Grrr. Highway robbery.

[M_Six]

We were just on our way home from Indianapolis and we decided to take a backroad route. I passed through a little three shack town and was just beginning to accelerate back to the posted speed limit when I suddenly see flashing red and blue lights off the left side of the road. I pull over and this cop comes up and politely robs me of $75. He points to a sign 20 yards in front of me and says, "Son, that there is where the speed limit goes back to 50, not here." Now, believe me, I was totally clear of all the town and buildings and the only difference between the piece of road I was on and the piece of road 20 stinkin' yards in front of me was semantics. He hands me my ticket and tells me to have a nice evening. Right, like that's about to happen. If some masked bandit had blocked the road and stepped out with a shotgun to rob me, I couldn't feel any more ripped off than I do now. At least then I could tell the police and hope they nailed the bastard. But who do you tell when the police rip you off? (Obviously my buds at TechIMO )

In the future I will avoid that town, its restaurants, its gas stations, and its convenience stores. That $75 is the last cash that little podunk town will get out of me. I hope the merchants there appreciate their police force.

[Germ]

There are some hick towns like that in Oklahoma. I got nailed in Vera, Oklahoma. Nearly identical setup. There is a "speed trap" law in Oklahoma now. You can go to the D.A.

If nothing else, I would let the Mayor of Hicksville know how you feel. i would also spread the word.

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

See, and here I always thought that when you saw the sign you were allowed to accelerate.

We have a town similar to that here (It's called CHATHAM) I've been pulled over there twice (they have most of thier revenue produced from traffic tickets) once was for speeding (124 in a 100, reduced to 115 no points) (my speedometer said 135 but who was I to argue )

The second time I was ripped off, it was so cheap, I fought it and won, but I know the feeling you have, I was driving keeping speed with other traffic, the truck in front of me slowed down to 100 (he WAS passing another truck going about 105) so I let off the accelerator, the gap closed but then started to open up again (gap between me and truck) then I see a cop in the median, I start thinking "glad I wasn't speeding" then I see the lights, I was pulled over for following too close!!!!

The charge was withdrawn in court after I told them the (in better words) the cop was stationary and I was instintaneously too close, however I wasn't maintaining that speed or distance, and also I was in a commercial vehicle and couldn't legally be in the other lane (also being in a commercial vehicle means I could ride someone legally (I looked it up)

But I was absoloutely furious all day about it, he was setting people up (confirmed later by the other 4 people in court that day) one was a xport driver who had one of those dinky post office cars pull out in front of him, he locked up the tires as to not turn it into a cream puff then got a ticket for following too close.

BTW that fine would have been 130$ and 4 points.

I know exactly how ya feel.

I've always thought the speed you could see posted was the speed limit...

[Knothead]

In the future I will avoid that town, its restaurants, its gas stations, and its convenience stores. That $75 is the last cash that little podunk town will get out of me. I hope the merchants there appreciate their police force. ---M_Six

Be sure to let their Mayor know about how you feel, and don't forget their chamber of Commerce! Also, you might advise them when your trial date is, (should you decide to fight...)

Might be worth a shot..

[M_Six]

I won't be fighting it. It would mean taking at least a half-day off and my vacation time is worth more to me than the $75. I'm not sure of the law here, but I was, in fact, doing 47 in a 30, even thought the speed limit 20 yards ahead of me was 50. And there was no posted speed limit ahead of me, just a sign that said "End of Speed Zone", which means you can return to the previous speed limit, which was 50.

I've considered writing a little note to the town officials, but I doubt it would do any good. I've seen these types of speed traps many times and everyone in the local area knows all about them. I wouldn't be telling them anything they don't already know.

I saw one on a very isolated stretch of road between Vegas and Death Valley. The speed limit was 70, except for the 2 mile stretch that passed by a "police station" mobile home. There were no other buildings in the area, just the "police station". The bozo county sheriff who controlled that little strip of highway drove back and forth all day in a souped-up Camaro clocking unsuspecting drivers. I had a radar detector at the time and I saw him coming a mile away. I made sure I was well below the speed limit as I passed him. But there was no logical reason for a reduced speed in that area. This idiot simply decided it was going to be his sorry mission in life to collect fines from unsuspecting motorists. It was technically legal, but morally wrong. Jackasses like that give all cops a bad name.

[Richard Cranium]

In Ga, the speed limit does not go up till you physically pass the sign.

When the speed limit drops down, they give you 300' till they enforce.

In South Carolina, I was stopped for

30mph in a 20 zone at 1:30 am
and
48mph in a 45 zone in the afternoon with light to no traffic.

Both times I was severely warned, the first time got the car searched.
[he can search what he can reach from the ground outside the drivers door]

Every state has it's speed traps, you need to forget complaining to the local govt, they prolly get a percentage of all citations.
You need to write
the Govenor

[M_Six]

You need to write the Govenor

That's just tilting at a bigger windmill, Doc. He's got more serious headaches than some shaky speedtrap in a little cowpie of a rural town.

No, I've vented and you kind folks have shown your usual high level of moral support. For that I am truly grateful. It really helps to share misery with company. I feel better now.

[Knothead]

Originally posted by M_Six
I've considered writing a little note to the town officials, but I doubt it would do any good. I've seen these types of speed traps many times and everyone in the local area knows all about them. I wouldn't be telling them anything they don't already know.

Hmmm...M_Six, I just find it hard to believe that the Chamber of Commerce would be so DUMB as to allow a practice which results in losing the goodwill (and tourist $$$) of you and others (who were burned like you,) by a greedy and miserably short-sighted constabulary.

Well, at least do the honest merchants in the area a favor, and let them (Chamber of Commerce) know about this, and why they ain't never gonna enjoy your company again.

[thekingofpain]

I was slightly guilty of speeding awhile back while traveling---took me awhile to pull over for the teeny red light---it was the County Coroner that pulled me over who also was the Fish and Game warden in the area---was whipping along 101 150 miles above SanFran where the limit goes up and down and I was UP when I shoulda been down---what thru me about stopping was the "officer" was driving about a '72 Lincoln Mark IV...