Why Get luxury car?

Some say wealthy drivers get away with more traffic violations on the road, simply because they are rich. Others say the wealthy are targeted by police, who are always on the lookout for a bright red Ferrari (preferably out of state) to slap with a fat fine.

Getty Images Erik Estrada, star of the series ‘CHiPs, ’ poses with real California Highway Patrol officers in 2007.

I haven’t found any truly scientific studies that look at ticketing rates for luxury-car drivers. But a new study cited in the Chicago Tribune, and conducted by LeaseTrader.Com, an online marketplace for car leases, shows that people who drive luxury cars reported a higher likelihood of believing they will get a ticket than those who drive nonlux rides.

The company polled 2, 000 drivers, broken into four categories: drivers of economy cars, midsize, sport-utility vehicles and luxury (like BMW 7-Series of Mercedes M Class).

The survey showed that 63% of luxury drivers feel they will get a speeding ticket if they travel 10 miles an hour faster than the limit. That was much higher than midsize drivers, at 46%, SUV/truck drivers, 41%, and economy drivers, 28%.

Fully 62% of luxury drivers felt they were likely to get a ticket running a red light, compared with 16% of economy drivers.

Parking fines were a different story. Nearly three quarters of luxury drivers felt they wouldn’t receive a parking ticket, compared to 21% of SUV drivers.