But I was just going with the flow of traffic

“But I was just going with the flow of traffic!”

I can’t tell you how many people have exclaimed that to me when complaining about the speeding ticket they received.

You might be surprised to know that “going with the flow of traffic” is not a defense to exceeding the speed limit. Just because everyone is speeding doesn’t make it legal all of a sudden.  It’s not like we can have a quorum of drivers that jointly and subconsciously repeal traffic laws just because they want to channel their inner Ricky Bobby.

This argument is the same as saying, “Well, everyone else was shooting the guy, so I can’t be charged with attempted murder!”  You can see how the logic fails.

Remember, just because “everyone else is doing it” doesn’t mean it’s OK to be doing it.  Yes, you might feel unfairly singled out, but as I tell people, officers often catch the slowest of the speeders.  That doesn’t mean they weren’t speeding, that just means they were easier to catch than the others.  Of course, that doesn’t mean you should be the fastest of the speeders to avoid getting caught.  No more Ricky Bobby, please.

If you get a ticket, I’m happy to help.  Just don’t tell me about what the flow of traffic was doing.