Jalopnik: speed traps

British Police Using High-Tech Helicopters To Catch Speeders, Yell At Them

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EDT

In an effort to drive both taxpayer groups and paranoid Libertarians nuts at the same time, the Essex police are using a $1,750-an-hour helicopter equipped with some fairly high-tech gear to trap speeders in key areas. The helicopter uses plate recognition software that can recognize a plate and locate the address from up to 700 feet away, and then use the "Skyshout" PA system to ~~scare the crap out of~~ inform drivers that they've been busted.

Though some scoff at the expense and the Alex Jones folks don't like being watched, we'd point out that the city is making a big deal of putting up signs at busy locations letting them know the copter is watching them. We think this means it's mostly a bluff intended to get speeders to change their behavior and tickets will likely be handed out by these beautiesmost of the time. [ This Is London photo, Dave Manders/Essex Police]

Passport Radar Detector Includes GPS With Speed Camera Database

Travis Hudson — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:40:00 EDT

Despite the fact that slowing down is still one of the best ways to save gas, people, us included, continue to enjoy a little extra speed courtesy of the radar detector. The latest model from Passport, the 9500ix, includes some unique features to compensate for the latest speed-busting technology: integrated GPS and a database of known speed cameras, speed traps and red light cameras. But that's not all.

With towns constantly installing and removing cameras, the 9500ix can be updated regularly with the latest information about speed cameras. Pick it up later this month for $500. [Product Page via SlipperyBrick]

Louisana Traffic Official Fights The Law And The Law's Him

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:40:00 EDT

From the department of "do what I say, not what I do" comes this awesome story out of Lafayette, Louisiana playing perfectly into our dislike and mistrust of government nanny bureaucracy. Tony Tramel, the Director of Transportation for Lafayette Consolidated Government, is the chap tasked with monitoring and approving tickets issued by speed cameras. Mr. Tramel was recently caught with a radar detector mounted in the windshield of his personal car. Huh? We're confused. We thought the only reason to install a radar detector is to speed and flaunt the law, which doesn't really make any sense. Couldn't he just trash the camera images of him speeding and be off the hook? Fox guarding the hen house indeed. (Hat tip to Richard!) [TheNewspaper (these guys might want to consider a better marketing department)]

Trapster: Avoid Speed Traps The French Fry-Free Way

Travis Hudson — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:15:00 EDT

Sharing is caring and nowhere is that more important than when it comes to speed traps. We've seen all sorts of backward hacks on how to tell your fellow lover of speed the dangers that await them after the next bend. Flashing headlights, weird waving signals with our hands. Hell, we've even had people fling fries at us through an open window to get our attention. Let's remove the fast food from the equation, shall we? Enter Trapster, a new service giving users the ability to send and receive speed trap information on the fly, by way of their mobile phone. We like the service quite a bit, as it uses cell phone triangulation, GPS capabilities and Wi-Fi to pinpoint the drivers' locations and warn for approaching speed traps.

Despite how much bad karma it may produce by, you know, encouraging us to speed, we're told police officials apparently haven't complained about the service. Yet, anyway. [Trapster via AP]

Don't Get Stuffed: Turkey Day List of Worst Speed Traps

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST

In honor of Thanksgiving Day, the National Motorists Association has issued a revised list of speed traps. Some of the smaller town information is helpful (be wary of Uniontown, Alabama), though we're not sure how you're supposed to avoid all of Houston when traveling. With the weather turning south, we're guessing a lot of you won't get the chance to get to top speed anyways. Full list of speed traps below the jump:

ALABAMA

Worst Speedtrap: Montgomery
Dishonorable Mention: Birmingham, Huntsville, Uniontown

ALASKA

Worst Speedtrap: Anchorage
Dishonorable Mention: Fairbanks, Juneau, Seward

ARIZONA

Worst Speedtrap: Tucson
Dishonorable Mention: Gilbert, Phoenix, Scottsdale

ARKANSAS

Worst Speedtrap: Little Rock
Dishonorable Mention: Augusta, Fayetteville, Parkin

CALIFORNIA

Worst Speedtrap: Fresno
Dishonorable Mention: Fullerton, Los Angeles, San Jose

COLORADO

Worst Speedtrap: Colorado Springs
Dishonorable Mention: Aurora, Denver, Fort Collins

CONNECTICUT

Worst Speedtrap: Enfield
Dishonorable Mention: Danbury, Groton, New Canaan

DELAWARE

Worst Speedtrap: Newark
Dishonorable Mention: Dover, Felton, Fenwick Island

FLORIDA

Worst Speedtrap: Waldo
Dishonorable Mention: Lawtey, Ocala, Orlando

GEORGIA

Worst Speedtrap: Pendergrass
Dishonorable Mention: Atlanta, Duluth, Marietta,

HAWAII

Worst Speedtrap: Honolulu
Dishonorable Mention: Kailua, Kaimuki, Maui

IDAHO

Worst Speedtrap: Boise
Dishonorable Mention: Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Post Falls

