Ed from Groves asks: Officer Antoine, I enjoy your column and have learned so much about driving safely since I started reading it. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a fan of yours because you gave me a speeding ticket that I thought should have been a warning, but you gave me a ticket anyway after much pleading. But now, thanks to you coming to speak about safe driving on my job and these weekly articles in The News, I see you in a whole different light. Officer Antoine, I was speaking with a friend about speeding and I remembered you taught us that it’s possible to get a speeding ticket going under the posted speed limit. Am I correct with the information I gave to my friend? Can you give someone a ticket going under the speed limit?

Answer: Good question Ed! It always makes me smile to see that someone has understood the reason behind traffic enforcement. When we first started the Traffic Enforcement Unit, no one in the area was used to the enforcement of the Transportation Code. Therefore, when I started issuing citations, it appeared as though I was either picking with people or just being mean. Now knowing people understand there’s a need for us to drive safe on the road — to stop all untimely and unnecessary injuries or deaths in our city. To answer your question Ed, yes, you are absolutely correct! There are situations in which you can receive a speeding ticket for traveling under the posted speed limit. The definition I like to use for speeding is “the act of driving a motor vehicle faster than what is legal or safe.” We all know the legal part of the definition is driving a motor vehicle over the posted speed limit. Now, the SAFE part of the definition comes with road or weather conditions. Consider this, if the speed limit is 50 mph, would it be safe to drive 35 mph and there’s ice on the ground? Of course not! So if it’s not safe to drive 35 mph with ice on the ground, even though you’re going under the posted speed limit, you can still be issued a citation because you’re driving 35 mph on ice, which is not safe!

 

Racheal from Port Arthur asks: I believe my cousin is very negligent when it comes to her vehicle maintenance. She is currently riding around with two donut tires on her car. I told her I didn’t think that was legal. Officer Antoine, is it illegal to drive a car with more than one spare tire?

Answer: Good question Racheal! A donut spare tire should not be driven more than 70 miles or a speed higher than 50 mph. Any speed or distance past that, the tire is not guaranteed for safe driving on our roads. Racheal, I did not find any, or do not know of any law that regulates how many spare tires a motorist can have on any one vehicle. Your cousin needs to keep in mind: Even though riding on two spare tires may not be illegal, it’s not the safest means of transportation. That donut spare tire is only a temporary solution.

 

Jamie from Port Arthur asks: Officer Antoine, one day my husband and I were at a red light behind a vehicle that was first at the red light. They failed to go when the light turned green and it appeared that when the light turned yellow, the car hurried up and sped off while my husband follow behind him. I told my husband that he just ran a red light, and he believes it wasn’t his fault because the car in front of him stayed so long and didn’t observe the green light. Officer Antoine, was my husband at fault for running a red light, or is he correct that it was permissible to go through because the car ahead of us wasted time at the green light? Thank you for all you do!

Answer: Good question Jamie! This probably is an issue many drivers have to contend with on a daily basis, especially now with cellphones being in practically every vehicle. I’m aware it is frustrating when someone is not acknowledging or observing the light has change to green. But Jamie, if someone is delayed in obeying the green traffic signal and they happen to go through their light while it’s yellow, you cannot proceed behind them unless you can make the yellow caution light as well. But normally, if you missed your turn, you would need to wait again for the traffic signal to turn green. So Jamie, your husband was wrong!

 

Join Officer Antoine for Ask A Cop Live, on KSAP 96.9 FM, “The Breeze” radio station, every Tuesday (Today) for 1 hour from 1p-2p. Tune in and listen as Officer Antoine discusses in detail the newly released Ask A Cop article that printed in The News. You can also tune in via Internet at www.ksapthebreeze.org. Feel free to call in and ask your question live to Officer Antoine at (409) 982-0247.

 

Remember to email your questions to Rickey.Antoine@portarthurtx.gov, or call 409-983-8673 and leave a message or voice mail question, or mail them to: Ofc. Rickey Antoine, 645 4th Street, Port Arthur, Texas, 77640. If you happen to see me in public you can Ask A Cop!