Riverside, California Speed Traps

CHP usually hides where the CalTrans electronic billboard sign is.

There is an officer stationed in his unmarked car (sometimes motorcycle) on the side of the road near the farming area. Be advised that the "speed limit" in this area is 45 mph. Be careful!

This section of roadway has been improperly surveyed so RADAR and LIDAR cannot be used for speed enforcement. Both the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the Auto Club’s “Reasonable Speed Zoning” booklet state specifically that the speed limit shall be rounded to the NEAREST 5 MPH increment, unless there is a reason to justify lowering it by 5 MPH. The speed limit here has been rounded down from 50 to 45 because of “Horizontal and vertical curvilinear alignment.” That means the road curves. Yes, it does, but not radically so. The vertical “curvilinear alignment” means the road goes up or down hill. Again, yes, it does. THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED USING ROADWAY FEATURES THAT ARE READILY APPARENT TO DRIVERS AS JUSTIFICATIONS FOR ARTIFICIALLY LOWERING POSTED SPEED LIMITS, BECAUSE DRIVERS CAN SEE THESE CONDITIONS AND ADJUST THEIR SPEEDS ACCORDINGLY. The California Vehicle Code specifically says, "It is the intent of the Legislature that physical conditions such as width, CURVATURE, GRADE and surface conditions, or any other condition readily apparent to a driver in the absence of other factors, would not require special downward speed zoning. Use of RADAR or LIDAR in this area would constitute a speed trap under California law.

Cop likes to park in the dirt off the main fwy and says he uses radar (but he couldn’t prove it). Biggest problem is it’s posted as a 55 mph (vs 65) because of construction even though construction ended at least a full mile back. So when you get your ticket, it’s doubled b/c of the "construction zone." That is what I call a speed trap.

This section of roadway has been improperly surveyed so RADAR and LIDAR cannot be used for speed enforcement. Both the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the Auto Club’s “Reasonable Speed Zoning” booklet state specifically that the speed limit shall be rounded to the NEAREST 5 MPH increment, unless there is a reason to justify lowering it by 5 MPH. The speed limit here has been rounded down from 55 to 50 because of “Horizontal and vertical curvilinear alignment [and] multiple access points.” First, the horizontal “curvilinear alignment” claim. That means the road curves. It doesn’t. It’s straight as an arrow during this segment. The vertical “curvilinear alignment” means the road goes up or down hill. Yup, it does. Next, the “multiple access points” justification: there is 1 cross street and two driveways, both of which can be seen for about 1,000 feet before you get there. Two out of three of the reasons given to reduce the speed limit are inaccurate. The third, up/down hill, how is this not readily apparent to a motorist and why is it dangerous? THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED USING ROADWAY FEATURES THAT ARE READILY APPARENT TO DRIVERS AS JUSTIFICATIONS FOR ARTIFICIALLY LOWERING POSTED SPEED LIMITS, BECAUSE DRIVERS CAN SEE THESE CONDITIONS AND ADJUST THEIR SPEEDS ACCORDINGLY. The California Vehicle Code specifically says, "It is the intent of the Legislature that physical conditions such as width, CURVATURE, GRADE and surface conditions, or any other condition readily apparent to a driver in the absence of other factors, would not require special downward speed zoning.