La Puente, California Speed Traps

A motorcycle cop is waiting with radar gun in hand facing south on Walnut Ave waiting for an unsuspecting victim. The safe speed limit should be 35 mph, if not 40 mph. However, the posted speed limit is 25 mph. There is a half mile stretch of clear road, which makes it almost impossible to stay at 25 mph. Clearly no danger at 35 mph. Just a trap to cash-in for the city. This has been a very popular radar trap for several years now.

There is a motorcycle cop that parks at the Jack in the Box on Amar/Orange facing Amar, catches people going East bound. Be careful he hides behind phone booths, trees, and buildings making it hard to spot him.

motorcycle cop sits in parking lot of the church on the corner of Temple and Glendora. Has radar ready for traffic coming down hill on Temple towards Glendora.

Focusing on the 1 mile stretch of Temple Avenue (four-lane with painted yellow center median) between Valinda Avenue and Del Valle. When travelling westbound on Temple, Valinda is the only signalized intersection before Del Valle. Between Valinda and Del Valle exist four non-singallized T-intersections leading to residential neighborhoods. No property fronts exist on either side of Temple for the entire 1 mile stretch except for Workman High School, which has no activity at night. The minimal xings and lack of property fronts cause a lack of activity that make the road an easy place to gain speed without noticing. Speed limit on this stretch is 45 mph and posted frequently for the entire 1 mile stretch. 890 feet before Del Valle a "45 mph Speed Limit" sign is posted on an approximate 4% uphill grade. 400 feet before Del Valle a "35 mph zone ahead� sign is posted on an approximate 5% downhill grade. Dell Valle’s signal is not visible until the crest of the hill approximately 600 feet from the intersection. Slowing down to 35 mph let along stopping at Del Valle is difficult without substantial and border line unsafe pressure on the brakes. 166′ past Del Valle the first "35 mph speed limit" sign is posted.

Officer is parked at Del Valle with laser and citing tickets for westbound traffic. Tickets are being written by officer stating the posted limit is 35 mph. Any vehicle proceeding safely through a yellow at Del Valle will be cited for speeding if above 35 mph the second they cross Del Valle.

In my case I caught a yellow light at Del Valle and felt it was safer to accelerate through the yellow light than to slam my brakes on the downhill grade in my 3/4 ton 4×4. The officer cited me for going 21 mph over the speed limit and said I just made the cut to be able to attend traffic school.

The solution to this speed trap would be to replace the existing "45 mph speed limit" sign 890′ before Del Valle with a "35 mph zone ahead". Then replace the "35 mph zone ahead" sign 400′ before Del Valle with a "35 mph speed limit sign". This will give motorists a fair chance to slow down and validate the officer�s claim that motorists are actually in a 35 mph zone the second they cross Del Valle.

My date to decide whether to fight the ticket or pay the fine and attend traffic school is 2/22/04 (this includes my one time extension). Any help with fighting the ticket or recommendations would be great.