Deming, New Mexico Speed Traps

The limit on Pine St (also known as Business 10 or US180) through downtown Deming, NM is understandably 35 MPH. However, that reduced speed limit is carried several miles outside of town on the east side, where its 4 lanes, divided by a grass median and no cross traffic. The local cops setup in this section (near the cemetery) and catch folks who either haven’t slowed down yet (westbound), or sped up a bit too soon (eastbound).

Hwy 11 starts at the Mexico border and goes about 30 miles north to Deming. From about the 5 milepost to just north of the 26 milepost near the intersection of Sunshine Road the limit is 60. But it is the only state highway in NM with which I am familiar that DOES NOT have a “Reduced Speed Ahead” sign. Several large trees on Sunshine Road effectively provide good concealment for Sheriff’s cars who easily can catch folks who have not had time to respond to the now 55 limit. The 55 sign is exactly where the limit changes.
This is only a problem for northbound vehicles.

As you come over the hill eastbound cop is in the median.

2/2008

I was doing 75 (the speed limit) but written up for doing 88. I don’t know what to recommend. These guys (NM Troopers) are crooked and/or incompetent.

I turned onto Hwy 26 to Hatch, NM and geared up to 58 mph, thinking the speed limit was 55 mph. When I saw the 45 mph sign (more than a mile out of town) I slowed down. The cop was sitting there waiting. He lied by saying that the 45-mph sign was one of 3 or 4 such signs that I should have seen, so he had to give me a ticket. He said if it were the only one, he would not give me a ticket. One must enter a plea immediately so I pled guilty, thinking he was telling the truth. ON returning through Deming days later I found that was the ONLY sign. I wrote to MVD in Santa Fe twice asking for reconsideration of my plea on the basis of the lying cop. They never bothered to answer and turned the matter over to Arizona who threatened to revoke my license. No wonder people disrespect cops.
PS, I have no real knowledge of the "level of enforcement" since I don’t live in Deming, NM.