When choosing a speed trap - radar detector for your car please check if you have a windscreen with heating elements or if you have a solar type windscreen, this can have an effect on the efficiency of dashboard mounted radar detectors, if you do have this type of windscreen then we would advise that you look at a built in type of radar detector.

You see them everyday, Speed Traps. The police may be out in the open, hiding behind bridges, or a photo radar van may be parked on the side of a highway. As is obvious from the traffic flow, the speed limit is grossly under-posted and universally ignored.

Traffic is moving safely and expeditiously, but not legally according to the posted speed limit. As fast as the a photo radar camera can click, driver after driver is issued a speeding ticket that results in exorbitant fines, points on their driver's licenses and insurance surcharges.

Fortunately, you know about the speed traps on your regularly traveled routes, but what about those times you are on unfamiliar streets and highways? If only there was a way you could share your knowledge of speed traps, in exchange for the speed trap knowledge of others.

State Laws Regarding Speed Traps

When local authorities may and shall alter maximum limits.

Whenever local authorities in their respective jurisdictions determine on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that the maximum speed permitted under this article is greater or less than is reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist upon a highway or part of a highway, the local authority may determine and declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit thereon which:

1. .Decreases the limit at intersections;
2. Increases the limit within an urban district but not to more than the maximum rate of speed that may be prescribed by the Governor under subdivision
3. Decreases the limit on any street, unpaved road, or highway under the jurisdiction and control of any county commission; or
4. Increases the limit on any street, unpaved road, or highway under the jurisdiction and control of any county commission but not to more than the maximum rate of speed that is prescribed under subdivision (3) or by the Governor under subdivision

Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions shall determine by an engineering and traffic investigation the proper maximum speed for all arterial streets and shall declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit thereon which may be greater or less than the maximum speed permitted under this chapter for an urban district.

Any altered limit established as hereinabove authorized shall be effective at all times or during hours of darkness or at other times as may be determined when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the street or highway.

Any alteration of maximum limits on state highways or extensions thereof in a municipality by local authorities shall not be effective until the alteration has been approved by the Department of Transportation.

Not more than six alterations as hereinabove authorized shall be made per mile along a street or highway, except in the case of reduced limits at intersections, and the difference between adjacent limits shall not be more than 10 miles per hour.

Powers of local authorities.

Except as herein otherwise provided, local authorities shall have no power to pass, enforce or maintain any ordinance, rule or regulation requiring from any owner or chauffeur or other authorized driver to whom this chapter is applicable, any additional license or permit for the use of the public highways, or excluding any such owner, chauffeur or other authorized driver from the public highway, nor to pass, enforce or maintain any ordinance, rule or regulation regulating motor vehicles or their speed contrary to the provisions of this chapter, nor shall any such law now in force or hereafter enacted have any effect.

Local authorities shall have no power or authority to charge a license or tax upon any motor carrier hauling passengers or any truck hauling freight for hire, when such motor carriers in the usual course of operations enter or pass through any county, municipality or town of this state; provided, that this limitation shall not restrict the right of any municipality to charge a license for the privilege of maintaining or operating a terminal station, depot or waiting room therein.

Local authorities may set aside for a given time a specified public highway for speed contests or races, to be conducted under proper restrictions for the safety of the public. Local authorities may exclude motor vehicles from any cemetery or grounds used for burial of the dead.

Local authorities shall have power to provide by ordinance for the regulation of traffic by means of traffic officers or semaphores or other signaling devices on any portion of the highway where traffic is heavy or continuous and may prohibit other than one-way traffic upon certain highways and may regulate the use of the highways by processions or assemblages.