Santa Barbara, California Speed Traps

Motorcycle cop sits in a driveway and picks off motorists with a radar gun.

CHP is almost always present on 154 looking for reckless drivers among the RV’s and boat trailers and horse trailers and gamblers going to the res to gamble. From the top of the pass to Armour Ranch Road beware of turnouts that offer cover.

Mary unit (motorcycle) hides between parked cars or behind low wall right next to Ralph’s parking access.

Not sure if it was Laser or Radar (radar I assume since he was a motorcycle CHP officer. At 8 p.m. on a Tuesday night the 101 on the southbound side was totally deserted for a mile in both directions. He had NO LIGHTS ON and was sitting on the side waiting to pick someone off. Apparently this kind of speed trap is legal in California.

Ontare Street runs perpendicular to Foothill Street and State Street. Ontare Street is about 1 mile long and quite a steep descent. Every automobile will accumulate a good amount of speed on this hill (going downhill, of course) even if the driver is riding the brake the entire way down. I was pulled over by an officer on a motorcycle who gave me a citation for going 42MPH in a 30 zone. However, I was coasting and I hadn’t touched the accelerator at all on this hill. My car was idling at 650RPM. I was driving safely in perfect visibility and I would have had ample time for immediate braking if it were necessary at ANY time.