South Carolina police/Speed traps (Blackville, Duncan: neighborhood, living, safety)

[bernsee]

I've been to many states, but I think the South Carolina police are the worst when it comes to handing out speeding and traffic tickets. After not getting stopped for years, I got stopped twice in 1 weekend, once because they said I didn't come to a complete stop at the end of a highway ramp before making a turn and the other for driving 44 in a 30, which I thought was a 35 driving on 78 to Augusta through Branchville and Blackville. Don't the SC police have anything better to do then to intimidate, harass and terrorize local citizens with their pathetic speed traps, stopping people for minor traffic violations? I don't know how people can live in these communities where there are basically 24 hour speed traps and the police are trying to fill a quota by getting unsuspecting out of state visitors. I know I'm never coming back after this weekend. The police obviously don't care about turning the whole state into some sort of sick Communist police state where people are afraid to drive and go 2 mph above the speed limit. It's a sad way to live. The economy in SC needs all the help it can get but the pathetic police are driving people away with their sick tactics.

[NS_Highlander]

It is not so much that the SC police have nothing better to do, but in many cases generating town revenue by handing out speeding tickets are why some of these small police forces even exist. Take Jamestown for example. It has a population of 97 people, but oddly enough has it's own police force. By handing out tickets the town generates 200k for itself.

If anyone is wondering why tickets are so prevalent, it is because policing has become an entrepreneurial activity in many towns.

[myrc60]

Don't visit Iowa then! Laws are made for a reason. 14 over the limit is a bit reckless in my book. It doesn't matter what you thought it was; he clocked you 14 over! Pay the fine and get over it. Don't want to come back; then don't; someone else will line the coffers next time.

[elvislives]

I have driven over a million miles in every state and every interstate and I have never had a ticket or accident. Why? Because I obey the law!!! Quit your belly aching and pay the ticket and stop being irresponsible and you want get another. Gee what an Occums razor that solution is.

[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.

[JS1]

Duncan, where I live, is one of those towns where the police department exists solely to write tickets for minor traffic violations so they can stay in business.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by JS1

Duncan, where I live, is one of those towns where the police department exists solely to write tickets for minor traffic violations so they can stay in business.

I can vouch for that. Fortunately I have avoided their anxious gaze by living according to the laws governing their roads. I have discovered that it is actually easier to remain completely under the limits than to risk being convicted or suffering health problems from frantic stress caused by constantly pushing the limits to gain a few seconds or minutes - if that. Leave early and drive slower but steadier.

[motonenterprises]

Originally Posted by bernsee

I've been to many states, but I think the South Carolina police are the worst when it comes to handing out speeding and traffic tickets. After not getting stopped for years, I got stopped twice in 1 weekend, once because they said I didn't come to a complete stop at the end of a highway ramp before making a turn and the other for driving 44 in a 30, which I thought was a 35 driving on 78 to Augusta through Branchville and Blackville. Don't the SC police have anything better to do then to intimidate, harass and terrorize local citizens with their pathetic speed traps, stopping people for minor traffic violations? I don't know how people can live in these communities where there are basically 24 hour speed traps and the police are trying to fill a quota by getting unsuspecting out of state visitors. I know I'm never coming back after this weekend. The police obviously don't care about turning the whole state into some sort of sick Communist police state where people are afraid to drive and go 2 mph above the speed limit. It's a sad way to live. The economy in SC needs all the help it can get but the pathetic police are driving people away with their sick tactics.

You don't think 44 in a 30 zone is too fast? The road my neighborhood is on is posted at 35, you think I want you buzzing by at close to 50 when I'm trying to turn out? What about if someone is trying to cross the street to go downtown to get ice cream? You don't think a stop sign means stop? These are here for people's safety, thats why we have so many accidents. Follow the rules as closely as possible and you don't risk getting a ticket, break them and you do or maybe even worse you cause an accident! Thats just the risk you take. The word limit means that as high as you can go. Everyone thinks they are a better driver than they really are, and those are the ones I see wrecked from losing control on the interstates.

[revrandy]

I was stopped last year in Calhoun Falls for not coming to a complete stop on my motorcycle. It was a bogus stop. I had stopped at the intersection and put 1 foot down on the ground. The cop told me that unless both feet touch the ground it doesn't count as a stop

He did let me off with a warning though when he found out I was heading just up the road to guest preach. Only time I minded answering the question of where I was going.

[motonenterprises]

Originally Posted by revrandy

I was stopped last year in Calhoun Falls for not coming to a complete stop on my motorcycle. It was a bogus stop. I had stopped at the intersection and put 1 foot down on the ground. The cop told me that unless both feet touch the ground it doesn't count as a stop

He did let me off with a warning though when he found out I was heading just up the road to guest preach. Only time I minded answering the question of where I was going.

Now I will agree with this, that was pretty bogus.