BEWARE!!-I75 Speed trap in southern KY

[kydisneyfans]

Just travelled through southern KY today and thought I would warn everyone of a sneaky speed trap. At southbound milemarker 18, there are 4 signs that say road construction, dropping the speed limit from 70 to 55. The problem is, there is absolutely no construction or sign of construction on the southbound side. Around mm14, just beyond the crest of a hill, they are waiting for you.

For the northbound side, one lane starts around mm11, the drop to 55 is legit there. After mm 14 though, the construction is complete, except the 70 sign isn't until past mm 18 again. There were no less than a half dozen marked and unmarked KSP vehicles with people pulled over.

I have no problem slowing when there is a legitimate construction job going on, but when the job hasn't started or is already complete, then the speed limit should be the same as the remainder of the interstate.

One of the vehicles pulled over was from Wisconsin with a mickey antenna topper.

 

[Tozzie]

Just travelled through southern KY today and thought I would warn everyone of a sneaky speed trap. At southbound milemarker 18, there are 4 signs that say road construction, dropping the speed limit from 70 to 55. The problem is, there is absolutely no construction or sign of construction on the southbound side. Around mm14, just beyond the crest of a hill, they are waiting for you.

For the northbound side, one lane starts around mm11, the drop to 55 is legit there. After mm 14 though, the construction is complete, except the 70 sign isn't until past mm 18 again. There were no less than a half dozen marked and unmarked KSP vehicles with people pulled over.

I have no problem slowing when there is a legitimate construction job going on, but when the job hasn't started or is already complete, then the speed limit should be the same as the remainder of the interstate.

One of the vehicles pulled over was from Wisconsin with a mickey antenna topper.

How is this a "speed trap" The signs are posted.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

If it is posted it is not a trap. Doesn't really matter why the drop in speed, only that it is posted, you state that the reduced speed is posted so why not just go the posted limit. It is not up to you to decide what is a valid reason for a speed change.

 

[keishashadow]

OP jmho, thanx for posting, it may just convince somes folks to slow down just because you don't see active workers, doesn't mean some aren't there or the road is restricted by single lanes/crossovers and just too dangerous for posted limit.

fyi, if u belong to AAA u can obtain a 'triptix' = map that is marked w/construction and known speed traps.

my DS is a policeman, despite what u may haver heard, he has no quota to fill each month, although i'd swear that beckley, WV does.

 

[wdwmaw]

If it is posted it is not a trap. Doesn't really matter why the drop in speed, only that it is posted, you state that the reduced speed is posted so why not just go the posted limit. It is not up to you to decide what is a valid reason for a speed change.

Speed traps have been really bad in Ky. They have even gone to court for dropping the speed limit on I75. The most recent was in the Lexington area where they dropped the speed limit for no reason. The speed was dropped from 70 to 55 and where I75 and I64 crossed. The police sat and waited. Well citizens groups protested and legal action was sought, the drop in speed is no more. Drops in speed for constuction is one thing but to drop the speed for a congested area is considered a speed trap here.

 

[wdwmaw]

my DS is a policeman, despite what u may haver heard, he has no quota to fill each month, although i'd swear that beckley, WV does.

I don't think it is a quota thing but for many poor areas speeding tickets is a real way to bring in money in the area. Most out of staters don't protest, just pay the fine. A win for money strapped local governments.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

How is this a "speed trap"? The signs are posted.

Wikipedia defines a speed trap as:
* locations or road sections where police have a reputation for writing an unusually high number of traffic tickets;
* locations where limits are set such that many vehicles get caught;
* locations where speed limit enforcement is only for purposes of ticket revenue rather than safety.

Only knowing the O/P side of the story, it fits the definition of a speed trap to me.

BobK/Orlando

 

[uva185]

If it is posted it is not a trap. Doesn't really matter why the drop in speed, only that it is posted, you state that the reduced speed is posted so why not just go the posted limit. It is not up to you to decide what is a valid reason for a speed change.

As far as I'm concerned a speed trap is whenever a cop is on the side of the road shooting radar or actively patrolling a stretch of road looking for speeders. It makes no difference what the signs say or how the speed limit changes.

Thanks for posting this OP!

 

[SurfinTX]

I have to agree with the OP that dropping speeds where there is no actual construction is a no-no, at least in Texas. It had to be written into state law to prevent all of the shenanigans that was happening all over the place. Now every construction zone has to indicate where the actual slowdown starts and have several warning signs as well as how far it will be enforced.

However, don't speed in those zones or the fines double if there are workers actualy on site!

Oh, and Texas had to regulate the normal speed zones on Interstate and U.S. Highways to prevent small towns creating huge speed zones just to create income.

 

[keishashadow]

I don't think it is a quota thing but for many poor areas speeding tickets is a real way to bring in money in the area. Most out of staters don't protest, just pay the fine. A win for money strapped local governments.

a speed limit sign is designed as warning to slow down for safety, of the driver & those around them (fellow drivers, people who reside in the area, construction workers if applicable).

it is not a suggestion, it is the law; if u don't observe it then take it up with the local magistrate or pay the fine immediately & be on your way.

