Avoid Speed Traps: 6 Effective Tools

Navigating the Landscape of Police Radar Speed Traps

I encountered frequent issues while working in North Berwick, Maine, a location seemingly renowned for its abundance of speed traps. Unlike many municipalities that align speed limits with safe driving conditions, this town drastically reduces speed limits on long, straight roads – from 45 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour.

Patrol officers strategically position themselves to detect drivers exceeding the newly posted speed limit, often without their awareness of the change. This situation perfectly exemplifies an inequitable police radar speed trap. It was during an incident on one of these roads, under clear skies, that an officer stopped me and issued a criminal speeding charge, potentially carrying a fine of up to $500, license suspension, and even jail time.

After consulting with a skilled attorney and covering the associated legal fees, the ticket was resolved. However, this experience – one of several in North Berwick – highlighted the existence of communities prioritizing revenue collection through questionable speed limit enforcement. This realization prompted me to explore technological solutions offering drivers an advantage against these potentially unfair police radar speed traps.

Effective Tools for Counteracting Unjust Speed Traps

Upon upgrading to a GPS-enabled Motorola Droid from my Windows Mobile phone, I immediately investigated applications designed to protect against such practices. My research led me to Trapster, which I consider the most effective system available.

The Trapster website features a continuously updated map displaying active speed traps reported by users worldwide. Furthermore, mobile applications are available for a wide range of devices, including Blackberry, iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, and select GPS systems.

These apps can be configured to alert you when approaching known speed traps or recently reported police locations. You can adjust the alert distance to allow ample time to recognize speed limit changes and adjust your speed accordingly. Crucially, contribute to the system's effectiveness by reporting any unreported speed traps you encounter.

Adding a speed trap to the database, like the ones on Morrell's Mill Rd in North Berwick, Maine, can potentially save other drivers from unexpected fines.

To provide a broader perspective, I’ll outline additional resources offering insights into police radar speed traps in your area. Many of these services are primarily focused on the United States, perhaps reflecting a higher prevalence of such traps within the country.

CopSpy serves as a historical log of speed traps, featuring comments about specific areas dating back to 2003. Reviewing these citizen logs can reveal patterns in local police activity.

The Bear Traps website provides a basic overview of police trap "hot spots" along major U.S. Interstates. It lists reported red light cameras and police radar speed traps as reported by citizens.

Njection offers a satellite overview with layers for crashes and speed traps. While its speed trap database is currently smaller than Trapster’s, its crash history feature is remarkably comprehensive, providing valuable insight into dangerous areas. The speed trap functionality is continually being updated.

SpeedTrap, known as the National Speed Trap Exchange, delivers a public service to U.S. citizens. You’ll likely find detailed reports from local residents frustrated with unfair police tactics in almost any town you investigate.

Police Traps is a valuable international resource covering police trap sightings, red light cameras, and traffic incidents globally. The map displays reports from across Europe, and the site boasts a growing user base that could rival Trapster in usefulness.

Have you personally experienced an unfair speed trap? Do you utilize any preferred resources for identifying areas with inappropriately posted speed limits? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below.