No need for speed: Maryland woman ticketed for going ‘too slow’

Many drivers have probably been pulled over for driving a few miles per hour over the posted speed limit. While this might be among the many common reasons for being pulled over, one Maryland woman was issued a traffic citation for a very surprising reason: She was apparently driving too slowly.

According to recent reports, the driver was traveling 63 mph when 65 mph was the posted speed. Police said the woman wasn’t driving fast enough, even though the woman noted she was driving under the speed limit due to the windy weather. Despite making adjustment for the conditions, the woman was still saddled with a $90 speeding ticket.

A highway safety advocate responded to news of this charge by saying that “it’s sending the wrong message to drivers.” Motorists have a duty to drive with reasonable care, which means that it is often necessary to reduce speeds to drive according to weather events. After all, it’s a speed limit, not a speed requirement.

Of course, certain highways have minimum speed limits in order to keep traffic flowing during optimal conditions. However, a severe storm or high winds might dictate that drivers should temper drive below the posted minimum. Regardless, the woman in this particular case was driving under the speed limit by a very small amount.

For some people, one speeding ticket may not seem like a big deal. However, a traffic violation could cause auto insurance rates to increase — even more so for those with multiple tickets on their record. This is why it may be advisable to learn of your legal options when faced with an unfair traffic violation.

Source: AOL Autos, “Woman Receives Speeding Ticket For Driving Too Slow,” March 12, 2013