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* From a press release…
In the spirit of election season, the National Motorists Association (NMA) has conducted its own public polling to identify the worst speed trap locations across the United States and Canada.
Speed traps typically combine arbitrarily low speed limits with heavy traffic enforcement designed to generate ticket revenue. While the intent may be to modify driver behavior long-term, that is rarely the result. Speed traps keep springing up in the same locations, the issuance of tickets flows unabated, and there is no material effect on traffic safety. That is why the NMA advocates for increased speed limits in chronic speed trap areas supported by traffic studies and proven engineering principles.
The Methodology
The NMA analyzed the most recent five years of data from its website The National Speed Trap Exchange, which lists tens of thousands of chronic speed traps in the United States and Canada and includes descriptive commentary about each listing. Since postings are generated by the public, and users vote on which locations qualify as speed traps, the rankings reflect the consensus of thousands of drivers throughout North America.
To develop the rankings, the NMA calculated the total number of affirmative votes across speed traps in a given community and then indexed the total to the community’s population size. A preliminary screening process ensured that only speed traps with high levels of consensus were factored into the rankings.
Illinois ranked 22nd in the US and Canada for speed traps.
* The Question: Are there any notorious speed traps near you? Tell us where they are and a story to go along with it.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 1:18 pm
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Mannheim Road north of Lake Street, the backdoor to O’Hare (and a lot of other things).
Stone Park is notorious in every sense of the word — speed traps, nasty shake-em shacks, crack hotels. Amazing that it’s still there.
Don’t speed unless you have a hondo wrapped around your license. Better yet, just take the Tri-state to the airport.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 1:25 pm
Route 34 just before Oswego high school, speed limit goes down.
Got a ticket there once with a screaming baby in the back seat (only rides in the car would calm my daughter) and the first thing the officer says is..
“there are two signs indicating the reduction in the speed limit”
Wow, get called out on that much dude.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 1:27 pm
Though I haven’t seen them recently, the Williamsville exit north of Springfield. One state copper perched on top of the overpass gunning you with his state copper buddies lined up on the on-ramp ready to take you down. Thank goodness they don’t have an infinite supply of cars to chase you with . . .
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 1:30 pm
Sunday evenings just south of Exit 90 on Interstate 55. I’ve never been stopped there, but a friend was - by a cop who seemed more interested in a date than writing a ticket.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 1:31 pm
Route 29 thru Rochester, IL. At a high school class reunion in another town, a classmate reported getting a ticket in Rochester making it a memorable trip.
Comment by seebee Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 1:32 pm
In Springfield through Jerome and Leland Grove. I’ll bite my tongue on the finding dates.
Comment by Ahoy! Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 1:38 pm
Roosevelt Road (IL 38) in Villa Park. Barney Fife likes to hide under IL 83 overpass to catch eastbound traffic. After years of observing, but no tickets, I slow down without even thinking about it. It is preservation instinct.
Comment by suburbanon Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 1:43 pm
In Springpatch through Leland Grove, first they dropped the speed limit to 20 mph, then put stop signs up at every corner. They hide behind bushes just waiting for you to be 5 miles over or not come to complete stop.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 1:47 pm
Mounds to Cairo on I57. The local cops work the big road for revenue. I have seen as many as 6 working in a 20 mile stretch. They got so bad a few years ago IDOT drove stakes in the median to stop them from cutting across.
Comment by nieva Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 2:05 pm
Anywhere, in Bond County on I-70. The County tells two of its deputies to issue enough tickets to pay for the deputies salaries. And, they do. Their cars are unmarked tan cars. Often, the deputies will hide their cars in the medium near a bush in the medium. Very hard to see at a distance. They have gotten my wife 3 times in 3 years. Very frustrating. I will say she deserved two of them. In total, last year this small county of less than 18000 had more than 7200 traffic ticket files.
Comment by Cuban Pilot Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 2:18 pm
IL Route 38 running Westbound coming into the 4 way stop at Elburn (Il. Route 47 intersection). Guys are renowned for issuing tickets.
IL. Route 64 running through Campton Hills (4 miles west of St. Charles). There’s always somebody who fails to reduce speed, and there’s this big barn they will hide behind.
Also on IL route 64 coming eastbound up to the IL route 47 intersection, there’s a “Reduce Speed” down to 45 mph and there’s always somebody (pre construction) sitting there writing a few tickets. Currently, it’s under construction, so not right now, but they’ll be back.
Comment by Judgment Day Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 2:25 pm
Indiana.
Most particularly the TollRoad across the northern part of the state (where the troopers are known to use pick up trucks and Mustangs as unmarked cars).
Comment by titan Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 2:26 pm
I got a ticket on Toronto Road in Springfield just west of I-55. When I was in line in the County Clerk’s office, I got to talking to the people near me in line. The four people directly behind me in line got a ticket at the exact same spot on Toronto Road.
Comment by ANON Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 2:29 pm
The Village of Golf: This is a tiny Village tucked away by Waukegan Ave. and Golf Rd. — they have a very small PD that is notorious for revenue generation via tickets. Be especially careful on Golf Rd. (near Waukegan) and if you cut through the Village on Overlook Dr.
