Kalamazoo, Michigan Speed Traps

Officer sits in parking lot of fire-station or will stand on the side of the road partially hiding behind a tree. Just as you are coming down a hill they will point the laser at you before you even have a chance to start braking when you’re going down the hill. As many a driver knows when you’re going down a hill your car starts to speed up whether you want it to or not. I was ticketed for driving 2 mph over the speed limit, and no this isn’t a joke.

An officer parks his car on Park Place or in the ROI parking lot, he uses his radar gun to track cars then walks out into traffic to pull you over.

Westnedge ave. is one of Kalamazoo’s Major north-south arteries. North bound Westnedge at the top of "Westnedge Hill" (one of the largest hills in Kalamazoo) splits off to the right (east) and becomes a one-way street that turns into Park st. (which is one street to the east of Westnedge, Many people call Park st. "North bound Westnedge".) The problem: South of "westnedge hill" Westnedge is a broad commercial street with speed limits of 35 to 45 MPH. At the top of "Westnedge Hill" Westnedge narrows to a two-way, house lined street with the trees forming a canopy over the street. Going the posted speed limit of 30 MPH seems reasonable. At the spilt, that starts at the top of the hill, the road opens up to a four lane one-way street with no buildings of any kind and the trees cut back at least 30ft from the road. With no braking your vehicle will accelerate to 45 MPH which seems perfectly reasonable. The Police are at the bottom of the hill to inform you that the speed limit is still 30 MPH!

At the fire station right past 9th st. there is one of those traps that tells you how fast your going.

East side of Stadium Drive, across street from WMU in the driveway to the WMU power plant. Hand held radar pointing SW towards Howard Street. Usually standing with 2 or more police vehicles or motorcycles parked there.