Santa Cruz, California Speed Traps

Almost every turnout on 17 will hold a highway patrol but they really like the summit, around the resivoir, and when you come down into scotts valley. the limits posted are safe and reasonable but rarely followed by expierienced hgwy 17 drivers. if you get pulled over then you are almost garunteed a ticket.

Officers stationed in Chevron parking lot (South side of Mission St.) 25MPH speed limit for 4 lanes of traffic.

Refer to Santa Cruz Municipal Code 10.60.010 "Increase of Local Limits" for declaration of Prima Facie for this specific stretch of road. Posted as 25MPH, it has actually been mandated as 35MPH. Officers are required to inform you of this, but they do so in a manner refering to a "safe speed" of no more than 37, your ticket will still be written up as being for a 25MPH zone. This situation produces much revenue for the city since very few contest their tickets along this stretch, assuming it is the posted limit of 25. Officers can be anywhere from hiding in the trees in the center divider of this stretch, at any of the bus stop inlets, or at either end of the stretch where the speed limit is actually 25MPH.

Southbound Hagar Dr.: Bay Tree Bookstore parking lot, motorcycle officer hides behind wall (25MPH)(right side of road); Northbound Hagar Dr.: officer hides in East Remote parking lot entrance(35MPH changes to 25MPH) or on hidden bicycle path (left side of road); Southbound Glenn Coolidge Dr., officer stations just over crest of small hill accross from TAPS parking lot entrance (45MPH changes to 25MPH).

Very easy section of Bay St. to speed on. Usual speeds anywhere from 35-45 mph. Posted speed 25. Motorcycle cop will usually sit in turnout halfway up hill or behind parked cars on northbound Escalona. Watch out! I’ve gotten 2 tix, and they averaged $118! (has also told me twice that safe speed in daylight is 37 mph.)