Busted! Jim Press a little too enthusiastic to get to his new job
Jim Press's enthusiasm for his new job as Vice Chairman of the new Chrysler apparently got the better of him during one of his first commutes to Auburn Hills. As Press was trolling along with the flow of traffic on I-75, the velocity of his new Dodge Nitro caught the attention of the local constabulary. That flow, by the way, is generally either 80 mph or 10 mph depending on construction and accident conditions. Evidently, on the day in question, average velocity was closer to the upper boundary. Mr. Press' appeal that he was simply going with the flow went unheeded by the officer who cited him for exceeding the posted limit. Welcome to Michigan, Jim.[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DKB_SATX 1:02PM (10/21/2007)
One assumes that as the Vice Chairman, he'd be able to drive anything Chrysler produces for more or less free... and he chose a Nitro? Somehow I feel that doesn't bode well for his contribution to decisions about new designs.
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K 1:14PM (10/21/2007)
Or perhaps he's trying to get a feel for all the vehicles his company is producing, so he can make more informed choices on future product development.
Matt 1:17PM (10/21/2007)
We both know that's a dirty lie, K.
Also... it's technically illegal to be going so slow as to go heavily AGAINST the flow of traffic. That is to say, if the speed limit is 65, and everybody's driving 80, it's much more dangerous for somebody to be driving 65, and is much more likely to result in accidents/very bad stuff.
Guenther 11:24AM (10/22/2007)
Makes good sense- they had an initiative to have senior product people drive 3 year old cars for a while. There needs to be more of that.
Gardiner Westbound 1:15PM (10/21/2007)
I'll bet he misses his Lexus.
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Tony C 2:46PM (10/21/2007)
Actually, Press had previously stated that despite his many years with the company he has *never* owned a Toyota product, be it Lexus, Toyota or Scion. What he commuted to work every day on was a Yamaha motorcycle.
Zach 3:10PM (10/21/2007)
any idea what kind of yamaha motorcycle?
Apu 4:42PM (10/21/2007)
Nice way to twist facts, Tony. It was only mentioned earlier he OWNS a Yamaha and nothing else. He probably got free Lexi to ride to work, just like he got a free Nitro. What, he wore suit while biking? He wasted time changing in the office restroom?
A5-14 1:17PM (10/21/2007)
Slow news day.
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Ben 1:20PM (10/21/2007)
I wonder if it was an RT
Or the lowly 3.7L "Powertech". (snicker) What power?
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Will 1:54PM (10/21/2007)
Maybe he's being hazed. I can't imagine anything that would put a new executive in his place better than making him drive the most heinous vehicle in their range.
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Richard Warren 2:11PM (10/21/2007)
So? Got a ticket last week 75 in 55. Life goes on, do the crime pay the fine.
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David W. 2:07PM (10/21/2007)
As I read this...he was going just a bit over the speed limit and got pulled over...how is this news?
I mean I could understand if he were going wayyyy over the speed limit...but come on...
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Daniel 10:09PM (10/21/2007)
I guess it's just kinda ironic that it's one of his first days and all?
Scott 2:11PM (10/21/2007)
His biggest problem was not his speed, but that he was in the right lane while doing it. If he had been in the left lane (where most of the rest of the 80+ crowd is on 75), or even the middle lane, he probably wouldn't have been noticed.
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Toledo Guy 9:00PM (10/21/2007)
You've never in Michigan, have you. Believe it or not Michigan doesn't have a "drive right, pass left" law. Any lane is a passing lane in Michigan.
Poor guy, being new to the area, probably found himself swept up by the local racers, and by being in what the other 49 states consider the slow lane, found himself to be an easy target.
Scott 9:56PM (10/21/2007)
Au contraire, I live here, and I've driven that stretch of road many times, which you apparently have not. Generally there's the slow lane (at or just a hair over the speed limit), the fast lane (5-10 over), and the even faster lane (10 over minimum). had he been driving 80 in the left lane, he would have fit right in and been ignored. But in the right lane, he stuck out like a sore thumb to the cop, not to mention, he was probably changing lanes constantly to avoid the few who actually obey the speed limit.
Scott 10:01PM (10/21/2007)
minor correction, most of Auburn Hills has 4 lanes, that usually just means there's a 'crazy fast' lane too.
Actually, we do consider that the slow lane. it's the rest of the country that doesn't, the rest of you think it's the only lane to drive in. but there's no such thing as a passing lane so far as we're concerned.
JDP 2:54PM (10/21/2007)
yeah if I were Press I would be all about the 300C SRT8. at least you could speed with some flashy style.
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zamafir 3:00PM (10/21/2007)
Smells of viral marketing for the horrific Nitro :).
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