West Des Moines, Iowa Speed Traps

Very popular speed trap for WDM at the entrance of Southwoods Townhouses where one police car and a few behind him catch speeders southbound on Mills Civic Pkwy as they’re approaching the Valley Stadium. Seems to be a popular quota point! Beware!

This trap is not every day but it is rather infrequent. Naturally, it has no deterrent effect and almost all motorists literally fly by you. This is truly a Revenue Trap because it’s a no-brainer. They just come on a whim, issue a ton of tickets, and leave. It has nothing to do with public safety. This section of I-235 is the safest part of the entire road. But its a cash cow. Actually, the entire I-235 should be avoided due to this plus the speed cams in Des Moines area. Its back to back during the peak hours. The Stasi drool over I-235.

On 9/ 28/2012, six or more motorists were seen pulled over by the side of I-235 by the West Des Moines PD cars; I have seen this entire strip of I-235 staked out by hidden cars on some days while there is no monitoring on other days at all. Of course, the speed cameras start monitoring at around 42nd street. Thus the whole of I-235 has become the Nazibahn that funnels huge amounts of cash through speed traps.

Cops will sit under the 28th street overpass bridge. this is the small bridge that exists right before the 22nd street exit. They will usually sit on the south side of it, meaning the right side while going towards downtown. They mostly use this as an area to wait and be ready to launch at any time, but usually they’re there just to scare people into slowing down to a more respectable speed, I have only seen 4 or 5 pull overs there.

The speed limit is only 55 in the construction zone, and it’s also marked as a construction zone, which increases the fine. WDM PD have begun to target that area, specifically running radar on the NB side of I-35 near Grand Avenue.