Spearfish, South Dakota Speed Traps

Early in the morning, around 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., there’s a school zone around East Elementary School, a block or so south of Jackson Blvd. A digital speed reporting sign marks the boundaries of the zone in both directions, and a cop usually sits there to catch law breakers.

I-90 is THE road ringing the northern Black Hills and is very heavily patrolled. Speed traps can and are set up in numerous places to include but not limited to: near exit 2, near exit 8, exit 17 (Deadwood turn off), vicinity of mile marker 29, near exit 32, near mile marker 34-36 and the port of entry, near mile markers 46 to 48, east of exit 55, east of mile marker 60, and out to the exit for EAFB.

The speed limit changes drastically as you enter the curve going down into town from 35 to 15, this is a definite speed trap design, no other reason for the drastic change.

South Canyon Street through the city park, speed limit is 15 MPH. The road is closed during the summer to local traffic but expect to see city police set up anywhere they can see the street. The closure of the street during summer limits tickets to the clueless campers who come into this area. City residents who own the park are prohibited from enjoying the park during the summer but that also limits their exposure to the speed traps. Closure of the park shows what can happen when governments run out of control.

The Spearfish Police Department likes to sit in the crossover near Exit 12 late at night. Usually they are only interested in stopping eastbound vehicles with out-of-state plates because they assume such vehicles are transporting drugs from the west coast to the eastern U.S.