Got caught in a speed trap in summersville, wv (Beckley: sales, credit card)

[steel7]

Contact the corrupt mayor, city council & police & tell them what you think & send them this thread.

http://www.summersvillewv.org/index....=24&Itemid=213

[WVUPharm2007]

Originally Posted by steel7

Contact the corrupt mayor, city council & police & tell them what you think & send them this thread.

www.summersvillewv.org - Mayor Robert Shafer

They probably get hundreds of angry emails a year and sit around once a year and laugh at them all.

[WestLibertyAve]

I'm from Pittsburgh and drive that stretch of 19 about once a year on average. I don't understand all the hatred for this speed trap, I always thought it was rather appropriate. Here's the logic:

Most traffic has been driving for hours on interstates and portions of 19 that are 65 mph. 19 resembles an interstate for most of it's length, with few stops, little civilization, and not a whole lot of cross traffic. Then you get to Summersville, which is like suburbia in the middle of West Virginia with it's Wal-Mart and concentration of other chain businesses. Several stop lights, a lot of cross traffic, and from what I read, a history of fatal accidents along this stretch. So I completely understand the stepped up enforcement, and it's not like they don't warn you with several bright signs along with the words "strictly enforced" under all speed limit signs.

I love to drive fast, but I'm also wary of the police and have never gotten a speeding ticket. I also recognize that the "speed LIMIT" is technically the maximum allowable speed on a stretch of road, and whether I agree with it or not, going over that value may result in a ticket.

Are the cops respectful or are they *ssholes when they pull someone over? That makes a big difference. I can respect that they have a job to do, but too often police are just former social outcasts who get sick pleasure from their position of authority and abuse it. The small Cecil Township police in PA are well known for this. Their corruption is off the charts, and anyone who knew the police in high school will tell you they aren't surprised they are jerks during routine traffic stops (even to the elderly) and only chose this career path to "get back" at society. Do you get these vibes from Summersville police?

[bballjunkie]

Well stated, WestLibertyAve!

[Gnutella]

Originally Posted by puppypower

I have never had a ticket before and here I am trying to deal with one out of state. And after visiting this forum I feel like an idiot seeing as this is a very well known speed trap...ugh!

Anyway, I lost my uncle last week and had to pick up and drive with my children from North Carolina to Maryland for funeral services. Because of work and school obligations I drove up Saturday night and left for home very early Monday morning. My kids were actting up and pitching a huge fit and I saw the speed change and slowed down but then everyone needed to go to the bathroom...great. So we stop at a service station... my daughter who is 15 and mentally handicapped decided to pitch this huge fit inside the store so by the time i literally drag her out of the store im frazzled shes extremely irate. So i get everyone buckled in and i take off, completely forgetting about the speed change until i see blue lights.

So my question is can anyone recommend a traffic attorney in the area? And any tips on what I need to do? I have never had a ticket or anything, 0 points on my license.

Thanks,

Azure

Join the club with the other 34705731276027837196037017861361309560361238913786 of us.

[AirbornePolecat]

Suck it up and pay the fine, the state needs the money!

[Q-tip motha]

Originally Posted by bumpus

It's not a speed trap.

.

I'm calling "bull" on this comment.

Never gotten a speeding ticket in Summersville, and don't have any family who have gotten tickets there that I can think of off of the top of my head. The last time I even passed through on 19 there were between 5-10 police cars pulling people over left and right in a short 1 or 2 mile strip of road where the speed limit suddenly dropped 15 miles an hour inexplicably. That many police cars for a town of 3,200 covering a small strip of road? That's a speed trap in every definition of the world.

The driver in question may have no excuse for missing the posted limits, but don't attempt to sugar coat it as anything other than a legal abuse of the law by the local town government for anything other than greed.

I would advise anyone thinking of driving through there to avoid spending any money in Summersville at all. Not at the gas stations, not in the town, and not at the goose crap covered shores of the lake.

[gh2000]

Originally Posted by Retired Navy

Don't know that Summersville is any worse than Gauley Bridge. I was with four other motorcyclists and our wives on a ride down to The New River Gorge Bridge in June. One of the guys got a speeding ticket (five MPH over the limit) as we rode into town for fuel. While we were gassing up I saw the same cop write three more tickets within 20 minutes and within sight of where my friend was ticketed. We rode from Ripley to Arnoldsburg and then took Rt 16 South. Rode Rt 60 back home. Had a really great day even considering the ticket!!!!

In the drivers handbook, it reads obey posted signs !! If you would obey the drivers handbook that you used to get your drivers licence, you would not have to pay any speeding tickets..And by the way, the officers DO NOT STOP ANYONE GOING ONLY 4 MPH OVER THE LIMIT. So pay attention to the road signs and stay off the cell phone...Gauley Bridge is plainly marked with many speed signs and most of them read"strictly inforced' What part of that don't you understand?? Except for speeding, there is no crime here in my little town of Gauley Bridge..Best little town in West Virginia.....Peace

[Q-tip motha]

.

[CTMountaineer]

I drove through there a couple days ago. I am well aware of the ripoff and creep through there under their rediculously low limit, but I noticed they had one poor out of state fellow there in the middle of nowhere giving him his extortion notice as I passed.

I have driven literally all over our country, and can think of maybe 2 other places in the country now that do things like Summersville/Fayetteville, and even they are more reasonable because at least the traps are in congested areas. It is clearly intended as a revenue source which is contrary to the purpose of laws. Lovely scenery or not, Fayette County, especially the speed trap area, is an embarrassment to our great state for the way they do things there. I hate to see what happens now that many nice families with Boy Scouts will be traveling through there in the coming years. Imagine the impression that makes on people.

I advise people to do what I do. Be sure you creep through there, but do not spend a dime there. Buy your lunch in Beckley or Sutton, gas up where you buy it, and pass them bye.