South Carolina police/Speed traps (Columbia, Sumter: fit in, homes, law)

[NewYorkBorn]

Originally Posted by radamus

I was given a fraudulent ticket in Jamestown South Carolina. I have no intentions of paying it without making the State of South Carolina and the 97 citizens of Jamestown suffer in some way (legally of course). Some states are taking legal action against the cops and justices of the peace who perpetrate these kinds of frauds, including filing criminal charges and making them do jail time. A state like SC that's so dependent on tourism and retiring northerners would be wise to do the same.

Oh yeah they love giving out tickets here in South Carolina. In fact my guess is that because the population is not large here in South Carolina they really do not have anything better to do but sit on the side of the road waiting to give somebody a ticket. I have witnessed 2 police cars sitting on the side of the road doing nothing but talking to eachother. Better yet have seen them parked in the parking lot of Lowes and actually inside shopping while they are on duty.

But you must understand this behavior is not going to stop in South Carolina.....this is how they make their money!!

[Colddiamond102]

Originally Posted by bernsee

Based on how the SC police operate, just about everyone in this country should be getting speeding tickets. On highways where the speed limit is 55 mph, I drive 70 and get passed by EVERYONE. Maybe the police in these communities should get on I-20, I-26 and I-77 and start ticketing these people. Virtually everyone is going more than 15mph over the speed limit. I asked the cop that gave me the ticket what is acceptable for going over the posted speed limit and he said nothing. So why aren't they out on the highways ticketing everyone?? I can't be looking at my speedometer every 2 seconds because the speed limit changes so quickly in the small SC towns. Would the cop prefer that I look at my speedometer instead of the road? 30 is way to slow for these small towns where there is virtually no traffic. The cops know this and they know the perfect places to hide to prey on the tourists.

Waaaaahhhh Somebody call the waaambulance!

You were speeding, dolt. The sign says what the sign means. And who are you to determine what a town deems as too fast/slow for THEIR town??

Btw, the judge in Branchville is a nice gentleman. Ive gotten a ticket there myself. He was a sweetheart and reduced it from $200 to $20.

If you ever go through there again, stop at a stand called The Churn. Awesome ice cream and sandwhiches, and a local favorite. I stop by always on my way to Charleston.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by Colddiamond102

...You were speeding, dolt. The sign says what the sign means. And who are you to determine what a town deems as too fast/slow for THEIR town??

I agree! Is there no respect for even the most simple laws these days or is this an indictment revealing our level of education? If we can't even read a very basic sign and understand what it means, then we are in more serious trouble as a society than we have openly admitted.

[Greenville]

Invest in a radar detector. It has saved my butt many times!

[USNRET04]

South Carolina has the 8th highest Motor Vehicle Death Rate in the nation. There are many rural areas in SC, which contribute to that rate, which is probably why the cops patrol those areas more than the interstates.
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitors sites is not allowed

South Carolina is listed as the 33rd worst state to be most hostile to drivers. New Jersery is #1, Ohio #2.

National Motorists Association ranks states most hostile to drivers — Autoblog

When I drive to Ohio to visit family, as soon as I cross the Ohio river I see State Troopers sitting in the median all the way up to Cleveland. I rarely see marked Troopers sitting in the medians in SC.

The only tatic I think is "sneaky" for lack of a better word is how the cops at least in my city are driving some very cleverly conceled unmarked police cruisers. In Simpsonville, there is at least one late 90's model Mustang with mag wheels, very dark tint. He has hidden blue lights every where. Also, there is a newer Dodge Charger, similar style (tint/lights). You would never know until he turns on his lights that he's a uniformed cop in side.

[NewYorkBorn]

Originally Posted by USNRET04

South Carolina has the 8th highest Motor Vehicle Death Rate in the nation. There are many rural areas in SC, which contribute to that rate, which is probably why the cops patrol those areas more than the interstates.
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitors sites is not allowed

South Carolina is listed as the 33rd worst state to be most hostile to drivers. New Jersery is #1, Ohio #2.

National Motorists Association ranks states most hostile to drivers — Autoblog

When I drive to Ohio to visit family, as soon as I cross the Ohio river I see State Troopers sitting in the median all the way up to Cleveland. I rarely see marked Troopers sitting in the medians in SC.

The only tatic I think is "sneaky" for lack of a better word is how the cops at least in my city are driving some very cleverly conceled unmarked police cruisers. In Simpsonville, there is at least one late 90's model Mustang with mag wheels, very dark tint. He has hidden blue lights every where. Also, there is a newer Dodge Charger, similar style (tint/lights). You would never know until he turns on his lights that he's a uniformed cop in side.

