Across the United States, even the most careful, safe drivers on the road would probably admit to being nervous when they spot a police officer enforcing traffic laws.

You don't even have to ask them. Just watch their behavior whenever a police car is in the vicinity. They slow down to well below the speed limit, give the police car ten car-lengths of space, etc. Sometimes people will even pull off to the side of the road without being prompted to do so!

The police work for the citizens. So why are we so afraid of them?

It's not just because of the stories of police brutality and abuses of power (although that doesn't help). We're scared because our traffic laws are so arbitrary. To put it more plainly, they don't always make sense.

When traffic laws are irrational and not tied to a reasonable standard of fairness, even extremely cautious drivers have reason to be afraid. That's why you see so many people panic when they spot a police car.

A fair set of traffic laws would take into account how the average, reasonable driver would act on the road. Our current set of traffic laws is optimized for a different standard.

In the United States, traffic laws don't exist to help prevent accidents, they're optimized to make the most money possible for the government. If you want proof, just think about some of the traffic laws in your area. You'll quickly see a pattern.

• It's the same highway on both sides so why is the speed limit going north 15 mph slower than the speed limit going south? Cha ching!
• Why did they install that ticket camera there even though there haven't been any accidents at that intersection in past two years? Cha ching!
• Why is there no money left for better signage, but an infinite amount of money available to install more parking meters? Cha ching!

The list could go on and on, but it's amazing how much sense traffic laws make when you learn the true formula behind them.

Of course, the fact that traffic laws are primarily written to generate revenue further explains why people are worried about breaking traffic laws even when they're driving safely. No one can do those kind of financial calculations in their head.

Government officials have become extremely blatant in their attempts to drum up extra cash, but that's probably just because drivers never seem to get angry with them.

Well, that's not completely true. People do occasionally get angry.

There's a glorious time in between when a person receives a traffic ticket and extending until that ticket is dealt with (either paid off or dismissed), where drivers realize just how much they're being screwed over on a daily basis.

And it really pisses them off. If you listen to them during this time, they'll tell you that they're "ready to do whatever it takes to change the system."

The problem is that they always seem to disappear. Once the ticket fades from memory, it's like a spell wore off.

They simply go back to same old "as long as it's not me" mentality that every other driver seems to subscribe to. Now they say things like, "It's definitely a corrupt system, but it's not that bad. And besides, it's so entrenched, that there's no hope of changing it."

It's a damn shame because that kind of reaction is exactly what keeps unfair, irrational traffic laws (and the corrupt politicians who benefit from them) in place.

If even a tiny percentage of these drivers had the guts to stand up for themselves, sanity would be restored to our traffic laws within months. Those who recognize that the system is broken and justify their lack of action in such a cowardly way should consider themselves no better than the sad group of people described in the next paragraph.

That would be the drivers who not only accept unfair traffic laws, they love them and will defend them to the death. They'll say things like, "If you don't do anything wrong, you won't get a ticket."

These drivers are actually rooting on the people who are robbing them blind! Since they're so easily manipulated by fear, there's no hope of convincing them to listen to reason.

But just because they consent to being exploited, doesn't mean you have to.

You see, there's a third group of people out there. And it has been growing. It's made up of drivers who got angry and had the courage to stay angry – people who know that something has gone very wrong with our traffic laws and are ready to take a stand against this institutionalized corruption.

Hopefully you're one of these people.

It's time to start gathering together to make a real difference.

The authorities want you to think that it would be hard, but in reality it's very simple. It won't take thousands of people to fix our traffic laws and remove the profit motive from the traffic enforcement industry. It will only take a few people with passion.

Our organization, the National Motorists Association, was founded in 1982 to put an end to the 55 mph national speed limit. It was a great start but that was only the beginning of the fight.

We need more members like you and that's why we're directly asking you to join today. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Not someday. Today.

You don't have to commit to attend any rallies, you don't have show up at your legislator's front door, and you don't have to promise to make it your life's work.

All we're asking is that you join our organization, filled with other drivers like you, and listen.

Simply staying informed is enough to put you miles ahead of most other drivers who continue to bury their heads in the sand and hope the problem goes away on its own.

And who knows, you may even surprise yourself and become one of those few passionate people that this nation's roads really need.

To join the National Motorists Association, please click on the big red button below.

Join The National Motorists Association

Click here to join thousands of other drivers and become a NMA member.

This is what will happen after you click the join button above:

1. You'll be taken to a page where you can enter your name, address, and contact information. We only use this information to provide you with relevant information about driving issues. We don't share it with anyone and we would never even consider selling it to anyone.
2. After you finalize your membership by submitting the online membership payment form, you'll receive a receipt/welcome email describing some of the resources that have just become available to you.
3. You'll immediately start receiving legislative alerts about traffic laws in your area (only when it's important) and you'll get access to our email newsletter as well (sent every Sunday morning).
4. In a few weeks, you'll receive a new member packet in the mail along with a member card and more information to help you get the most out of your membership.
5. For as long as you're a supporting member, you'll also receive our quarterly print newsletter in the mail (4 times a year).

The sole focus of the NMA is promoting reasonable traffic laws, but we understand that it can be tempting to decide against helping out. We've found that it's all too easy for some people to justify that decision without some kind of direct, personal benefit being offered to them.

That's why we also provide several membership benefits as an incentive to join (and stick with) the organization. One of our most popular benefits is:

Immunity From Future Speeding Tickets

All supporting members of the National Motorists Association are automatically enrolled in our Traffic Justice Program. Under this program, if you get a speeding ticket while you're a member, your ticket will be paid for by us. The only requirement is that you plead not guilty and fight it in court first. To take advantage of the program you simply submit to NMA a readable copy of the original ticket, the receipt from the Clerk of Court for the amount of the ticket and court costs, and the court confirmation of a trial having been conducted with a "guilty" verdict indicated.

The following restrictions apply: this program is restricted to speeding tickets, a plea bargain voids eligibility, one ticket per member will be paid each membership year (max. payment of $300), "Trial by Declaration" does not qualify as a "court trial", and legal fees for attorneys are not eligible for payment under this program. If a lower court decision is appealed and produces a guilty verdict, payment will be made at the conclusion of the appeal.

Why Are We Willing To Offer This Benefit To Our Members?

Our system of traffic laws and enforcement is broken and one way to force change is to make it unprofitable for cities to continue on their current path. The cities are counting on people just paying them the money. They set budgets that rely on that ticket money and it's to their advantage to do everything they can to inconvenience people who want to fight their ticket in court.

The NMA realizes this and we're offering this program to encourage people to stand up for their rights, fight their tickets, and help us change the system so that it focuses on improving safety instead of generating revenue.

Your supporting membership will extend NMA benefits to you, your spouse, and any children under the age of 21 residing in your home.

Join The National Motorists Association

Click here to join thousands of other drivers and become a NMA member.

Can I join over the phone?

Of course! Just call our membership department toll-free at (800) 882-2785.

Our office is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm (Central Time Zone). Evening and weekend inquiries will be answered the following business day and we are closed on typical holidays.