King City, California Speed Traps

There is a long straight shot of U.S. Hwy. 101 after King City and before Paso Robles near San Ardo. There is literally nothing here but CHP and they hide everywhere! Behind scrub bushes, dips in the road, anywhere they can. Everyone drives fast so it is easy to get lost in the flow of traffic and then CHP nails you. This is the only place I have ever gotten a ticket, and it has happened twice. Just put the cruise control on at 70mph and let the other motorists fly by. You will save yourself some time and money.

Don’t speed here, whatever you do. This is a major speed trap zone. The CHP knows that this route is heavily used by tired, unaware drivers travelling between SF and LA who just want to get where they’re going. Also, if you pull into town, be cautious. They are ruthless about traffic rules on the city streets as well as the highway.

Heavily patrolled by the CHP, both Ford Crown Victorias and the new white Camaro Z28’s they got. Radar band is either K or Ka.

Not a good area to fool around in.

Hwy 101 Northbound drops from 70mph to 65mph just south of King City. Most folks not familiar with this stretch expect the speed limit to increase again after King City (as road conditions are the same as they were south of King City… two lanes in both directions with nothing but farms and hills on either side). CHP will ticket for 70mph in the 65mph zone. Unlike one of the other folks who posted about King City, they did send me the notice.

The CHP uses Radar and Vascar to pick off cars. They are very sneaky. King City is known as Speed Trap City. Usually more heavily enforced on Friday and Sundays. King Ciy is famous to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students.