Driving thru Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles: shop, cars, murders)

[darylwi]

Whoa, the guy's worried about getting stopped by cops. I wouldn't send him down US 190. If he wants to bypass the state, that's fine. Whatever floats his boat.
Me, I've never bypassed a complete state just because of some crap I heard about second-hand. I drove through Mississippi, Alabama and most of Appalachia and you hear plenty of rumors about those areas of the country and yet I'm still hear, no horror stories.

Renegade cops exist everywhere. Dateline just happened to catch the Louisiana town that time. Want proof:
Highway robbery? Texas police seize black motorists' cash, cars - Los Angeles Times
And this is recent, and in east Texas.
Doesn't mean I wouldn't drive in east Texas. Just means I'd watch my every move carefully. Same in Louisiana and probably every other state you'll ever drive in except in your own backyard.
So get a grip. Plan a route. Be careful. And enjoy your trip. The end.

[hank0604]

Yeah, definitely stay away from 190 if you're trying to avoid police. Of course, if you take I-20 all the way through, you will be in Louisiana for a much shorter amount of time. I-20 does have a few places to watch out for: 1) between Ruston and Minden there are many hideaways purposely cut into the trees in the median for police cars to hide in. 2) As you enter Bossier City from the east, the median becomes dominated by large stretches of pampas grass bushes, with gaps left for LSP cruisers. I got my first speeding ticket that way.

[sailordave]

At this time having a radar detector in your car is not illegal in the state of Louisiana. If you have one then check ahead for state laws for all states you'll be passing through. Some states say it's illegal to have one in the car and will confiscate them. Watch the speed limit signs and use cruise control as much as possible. If passing on I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette then make a pit stop in Baton Rouge. Make sure to drain the bladder and not buy something to drink until you get over the basin bridge. It's a pretty long bridge with no bathroom break. Pay close attention to the signs on the bridge. If you are pulled over don't assume the worse. Be polite and nice. They may have a valid reason for pulling you over and may just let you off with a warning. I was pulled over once and all the officer wanted was to let me know my brake light was out. I didn't know it was out and got it fixed the next day.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by hank0604

Yeah, definitely stay away from 190 if you're trying to avoid police. Of course, if you take I-20 all the way through, you will be in Louisiana for a much shorter amount of time. I-20 does have a few places to watch out for: 1) between Ruston and Minden there are many hideaways purposely cut into the trees in the median for police cars to hide in. 2) As you enter Bossier City from the east, the median becomes dominated by large stretches of pampas grass bushes, with gaps left for LSP cruisers. I got my first speeding ticket that way.

Thing is, though, I've been on 190 a lot of times. Even got a ticket there, but I was speeding through Port Barre at 11:30 at night, so I was hardly innocent You just make sure to be extra careful in Livonia, Port Barre, and Krotz Springs - it's not like their speed limits are 25-30 mph like they are in places like Bunkie and Waterproof. The alternative (I-10 aka "swamp freeway") means you'll have eager cops waiting for you at mile markers 118 or 136 (the beginning and end of the elevated portions). And the possibility of a wreck which leaves you stuck on the interstate out in the middle of nowhere. And a route that is about 20 miles more than US 190.

Moral of the story is that what happened isn't just Louisiana. And Louisiana shouldn't be treated as this scary place to be avoided, with out of staters going 69 mph on the interstate to avoid imprisonment.

[OHGirl87]

I think you be fine, we drove from Ohio to Louisiana and back, all over LA, and to Austin and back and never got pulled over and we have OH plates, and my husband tends to be a speeder :/

[Tamzyn]

If police pull over out of state plate holders, then how does Shreveport/Bossier tourism survive? Not only is every other plate from Texas, but there is a airforce base where many people keep their cars registered at their home state. This thread has worried me because we have Arizona plates and don't plan to change them anytime soon.

[OHGirl87]

Originally Posted by Tamzyn

If police pull over out of state plate holders, then how does Shreveport/Bossier tourism survive? Not only is every other plate from Texas, but there is a airforce base where many people keep their cars registered at their home state. This thread has worried me because we have Arizona plates and don't plan to change them anytime soon.

You will be fine living at Barksdale, I have never heard anyone complain around this area for getting pulled over for out of state plates, I mean half the ppl at BAFB have out of state plates...

[Tamzyn]

Originally Posted by OHGirl87

You will be fine living at Barksdale, I have never heard anyone complain around this area for getting pulled over for out of state plates, I mean half the ppl at BAFB have out of state plates...

whew Thanks

[OHGirl87]

Originally Posted by Tamzyn

whew Thanks

Did you guys make here ok? And get moved into your place?

[unicorngoddess]

I just got back from a trip from Dallas to Florida. Got stopped in Natchitoches for going 80 in a 70. Called today for the fee and it's $227!!! The thing is, the back of the ticket only gives me the option to pay the fine (guilty) or appear in court to plea not guilty. I tried asking for deferred adjudication but the lady at the police department refused to give me additional info. I found out from a friend that it's called an 894 in LA. So I prepare to call the court and ask them about it...only to find that my ticket has no address or phone number of a court in which to appear. The guy just wrote in the direct phone number to the police department which will not tell me any additional information other than what my fee is.
So after doing some extensive searching online, I found the city court and juristiction number and I'm going to call them about this 894, which I SHOULD qualify for seeing as how this is my first speeding ticket.