Village of Northfield: This is also a notoriously very tough town. A number of years ago they issued a speeding ticket to a motorist that was speeding to get his wife who was in labor to the hospital (this was reported in the paper, not just urban legend). Also I heard from a VERY reputable source that the Northfield Police Chief pulled over a marked Northbrook police car for speeding in a school zone.
Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 2:31 pm
Sheridan road-corner of lake cook next to B’Nai Torah
Sheridan road, usually right before the shopping mall on the kenilworth border.
Comment by Shore Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 2:36 pm
I grew up and lived in Chicago and suburbs till I was 23. Speed traps by suburban cops were everywhere back then. I went away to college SIUC and the cops were to busy there with underage drinking. I have since lived in Springfield area and travel the entire state Chicago Area included. I have to say speed traps in Illinois has declined tremendiously over the years. I know the question is about close to home traps, but the worst speed trap I got caught by was near Atlanta Georgia. I was in group of cars and was not the fastest car. I was the one with out of state plates. I found out later they are netorious for this practice and their fines are expensive and you cannot fight it.
Comment by DJ Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 2:37 pm
wordslinger nailed it with Mannheim through Stone Park. I drove that stretch a lot growing up - had one friend that got a speeding ticket for 34 in a 30 there.
Comment by BigDoggie Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 2:58 pm
They tried it at the Capitol but soon realized that the radar unit didn’t record negative numbers.
Comment by WazUp Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 3:36 pm
55 southbound or northbound at towanda. almost a certainty.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 4:08 pm
Sugar Grove is tough. Like DJ tho, the worst was in Golden Meadows Louisiana. The town is literally erected with one through street (and it goes to the off shore docks). Cops will give you three tickets if you speed (even at 3mph over). One ticket at each end of town and one in the middle. Never went through there when there was not three radar traps running. Fuzz busters not very helpful. Just drive 5 under to be safe.
Comment by wizard Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 4:17 pm
There are large parts of Springfield where it’s hard to drive fast enough to get a ticket because of all the crappy drivers gumming up both lanes, but Lincoln Park (in Springfield) is a biggie too. Enjoy our recreational facilities! Oh and here’s your ticket.
Comment by What planet is he from? Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 4:20 pm
Arlington Heights Road between Golf Road going north to the railroad tracks. Fits the criteria perfectly, with a wide road but a low speed limit.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 4:37 pm
A “speed trap” is any location where I get ticketed.
Legitimate traffic enforcement is what takes place on my residential street in response to residents’ complaints about speeding (one of the most common complaints suburban police receive).
Comment by reformer Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 4:55 pm
I was once told by a couple of native Ottawans that the movie cult classic “Nothing but Trouble” was inspired by Aykroyd’s horrible experience in one of the little towns along the Illinois River between Ottawa and Morris that began with a speed trap. The town was (is?) known among locals as a place where you dare not travel even one m.p.h. over the limit. Sorry, I don’t remember which town!
Comment by yinn Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 4:57 pm
not here, but Dinwiddie County Virginia is notorious. search to read and be astounded. speeding turns into reckless driving before you know it. bonus…..Dinwiddie. sounds like it came from a Hiassen piece.
Comment by amalia Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 5:03 pm
MacArthur & Wabash in Jerome. To “serve and protect”, Hah!
Comment by Keyser Soze Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 5:22 pm
Lake-Cook Road in Wheeling west of Milwaukee Avenue. There is seldom a time when there isn’t one of the local constables out there with a radar gun trying to nab speeders.
Comment by Great Caesar's Ghost! Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 5:23 pm
It’s not done as often anymore, but my best “speed trap” story was at I-55 exit 88 (East Lake).
Back in the days of 55 MPH speed limits, I was doing 70 with the rest of the morning rush heading to work. A State trooper pulled me over out of the bunch (I was driving a bright yellow German sport coupe). Before I could complain, the first words from the trooper were: “I’m only going to give you a warning; I wanted to slow down the traffic and you’re it.” At that point, all I could do was laugh.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 7:50 pm
They haven’t been at the Williamsville exit recently when I’ve been through there. It’s common enough that the townsfolk joke about it, though! I’m from Champaign, but still always slow down around there just in case.
Comment by Ted Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 8:45 pm
Don’t like speed traps, but the Williamsville one being complained about isn’t out of line. Hear them on the scanner occasionally, they don’t ticket for anything less than 10 mph over-set the cruise on 73 and go.
On the other hand, watch out on Rte. 121 between Lincoln and Decatur-both Mt. Pulaski and Warrensburg set up a lot. 10 miles over or not, the speed limit is artificially low…
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 11:01 pm
Nieva is right, and they are “must appear” tickets. Go to the Pulaski County court house on traffic court day and there are cars in the parking lot with plates from Wisconsin to Louisiana.
Comment by Way Way Down Here Wednesday, Aug 29, 12 @ 7:11 am
Village of Oakland in Coles County. The local Barney likes to sit just inside village limits where the speed limit drops from 55 to 35, at night, with the squad car darkened and catch people who don’t slow down quick enough… like me. I guess the village has to get revenue somewhere.
Comment by HoosierDaddy Wednesday, Aug 29, 12 @ 8:42 am