[net.cycle] I need some general information

sean@cavell.UUCP (Sean Cormack) (09/25/86)

Because I would like to go from Edmonton (Alta) to Toronto in under
50 hours, yet would still like to take the northern U.S. route, I
need to know a few things about the route itself.

The envisaged route, though sub-optimal, would take me through Montana,
N.Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
and New York state.

   1) How are the Interstates in each of the 9 states for traffic?

   2) How strict are the police in each state about the double nickel
          limit when on an open highway with few other cars around?
          (I am hoping to be able to put the cruise on at 70 mph)

   3) Which of the states in question has laws against radar detectors? 
          (I realize that question may already have been answered in
           preceeding news but I was not paying attention at the time)

   4) Are there any potentially crowded areas that I should try to avoid
           during peak hours. (I understand Chicago freeways are filled
           all the time)

I post this to net.cycle also, because I know that cycles have a hard
time using radar detectors and so may be more aware of the police
situation than the rest of us.

Anyone answering may mail to ihnp4!alberta!sean unless they feel that 
their reply is broad and general enough to post to the whole net.
Please mail me any partial first hand information that you have, and
if I get enough to build a description of the route I will summarize 
it and post the results later in the year.

Thanks for your time. 
 -Sean Cormack

djl@mips.UUCP (Dan Levin) (09/30/86)

> The envisaged route, though sub-optimal, would take me through Montana,
> N.Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
> and New York state.

You can take 90 to 80 from Minnesota to Penn.  No problem.

Minnesota is the worst state to speed in I have ever seen.  The cops
cruise in one direction, with insta-on radar aimed across the median at
the opposite lanes of traffic.  Due to the gently rolling hills, you
can't see them.  You are driving along at 70 or so, he clocks you in
one 1 second burst (he does 60 exactly, and just subtracts 60 from the
reading), does a U turn through the grass divider, and pulls you over.
No Saving Throw.  They will only pull you over to 67+, however.  They
listen to CB's, the trucker station, just to add insult to injury.

The cops in Ohio carry large shotguns, do not speed there.  Ditto
Penn., they are very nasty.  Rural NY state is no problem.  Watch
out in small towns and such, as normal.

I have crossed Indiana six or so times, and have NEVER seen a cop
outside of a ten mile radius on Indianapolis.  The Dakota's are mellow,
not to worry too much there.

I can obviously only speak from experience, but I have made the cross
country trip along the northern route four or five times in the last
two years, and I have seen about the same things each time.  Do carry
a CB, on channel 19, and do get a detector.

-- 
			***dan

{decwrl, glacier}!mips!djl
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