I have actually seen the cop in the mustang one day while driving on I-385 going to Fairview Road to do some shopping in Simpsonville. Someone flew past on I-385, the next thing I knew these lights were flashing inside of a mustang and turns out it was a cop inside.........he caught up with the person, pulled them over and gave them a ticket!

I was shocked.......I know from other cities that the police do all kinds of sneaky things to catch people in speed traps.........just never saw it happen with a cop in a mustang.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by USNRET04

When I drive to Ohio to visit family, as soon as I cross the Ohio river I see State Troopers sitting in the median all the way up to Cleveland. I rarely see marked Troopers sitting in the medians in SC.

The only tatic I think is "sneaky" for lack of a better word is how the cops at least in my city are driving some very cleverly conceled unmarked police cruisers. In Simpsonville, there is at least one late 90's model Mustang with mag wheels, very dark tint. He has hidden blue lights every where. Also, there is a newer Dodge Charger, similar style (tint/lights). You would never know until he turns on his lights that he's a uniformed cop in side.

This just happened to me last month! I was driving up for a wedding, didn't see a single cop, was cruising at 75 as I crossed the Ohio River, 10 miles later after Marietta (I'm sure you know how rural this area is having traveled on it!), I come around a turn, and there sits a trooper in the median - mind you, it's 9:30 at night and there's like 1/2 mile between cars - nevertheless, he pulls out and pulls me over. Thankfully, he let me off w/a warning which surprised me w/their reputation! But it was still frustrating, between Ohio and Virginia, if you go 70 or above, watch out! IMO, they have kept their limits that low despite surrounding states raising there's to 70 to be able to write more tickets.

[USNRET04]

Originally Posted by Buckeye in SC

This just happened to me last month! I was driving up for a wedding, didn't see a single cop, was cruising at 75 as I crossed the Ohio River, 10 miles later after Marietta (I'm sure you know how rural this area is having traveled on it!), I come around a turn, and there sits a trooper in the median - mind you, it's 9:30 at night and there's like 1/2 mile between cars - nevertheless, he pulls out and pulls me over. Thankfully, he let me off w/a warning which surprised me w/their reputation! But it was still frustrating, between Ohio and Virginia, if you go 70 or above, watch out! IMO, they have kept their limits that low despite surrounding states raising there's to 70 to be able to write more tickets.

Oh yeah, the Ohio Troopers are out in force 24/7 seems like. Like you said, I also was driving to Ohio from Greenville. I truly do not remember seeing one marked police cruiser the entire way until I crossed the border into Ohio.

Also, as for the cops in Simpsonville, SC in umarked cars, the mustang got me too. Speeding in a construction zone on a Sunday evening with no workers, about 10 MPH over. Luckily the judge threw it out.

Keep your eye out for the dark black Charger. Tinted windows. Normal SC plates. The only thing I noticed from the back and side, there is a larger than normal antenna on the rear part of the roof. From the front his "driving" lights are a light shade of blue and you can somewhat make out some blue lights in the grill if you look hard enough.

[pburgess68]

Well, you were speeding, face it. I can't afford a speeding ticket, so I try not to speed. TRY is the word. There are definitely odd speed limits, that I have to admit. You can be cruising at the posted 60 MPH, and within a mile, can be dropped down several times and back up again.

I was pulled over for going 40 in a 25...but the 45 mph sign WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ME. Literally. When I took drivers ed, granted I got my license in 1986, if you could see the sign, you could do that speed limit. Well heck, I just PASSED IT! Shouldn't I be able to do it? lol I didn't bother fighting it when I realized it was pointless. I now crawl thru that area like a snail.

When I had just moved here (was here 2 days maybe? stuff was still in the car, unpacked, and we were still using maps to get around), I was pulled over for going "too fast for the weather". What weather? The police officer and I were outside of the car, chatting away...no bad weather to be seen. He said "you're from up north where you're used to snow and ice, but down here, we slow down for bad weather". I was still boggled. Is sun considered bad weather down here? Ok, granted it was December and it is SUPPOSED to be snowing where I'm from...but it was warm!

AAAAh, the south...
I haven't quite gotten used to their way of thinking yet. Thankfully, he let me go with a warning lol
(my daughter still thinks I was flirting with him, to this day, 5 years later!)

[PokerPlayer84]

I suspect because there is not to much crime going on the Poice have to find something to do