San Mateo, California Speed Traps

As of Fall 2006, all CHP Cops are now armed with LIDAR (laser). Many have been pulled over in the last month on 280 – any time of day I drive on 280, I see people getting pulled over. I was pulled over Jan 2007 by a motorcycle CHP doing 96 in a 65 near the 92 exit on 280. My fine will be almost 400 bucks, madatory court appearance and no chance for traffic school. You really can’t argue LIDAR in court unless you resort to technicalities – calibration, officer training on LIDAR, or cosine error.

Be careful!

Now that police knows that people is well aware of the trap at the downhill slope of 92 west bound, they sometimes move their trap at the ramp entrace of 92 West bound at Fashion Island.

Coming down the hills, the cops wait at Fernwood more or less every day waiting for speeding cars. The spot is about 5 or 6 blocks away from a high school and so they hit you with speeding in a school zone. Where the cops wait is after the curve so by the time you see them, you can’t slow down to 25 fast enough. My ticket was for going 35.

CHP sits facing Northbound on exit ramp where bus stop once existed. Traffic exiting East Hillsdale is safe UNLESS you are speeding on the offramp. Most units have dual radar (front and back sensors). As you pass under the Hillsdale overpass they radar/visual you proceeding Northbound and from the entrance ramp Westbound Hillsdale to 101.

As you travel on the San Mateo bridge, while coming down the slope of the bridge, watch out for speed. The police officers may be hidden at the end of the slope.