Interstate 40, twelve mile bridge westbound

Lafayette, LouisianaAug 04, 20023 Comments

Fines of following too close with tons of louisiana state police on the ground in patrol cars writing 1200 some odd tickets in one day with airplane assistance.

Comments:
WHERE IS I-40? Not in lafayette City or Parish. There is I-10 which runs east and west from Texas to New orleans then continues on. I-12 which is near Baton Rouge to Slidell. Us 90 travels east and west from Texas to New Orleans.It is 2 lane from Lafayette to Lake Charles,the 4 lane from Laf. to N.O. If you are talking about I-10 over the Atchafalaya Basin and Henderson swamp which is elevated from aprox mile post 117 to 136 then Yes. The State Police enforce the 60 MPH speed limit on that elevated area. Fixed wing planes as well as helicopters are used. There are fixed lines painted on the bridge and they use time and distance to determine your speed. In addition they use marked police vehicles stopped on the shoulder. Usually west bound at the end of the bridge the Henderson Police are parked at the foot of the bridge. Once you get off the bridge the speed limit is 70 mph,but on the bridge it is 60--there are plenty of signs saying 60 mpn. !8 wheeler speed limit is 55 mph and no passing on the bridge for 18 wheeler trucks. Keep in mind when it is raining (heavy down pour ) radar doesn't work,but in a light drizzle it works fine. When it is raining planes and helicopters don't fly in bad weather. However, If they use unmarked vehicles all they have to do is follow you and clock you with their calibrated,certified speedometer which is evidence in court.Unmarked State Police vehicles means no blue bar lights on top,but decals on the sides and blue lights in the grill, on dash and in the rear. The head lights will be wig wag and they will have a siren. The Trooper will be in uniform.
#1Mar 23, 2010Report Abuse
In regard to following too closely. The old rule of driving was for every 10mph you traveled you should have at least the space of 1 mid size car between you and the car in front of you. That is to say if you were traveling 55 mph,then you should have at least 5 car lenghts in between you to give you enough safe distance to take evasive action, slow down, etc. Currently driving schools teach the 2 second rule usually for in the city driving and the 10 second or more rule for interstate driving. You pick a fixed point on the road while you are driving i.e. a mile post sign, a tree. etc --as the rear of the vehicle in front of you passes that point start counting one thousand one, one thousand 2,etc the front of your vehicle should have at least 10 seconds before your vehicle passes that same fixed point. If it is raining , night time, fog you should allow more time. If you are following too closely at 55mph on that elevated Atchafalaya Basin Bridge---- #1 there is no place to take evasive action other than hit another vehicle or the guard rail.,#2 in all likely hood with the amount of 18 wheeler traffic on that bridge if you try to stop, or change lanes you will get run over by a truck. 10 years ago the Dept of Transportation estimated the number of vehicles on that stretch of 1-10 to be 85 thousand vehicles a day. Today it is higher. When there is an accident on the bridge--it is usually serious--serious injuries- if not fatalities due to the speed of the vehicles---the estimated average speed is probably 70mph (posted speed limit is 60mph) and also due to the number of vehicles involved--which is usually several--because most drivers do not allow enough distance between vehicles to avoid an accident. The speed limit was reduced because stats showed fewer serious and fatal accidents at the lower speed. When the speed limit was 70 mph people drove 85,90 and higher. So yes-- following too closely is often cited as a driving violation as well as speeding. Depending where you are on the bridge --you may be in either St Martin Parish or Accension Parish the fines must be paid in that Parish. Fines usually start at around $250.00 and go up. 20 miles over the posted speed limit which would be 80 for cars --start at $500.00 and you must appear before a judge in court. Some Sheriff's Office don't let you just sign and go, or even accept your driver's license in lieu of bond (paying the fine by mail). They don't take checks or credit cards ---cash only. State Police may or may not accept your signature or driver's license depending on which state you are from due to compact agreement with your home state. If your home state is not part of the agreement with Louisiana you will be booked into the local jail until you either pay the fine or go to court.
#2Mar 31, 2010Report Abuse
The correct listing for this location is I-10 on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge and is actually not even in Lafayette Parish. The current speed limit is 60 mph for all vehicles except trucks. The truck speed limit is 55 mph and they are required to stay in the right lane. If a truck moves to the left lane, there is a very good chance that a helicopter flying overhead will report it to troopers on the ground and the truck will be stopped and cited. As someone earlier mentioned, the speed limit had to be lowered because there is no room to avoid an accident on the bridge and the accidents that have happened on the bridge have been riddled with serious injuries and fatalities.
#3Apr 17, 2010Report Abuse

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