Rural Speed Traps

[RVNeophytes2]

I had an interesting experience yesterday, in Lipan, Texas.

It is a town of 430 people, along FM 4 north of Granbury. I was traveling northbound in support of a veterans' event at Sweetwater.

Approaching the town, I backed off at the 30 mph sign shown below, but not fast enough.

As a result, an officer identifying himself as a police lieutenant for the town pulled me over and issued a $171 citation.

So, if bridging the confluence of state highways that lead up from Hill Country into Granbury, and Interstate 20 to the north, either avoid FM 4 or use great caution traversing this route.

Any other such places out there, lying in wait for unsuspecting motorists?

[Skip426]

Canada has them too.

DW , was driving in " Rabbit's pouch , Sask. " ( can't remember the real name ) she did the limit past the 5 houses along the road , got to about 50 yards short of the 50mph sign and started to accelerate and got her ticket, 41 in the 30 zone , can't do over 30 till you PASS the 50 sign.

[Chuck_Hammer]

ANY small town is a possible speed trap..

I got one last fall in S.E. Ohio... going from 35 to 50.. I was within 50 feet of the 50 sign... and got one for 48... $140.00 and I was on a motorcycle and just enjoying a sunny afternoon.


Oh, I have stock exhaust system. NO Noise.

MUST not accelerate till AFTER the speed sign...

[lynnmor]

Originally Posted by Chuck_Hammer

I was on a motorcycle and just enjoying a sunny afternoon.
Oh, I have stock exhaust system.

That explains it, many cops are Harley nuts and they don't eat their own kind.

[ByeTheWay]

Adjust speed after passing the speed sign.

I am amazed how fast some drive there rv's. What is the hurry? I seldom do the speed limit, unless it is 55. I prefer to drive about 60-62.

[Grenadiers]

The east/west and some north/south routes in the SW are loaded with cops looking for a fast buck. As in, racial profiling for example, drug 'mules', that might switch lanes without using their blinker, or have a light out. The name of the game, is civil asset forfeiture, originally intended to capture the drug mules. However, they've opened it up to include everybody, no discrimination now~! If pulled over, and they ask if you have a large sum of cash, say 'no'. And, have a video camera ready in case they want to mess with your rights. And, Texas is the worst of the worst, well, in many areas, but I digress. I wouldn't drive through any small Texas towns at all. Stay on the freeways.

[twogypsies]

What was your speed as you came to the 30 mph sign?

[CampDaven]

We enjoy old highway and byway routes for the relaxation and views of Americana that have been forgotten. Safer there too!
Being at or below the speed limit when passing the sign is key. Never tested this hypothesis, but some prove it true.


Dave and Nola, RV Mutants

[Brian W]

It's so bad in Lawtey, Florida there is a large billboard warning you of the speed trap ahead. 1 mph over is enough for them.

[cwk]

Originally Posted by Brian W

It's so bad in Lawtey, Florida there is a large billboard warning you of the speed trap ahead. 1 mph over is enough for them.

Yup. That's US-301. The billboard has been there for years. When you get to town, the cop usually sits in the lane next to the ballfield on the southbound side. Not sure where he sits northbound, but seeing flashing blue lights (patrol car in action) when going through Lawtey is a common event.

There was another small town on US-301 that was located a little bit off of 301. They "annexed" land to change the city limits so they could set speed traps on the highway to make money. The state of Florida finally put a stop to it and made them "un-annex" and move the city limits back again.

This is the way some of the small towns balance their budget.

[EZDZIT]

Be very careful of your speed in Peach Springs, Arizona on Old 66 between Seligman and Kingman.

[trimacon]

Use waze, the phone app. It does navigation and also lets people share people and speed trap locations in real time. Sometimes we can speed by accident if the police really want to take advantage of us.

[Sheriffbubba]

Originally Posted by Grenadiers

The east/west and some north/south routes in the SW are loaded with cops looking for a fast buck. As in, racial profiling for example, drug 'mules', that might switch lanes without using their blinker, or have a light out. The name of the game, is civil asset forfeiture, originally intended to capture the drug mules. However, they've opened it up to include everybody, no discrimination now~! If pulled over, and they ask if you have a large sum of cash, say 'no'. And, have a video camera ready in case they want to mess with your rights. And, Texas is the worst of the worst, well, in many areas, but I digress. I wouldn't drive through any small Texas towns at all. Stay on the freeways.

I've been a "cop" for 22 years... Now granted, I have not worked anywhere in the South but I just want to remind people that police officers and sheriff deputies have a very difficult and dangerous job to do. There have been thousands of law enforcement officers killed on so called "routine" traffic stops. When an officer pulls you over, he or she is doing their job.... They are not out to "make a fast buck" or in any way, "racially profile" you as you pass through the town the they work in.
Most likely, that officer is trying to slow down traffic because the residents of that town are demanding that something be done about the vehicles "racing" through their town and making it unsafe to cross that street.... Etc,etc,etc.
Please remember that any law enforcement officer must have probable cause to make a traffic stop on any vehicle... If you don't have unsafe and defective equipment and you obey all traffic laws, including using your turn signals when you change lanes, you will no be pulled over... It's really as simple as that.
Also, I understand the frustration about "speed traps". Just remember that you will not be pulled over if you are not speeding. It is amazing to me how many people blame law enforcement because they don't think they should be held accountable when they break the law...
Believe me, I'm really not a bad guy because I'm a cop... Neither are the vast majority of my brothers and sisters in blue. We are out here risking our lives to make sure that people can live their lives without being victimized by the truly bad people that are out there.
I love rv'ing and I really like meeting fellow rv'ers... I usually don't admit that I'm a cop because I never know how that person may react. Unfortunately some people actually believe the mainstream media and think that cops are crooked and racist and are just out there to hurt and kill people and put them in jail for no reason. I also know that there are some bad people that are cops... As there are bad people in every other profession.
I truly hope that I have not offended anyone, that was not my intention... I hope to meet up with all of you and share a campfire someday...

Thank you for your time, Brian.




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[SpaceNorman]

With budgets being what they are - you/we may as well realize that it's all about the benjamins. Fleecing motorists is one of the easiest ways to make up a budget shortfall. You/we are merely cash cows to be harvested in many of these instances.