Wikipedia defines a speed trap as:
* locations or road sections where police have a reputation for writing an unusually high number of traffic tickets;
* locations where limits are set such that many vehicles get caught;
* locations where speed limit enforcement is only for purposes of ticket revenue rather than safety.

Only knowing the O/P side of the story, it fits the definition of a speed trap to me.

BobK/Orlando

the PDs u refer to could probably term the large number of citations written as 'aggressive enforcement on a death stretch'. After an officer has to clean up after a high speed accident with multiple fatalities, it tends make them want to prevent it happening again. As stated above, doesn't matter what u call it, u have to observe the posted speed limit.

i've always been on the 'lookout' for the known speed traps (aforementioned triptix) so i notice the signs indicating that the speed limit will be changing ahead.

jmho, if a driver is paying attention (and reading the posted signs on the road falls under paying attention) there should be no issue in the first place.

the posted speed limit isn't a 'suggestion' it's 'the law' like i or lump it.

 

[spfldfan]

Thks for the heads up. IMO radaring is the biggest waste of police time and money. I can think of better ways for my tax money to go for policing things. Sorry, let me get off the soapbox now.

 

[Robert P]

A sincere thank you to the OP for posting this info!!

 

[uva185]

I don't think it is a quota thing but for many poor areas speeding tickets is a real way to bring in money in the area. Most out of staters don't protest, just pay the fine. A win for money strapped local governments.

This is why I think ONLY state troopers should be allowed to enforce speeds on Interstates -- and the money should go to the state, not the local city, county, etc.

That said I GLADLY hire an attorney to fight my out of state traffic violations just to avoid giving money to the local governments!! (Haven't lost a case yet!!)

 

[dis-happy]

Thanks for the tip.

We always joke in our family about states that are trying to balance their budgets with tickets these days (and USA Today had an article talking about this...it's not in anyone's imagination!). Ky has spent a boatload of money on infrastructure projects the past 3 years to get ready for the WEG so no surprise there.

 

[Tozzie]

Wikipedia defines a speed trap as:
* locations or road sections where police have a reputation for writing an unusually high number of traffic tickets;
* locations where limits are set such that many vehicles get caught;
* locations where speed limit enforcement is only for purposes of ticket revenue rather than safety.

Only knowing the O/P side of the story, it fits the definition of a speed trap to me.

BobK/Orlando

Wikipedia is hardly a upstanding place to get a definition considering anyone can edit entires on that site. I don't see it as a speed trap, I see it as someone who is annoyed that they have to slow down

 

[kydisneyfans]

Drove through it again this morning and watched things closely.
The 4 warning signs southbound are still there, the next 55 mph sign is 4 miles into the zone.

Most traffic slows from 70 to 55 with the sign, as you move 3-4 miles into the so-called construction zone, the traffic gradually goes back to full speed as there is no construction. 4 miles later another 55 sign is posted and within eyesight of that sign is the cop hangout.

I have no problem going 55 in an area where construction is ongoing, the last thing we need is a death of a construction worker. Putting signs out prematurely or not when needed creates a hazard and some slow to 55, while others zoom at 70+. It's much safer when most are going around the same speed, IMO.

The NB side is an active zone for 3 miles, there is no need to go faster than 55. The completed portion should be 70 though. Motorists should not be penalized because the governor hasn't made the trip south to cut the ribbon yet.

 

[LilyWDW]

Thks for the heads up. IMO radaring is the biggest waste of police time and money. I can think of better ways for my tax money to go for policing things. Sorry, let me get off the soapbox now.

Then we can do what they do in many countries in Europe. Set up camara's with radar that take your picture if you are speeding. You will then get sent a ticket. Then we won't have to "waste" money to have officers run radar.

 

[uva185]

Then we can do what they do in many countries in Europe. Set up camara's with radar that take your picture if you are speeding. You will then get sent a ticket. Then we won't have to "waste" money to have officers run radar.

They already do that in many places in the US. Arizona has speed cameras on the highways (which IMO is retarded -- do you really need to enforce the speed limit in the middle of the desert??) and MD has speed cameras on local roads. I HATE them, but all things considered its better (and a much more reasonable fine) than getting pulled over by a cop.

 

[spfldfan]

Then we can do what they do in many countries in Europe. Set up camara's with radar that take your picture if you are speeding. You will then get sent a ticket. Then we won't have to "waste" money to have officers run radar.

That would work assuming they can get the cameras to work correctly. We have enough problems with the red light cameras in this state. It seems like police radaring cause more problems then solve. I know I see several times where people slow down so drastically when seeing a police car radaring that it practically causes a wreck.

 

[scboyd]

Thanks for the heads up.. We are heading down in a couple of days