My father is driving South tomorrow. His route will take him down Route 81 through Virginia, which appears to pass right along the Appalachian Mountains.
Anybody know what that road's like this time of year? He's going a bit out of his way to do me a big favor. I don't want him to get into trouble with bad weather.
Usually the interstates stay pretty clear. Virginia is far enough south it's usually pretty good. If its 30 degrees in Miami though, anything can happen.
I-81 should be fine this weekend, he can expect some rain on Sunday, but temp. should be significantly above freezing, so no worries!
The best way to describe I-81 is "full of state police at all times"
Tell him to watch his speed. That's probably the highest-enforcement zone in the entire state...
Don't speed in VA. The cops in VA are ruthless. Especially near Wytheville VA.
Weather shouldn't be an issue. It's been abnormally warm the last week.
Beautiful drive for an Interstate but lots and lots of trucks... as well as cops.
Bill
and don't use your radar detector .... they will bust you....
what bill said. lots of trucks and hills but a pretty drive.
wbjones wrote: and don't use your radar detector .... they will bust you....
They can't pull you over just for having one. It's a secondary offense (that doesn't mean they won't find something else to nail you on and add it to the list)
-VA resident who uses a radar detector everyday.....
I was traveling south on I-81 and had just crossed the stae line into Virginia. I got a call on my cell phone.
Being the responsible berkeleyer that I am, I pulled over to the side of the road and answered it. (Middle of the afternoon, well off the road, 4-ways on)
NOT TEN SECONDS LATER, there's a tap on my window, it's a VA State cop.
I roll down the window, he asks, "Is there a problem?", I answer, "No, just answering a call." He says, "Well, you need to move." I say, "I sure will when I'm done here"
He said," No, you need to move NOW!"
So much for responsible cell phone usage.
How do they know the radar detector is on? It receives not transmits doesn't it?
+1 vfor the radar thing/cop situation in VA. I got pulled over-yes, for speeding 81 in a 55 in those days! I had a broken winshield, and had stowed my detector under the seat. The cop searched my truck, found the detector, surmised that it was warm (on the floor, above exhaust), Yelled at me, and wrote me up for the windshield, and wreckless driving, and speeding. Had to drive back up to appear in court. Not freindly.
shadetree30 wrote: I roll down the window, he asks, "Is there a problem?", I answer, "No, just answering a call." He says, "Well, you need to move." I say, "I sure will when I'm done here"
I'm not so sure I would have reacted very well had you responded to like that to me and I were an officer either.
Joey
Probably too late now, but if he's into twisty mountain roads, look up Skyline Drive which you can get to from I-81 and will take you in the same direction, albeit at a more leisurely pace ;)
skrzastek wrote:wbjones wrote: and don't use your radar detector .... they will bust you....They can't pull you over just for having one. It's a secondary offense (that doesn't mean they won't find something else to nail you on and add it to the list) -VA resident who uses a radar detector everyday.....
you are, of course, right.... but as you said they WILL find something else to stop you for...
and another word of caution ... don't under any circumstance allow the officer to get his hands on the detector (no matter what excuse he/she uses) they WILL "accidently" drop it as many times as it takes to destroy it.... and laugh at you while the apologize ... ask me how I know...
joey48442 wrote:shadetree30 wrote: I roll down the window, he asks, "Is there a problem?", I answer, "No, just answering a call." He says, "Well, you need to move." I say, "I sure will when I'm done here"I'm not so sure I would have reacted very well had you responded to like that to me and I were an officer either. Joey
Said response was done very politely and I might have even said 'sir' in there as well. It was not sarcastic by any stretch of the imagination...especially when it was broad daylight and I was well off the road, as opposed to driving and using a cell phone like they told us not to...
I-81 is a nice drive. Watch out for the police but the mountain scenery is nice.
I dunno about the radar detector thing. When I was living in Virginia I put at least 50k miles in a year and half with my radar detector. Never had a problem and was a whole lot cheaper than a ticket. I even kept in the windshield when I would go pick up Police Reports for work.
They are allowed to take it but they must return it upon written request. I had the law on it printed out with my registration and insurance.
Update:
Dad made it through safely and is in North Carolina for the night.
Thanks for the info.
Enjoy his company,and companionship.
Greg Voth wrote: They are allowed to take it but they must return it upon written request.
Is there anything in the law that says what condition it has to be in when they return it..??
the last few times I've had to drive for any length of time in Va I've taken a cheapo flea market detector ($5ish) with me so when they insist on handling mine that's what I give them .... not the Val 1
TRoglodyte wrote: Enjoy his company,and companionship.
We almost lost him 20 years ago to a brain tumor. I have enjoyed every moment I've spent with him, before and since.
shadetree30 wrote:joey48442 wrote:Said response was done very politely and I might have even said 'sir' in there as well. It was not sarcastic by any stretch of the imagination...especially when it was broad daylight and I was well off the road, as opposed to driving and using a cell phone like they told us not to...shadetree30 wrote: I roll down the window, he asks, "Is there a problem?", I answer, "No, just answering a call." He says, "Well, you need to move." I say, "I sure will when I'm done here"I'm not so sure I would have reacted very well had you responded to like that to me and I were an officer either. Joey
Ah. It sounded more sarcastic in the first post. Sort of a "I'll move when I'm good and ready tone". Guess I misread that.
Joey
wbjones wrote:Greg Voth wrote: They are allowed to take it but they must return it upon written request.Is there anything in the law that says what condition it has to be in when they return it..?? the last few times I've had to drive for any length of time in Va I've taken a cheapo flea market detector ($5ish) with me so when they insist on handling mine that's what I give them .... not the Val 1
Not that I remember. I am sure it is meant to be returned in the condition it was taken but "accidents" happen. I read about police destroying them roadside or just taking them so I printed the law out.
The police in Virginia have a radar detector detector as described here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_detector_detector
An officer tried to use one on me, but my girlfriend (wife now) hid our radar detector before he caught up with us. He waved the detector detector at our car and then drove off. I can only guess that he believed his detector detector was picking up a radar detector from another car in traffic.
I lived in VA for several years and the police I've met were not polite. On a service road there was a regular traffic stop where an officer stopped every vehicle for license and registration checks. One time I asked if they were looking for someone and the officer said it was all about the easy money catching people without proper documents.
At one of these stops, another officer stopped a foreign couple (car in front of me, I believe they were Asian) and the couple questioned him. The officer shouted back at them "well, welcome to FN America". This was not cool.
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