing so in the future.”
I couldn’t agree more. We are all human and make lapses in judgment. But when the public sees the enforcers of the law seemingly flouting the very thing they’ve sworn to follow, what does that say to the rest of us?
(1) comment
One rule for us, one for them.
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