Middlesboro, Kentucky Speed Traps

Do not go through "The Tunnel" on a Thursday, Friday or Sunday evening after 8PM because both states have roadblocks you can’t escape from along both directions and are engaged in a fundraising/DUI stop so be clean cut, have a collared shirt on and don’t even have a drop of alcohol long before driving that way or you’ll be waved to a secondary DUI check and arrested
when the cops trick you into being guilty. This is strictly to gain revenue for the town and to intimidate LMU students. They will ask you if you’ve had anything to drink, are taking any drugs, and have smoked anything several times and ways. Even if you drank coffee, took an allergy pill and smoked a cigarette, answer NO or they’ll arrest you for being guilty of something illegal. If you have an import, out of state plates or look like an LMU Student, be very careful. Moving radar is always off by 5 mph, so you’re bound to get a ticket if they feel like catching you.

The entire SR 63 from I-75 in Jacksboro to Middlesboro, Kentucky through Harrogate is full of speed traps where the road curves and they can hide. One or more moving TN HP cars are also ticketing any moving car they want because it’s mostly "rich" LMU students coming through that won’t fight the ticket so if you have an import, out of state plates or look like an LMU Student, be very careful. Trust me, your intuition is correct, there is no way you broke the law and were speeding. Moving radar is always off by 5 mph, so you’re bound to get a ticket if they feel like catching you. Their goal is at least 3 cars PER HOUR, so if you haven’t seen anyone pulled over in the last 20 minutes, that means YOU will be pulled over next until the Federal Government or TBI steps in.

When coming out of the Cumberland gap tunnel towards the Ky side towards middlesboro there are usually the M.P.D. hiding behind hedgebushes on the park turn off usually more so towards the end of the month so the police can get their quotas in to make their bonuses.

The National Park Service Rangers Patrol this section of US 25E from the city limits of Middlesboro, KY all the way through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel and they are very strict about speed. I have even heard that they have had a Ranger sit in the control room and time cars traveling through the tunnel and then had another Ranger stop the car once they exit the tunnel and give a ticket based on the time spent in the tunnel.

This spot is known well by locals. There is city, state, county sheriff, and National Park Service patrols for a stretch of US Hwy 25E. This stetch begins at intersection of US 25E and Cumberland Ave. in Middlesboro across sate lines into Harrogate, Tennessee. Speed is also patrolled inside the Cumberland Gasp Tunnel using video survalence. The majority of patrols are by US National Park police since this stretch of road is located within boundaries of a National Historical Park. Depending on which side of tunnel you get stopped in. If in Ky, have to pay fines in Federal Court in London, Ky a good hour away. If in Tennessee, have to pay in Abbington, Va., also an hour away from the sight. The general rule is only about a 5-10 mph over allowence, but some will only give 5 over, depending.

Most of Cumberland Avenue is 35-45 mph, but there is a three block section where the posted speed limit drops to 25 mph. The police patrol this stretch with radar guns or somtetimes hide in parking lots looking for motorists who don’t drop speed fast enough when hitting this stretch of road.