California Highway Patrol officers stopped a vehicle traveling at 143 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone on northbound US-101 south of Padaro last week, prompting a warning from authorities about the dangers of excessive speed.
The CHP Santa Barbara Area office shared details of the traffic stop on social media, emphasizing the extreme risk such speeds pose to everyone on the roadway. At 143 mph, officers noted, drivers have virtually no time to react to changing traffic conditions, lane changes, road debris, or sudden stops by other vehicles.
“One mistake can have devastating consequences for everyone on the road,” the agency stated.
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Under California law, drivers cited for traveling in excess of 100 mph face serious legal consequences beyond a standard speeding ticket. Such citations can trigger a referral to the Department of Motor Vehicles for a negligent operator action, which may result in suspension of the driver’s license. Additionally, excessive speed violations carry significant fines and court penalties.
The CHP used the incident as an opportunity to remind motorists to reduce their speeds and prioritize safety. “Slow down and arrive safely,” the agency urged. “No destination is worth risking lives.”
The identity of the driver was not released, and it was not immediately clear whether additional charges were filed in connection with the traffic stop.
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I will never understand why they don’t ARREST and name these idiots going 120+ on our roads. They just cite them and let them go on their way. It is ridiculous. Make it hurt, it should!
Completely agree. This kind of speed deserves jail time.
Here’s an idea. For drivers caught going over 100mph let’s start requiring electronic speed limiters to be installed in their vehicles limiting them to 45mph.
143 mph is fairly fast and can be dangerous, but I don’t see jail time in this speedsters future. You can be arrested for driving 20 mph over the speed limit in California. In reality, 99.999% of the time speeders won’t be arrest UNLESS you are under the influence, mouth off, or show contempt/disrespect toward LE. From experience of getting out of quite a few tickets, the best thing to do when stopped by LE is: #1 Be polite and don’t show anger. #2 Follow all instructions precisely as given. #3 Never answer the question “Do you know why I stopped you?” #4 Don’t start making calls….record video if you want, but don’t be yabbin’ away during the transaction. #5 Be even more polite. Follow these things and good chance you will either get off with a warning or have the speed reduced on the citation.
BeeKnee805 Reading your posts is like watching a sloth climb the Empire State Building.
Even better: Act like a responsible adult, and obey traffic laws.
But, you have to bend your knees and emit your flatulence.
BEES – you’re basically advocating for breaking the law and putting other peoples’ lives in danger and this isn’t the first time.
How about you just keep your lawless thoughts to yourself.
While speeding isn’t criminal in California regardless of the speed, driving recklessly is — which is one reason that the legislature hasn’t criminalized speeding per se. The article says “it was not immediately clear whether additional charges were filed in connection with the traffic stop” — so we don’t know whether the driver was charged with reckless driving or a similar crime. If so then he (or possibly she) may well face jail time. As for the rest of your pablum — first, STOP SPEEDING. Second, 143 mph is way more than “fairly” fast and IS dangerous, not just can be. Finally, how many of those numerous tickets you got were for going 143 mph?
In no way am I condoning anyone driving super fast….but as long as we have fast cars we’ll have those who test the limits. Some people speed and some people do not. This particular driver was speeding and received a citation, so it’s not like the driver isn’t going to face some penalties. I just don’t think this driver should be thrown in jail and have their vehicle confiscated for simply going over the speed limit. If you want to live in fear of people driving over the speed limit, please feel free to do so. I’m more concerned with those drivers who crash/flip on Mission St. or Cliff Drive, and those who regularly roll over the railroad tracks smash-boom-bah “near Gaviota” because they are under the influence, texting, not paying attention, or incapable of controlling their vehicles. Yeah, the ones who can’t handle regular street/highway speeds and crash…thems the ones we need to worry about. My best advice is to drive within your abilities and pay attention to traffic coming toward you and traffic coming up from behind. Be safe on the road my friends.
You should look up the definition of condone.
Words have meanings, you know, even if all you’re doing is expelling flatulence.
> Some people speed and some people do not.
Your typical tautological pablum.
> In no way am I condoning anyone driving super fast….but
Ah, the “but” that cancels what came before it …
> I just don’t think this driver should be thrown in jail and have their vehicle confiscated for simply going over the speed limit.
There is something very seriously wrong with you. 143 mph is not “simply going over the speed limit”.
> If you want to live in fear of people driving over the speed limit, please feel free to do so.
F OFF
We should all be thankful that a person with such a weak mentality and poor cognitive skills is no longer employed as an educator.
Agreed 100%
BeeKneed You apparently have zero clue the time and distance it takes a vehicle to stop when moving this fast. You also don’t seem to understand how much damage this vehicle could do to others if it rolled moving this fast. Your post further backs my assumption that you post on topics with absolutely no knowledge of the subject. Sad!
At that speed it’d take a city block to stop after slamming on the brakes. And it’s unlikely that it would be a very controlled one at that. Immediate impoundment of the car. Doing something like that deserves immediate pain.