ILLINOIS

Worst Speedtrap: Naperville
Dishonorable Mention: Carol Stream, New Lenox, Peoria

INDIANA

Worst Speedtrap: Indianapolis
Dishonorable Mention: Bloomington, Culver, Fort Wayne

IOWA

Worst Speedtrap: Des Moines
Dishonorable Mention: Ames, Cedar Rapids, Davenport

KANSAS

Worst Speedtrap: Shawnee
Dishonorable Mention: Leawood, Overland Park, Topeka

KENTUCKY

Worst Speedtrap: Louisville
Dishonorable Mention: Lexington, Middlesboro, Owensboro

LOUISIANA

Worst Speedtrap: Woodworth
Dishonorable Mention: Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Metairie

MAINE

Worst Speedtrap: Kittery
Dishonorable Mention: Augusta, Falmouth, Portland

MARYLAND

Worst Speedtrap: Frederick
Dishonorable Mention: Columbia, Hagerstown, Waldorf

MASSACHUSETTS

Worst Speedtrap: Worcester
Dishonorable Mention: Lowell, Newton, Springfield

MICHIGAN

Worst Speedtrap: Livonia
Dishonorable Mention: Ann Arbor, Redford, Warren

MINNESOTA

Worst Speedtrap: Minneapolis
Dishonorable Mention: Bloomington, Elk River, Plymouth

MISSISSIPPI

Worst Speedtrap: Starkville
Dishonorable Mention: Jackson, McComb, Tupelo

MISSOURI

Worst Speedtrap: Foristell
Dishonorable Mention: Curryville , Independence, St. Charles

MONTANA

Worst Speedtrap: Missoula
Dishonorable Mention: Darby, Havre, Joliet

NEBRASKA

Worst Speedtrap: Omaha
Dishonorable Mention: Bellevue, Grand Island, Lincoln

NEVADA

Worst Speedtrap: Las Vegas
Dishonorable Mention: Henderson, Pahrump, Reno

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Worst Speedtrap: Manchester
Dishonorable Mention: Nashua, New London, Somersworth

NEW JERSEY

Worst Speedtrap: Paramus
Dishonorable Mention: Bridgewater, Monroe Township, North Brunswick

NEW MEXICO

Worst Speedtrap: Albuquerque
Dishonorable Mention: Cuba, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho

NEW YORK

Worst Speedtrap: Brooklyn
Dishonorable Mention: Batavia, Rochester, Staten Island

NORTH CAROLINA

Worst Speedtrap: Raleigh
Dishonorable Mention: Charlotte, Greensboro, Wilmington

NORTH DAKOTA

Worst Speedtrap: Grand Forks
Dishonorable Mention: Fargo, Thompson, Washburn

OHIO

Worst Speedtrap: Columbus
Dishonorable Mention: Akron, Canton, Lindale

OKLAHOMA

Worst Speedtrap: Caney
Dishonorable Mention: Moffet, Moore, Kiowa

OREGON

Worst Speedtrap: Portland
Dishonorable Mention: Beaverton, Eugene, Springfield

PENNSYLVANIA

Worst Speedtrap: Horsham
Dishonorable Mention: Feasterville, Harrisburg, Warrington

RHODE ISLAND

Worst Speedtrap: Providence
Dishonorable Mention: Johnston, Pawtucket, Warwick

SOUTH CAROLINA

Worst Speedtrap: Greenville
Dishonorable Mention: Columbia, Gaffney, Society Hill

SOUTH DAKOTA

Worst Speedtrap: Sioux Falls
Dishonorable Mention: Rapid City, Wagner, Yankton

TENNESSEE

Worst Speedtrap: Nashville
Dishonorable Mention: Memphis, Piperton, Smyrna

TEXAS

Worst Speedtrap: Houston
Dishonorable Mention: Arlington, Austin, Estelline

UTAH

Worst Speedtrap: Sandy
Dishonorable Mention: Roy, Salt Lake City, West Valley City

VERMONT

Worst Speedtrap: Wilmington
Dishonorable Mention: Barre Town, Island Pond, Norwich

VIRGINIA

Worst Speedtrap: Virginia Beach
Dishonorable Mention: Chesapeake, Emporia, Norfolk

WASHINGTON

Worst Speedtrap: Bellingham
Dishonorable Mention: Black Diamond, Ritzville, Seattle,

WEST VIRGINIA

Worst Speedtrap: Summersville
Dishonorable Mention: Charleston, Gauley Bridge, Hurricane

WISCONSIN

Worst Speedtrap: Rosendale
Dishonorable Mention: Appleton, Milwaukee, Waukesha

WYOMING

Worst Speedtrap: Thermopolis
Dishonorable Mention: Cheyenne, Jackson Hole, Rawlins

[NMA via USA Today]