10 Ways to Identify a Speed Trap

Speed traps catch thousands of unaware travelers each day. Speeding tickets are a multi-billion dollar industry, and these traps are an integral part of that system. If you want to keep your driving record clean and avoid increased insurance rate increases, you need to learn how to identify – and avoid – speed traps.

Here are some ways you can keep from getting caught by those pesky traffic cops:

1. Watch out for overpass pillars. This is the most commonly-used speed trap location on the highway. Motorcycle officers, in particular, will hide next to pillars on the fast lane side of the road. You won’t see these boys in blue until you notice them in your rearview mirror – at which point, it’s too late. Slow down when approaching an overpass.
2. Be careful ascending hills. The top of a hill is another pretty common place for a traffic officer to sit with her radar gun. Keep it under the limit until you crest the hill.
3. Look for brake lights. When cars in front of you on the freeway are braking, there’s usually a good reason. It could be that there’s a traffic accident; in other cases, it’s because they’re passing a speed trap. Their advanced warning can save you a ticket.
4. Know when the speed limit changes. Places where the speed limit drops are also likely to contain speed traps. If you’re traveling along a state road cruising at 55, you might be taken unaware by a drop to 35 through a Podunk town. Aside from being cautious and aware, some GPS devices will actually tell you what the speed limit is in a given area and warn you ahead of time to slow down. In some states, law enforcement are forbidden from setting up speed traps within a certain distance of a speed limit change, so know what the rules are in your area.
5. Plan your travel ahead using the National Speed Trap Exchange. There’s a website that collects user-submitted speed trap information. The National Speed Trap Exchange is a great site to visit when you’re planning to travel. Just because a location is listed doesn’t mean it’s perennially staffed, but you’re better safe than sorry.
6. There’s an app for that. There are even apps for your smartphone that can tap into lists of common speeding trap locations. Speed Trap Finder is one example. Keep in mind that the accuracy and quality of these apps can vary greatly, so do some research before you trust one of them with your driving record.
7. Avoid the biggest speed trap cities. There are some places that have more speed traps than others. The top five cities with the most speed traps per resident include Livonia, Michigan, Windsor, Ontario, Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Denver, Colorado. Check out the other cities in the top 25 list, too.
8. Consider investing in a radar detector. To be sure, law enforcement technology does a good job at keeping pace with radar detectors. Understand that some localities might have regulations about the use of a radar detector, so make sure you know the law before you plop one of these down on your dashboard.
9. Use a good GPS system. As mentioned, some GPS units will track posted speeds. We’re now seeing some GPS systems that also integrate speed trap database information, although these are few and far between at this point. A GPS unit can cost you as little as $100, which is under the $150 average cost of paying a speeding ticket.
10. Remember that the best way to avoid a speed trap is not to speed. It should probably go without saying, but the bottom line is this: some cops are particularly clever, and some geographic locations make it nearly impossible to detect a speed trap. If you don’t want the risk of getting a ticket, slow down unless you’re on a wide open stretch of clear highway with little or no other traffic.

You can’t always avoid a speed trap. Sometimes, you’re going to get caught. Remember, too, that law enforcement agents work together; just because you see someone pulled over alongside the road doesn’t mean there’s not another radar gun less than half a mile away waiting to catch you speeding up.

Following these steps won’t guarantee that you don’t get caught speeding, but they may help you to avoid some of the more common (and more effective) speed traps as you travel on your way.

Author Bio

Scott Desind is a Los Angeles traffic ticket attorney, helping drivers in the Los Angeles area get their driving tickets dismissed. With over 20 years of combined, Scott Desind and his Traffic Attorneys  have a 90% success rate in beating tickets.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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