Charlotte, North Carolina Speed Traps

NCSHP park on the N side of the bridge overlooking NB I-85 traffic. Visible to SB I-85 traffic.

This is the four lane road beside South Park Mall, west side. All other four lane roads around South Park and within at least a mile radius are 35 or 45, even at schools (unless flashing lights for 25 MPH). Barclay Downs at South Park continues into a residential area with a well marked 25 MPH and speed bumps, but this section of Barclay is prior to the residential section. This section heading north is the most lightly traveled section of four lane roads surrounding the mall, has wide pedestrian setbacks to very lightly used sidewalks, ample turning lanes and several stop lights. Still the speed limit is only 25. Average traffic speed here is 35 or more. The officer sits at the intersection of Barclay and Carnegie and only picks off drivers coming from South Park. It’s things like this that just irritate the heck out of conscientious drivers.

Between the intersections of Monroe Rd & Washburn Ave, and Monroe Rd and Pecan Ave, there’s a bridge that goes over the road. It has train tracks, and in the morning there might be a train up on it. Cops frequently park by the median and by the columns under the bridge, just waiting for a speeder. There’s a steep hill there, so it’s easy to over-accelerate when you’re coming or going. Usually seen in the afternoons, noon to 5 p.m.

On the right side of the road (coming from E WT Harris), there’s a few churches and a daycare as you approach Independence Blvd.
The Day Care is around a curve so it’s out of sight, and there’s a lot of bushes at the edge of the parking lot. Cops in cars AND motorcycles usually hide out there, or in the parking lot (with lots of trees) of a church that comes just before the daycare.

CMPD car will sit in the Rama Road Elementary parking lot, typically facing south (towards Randolph). He is hidden by trees and hedges, so drivers going towards Randolph will not see him except in their rearview once they pass him. Drivers going north (towards Monroe) usually won’t see him until it is too late since he has a very good field of view from his spot. To avoid a ticket, go no more than 40 MPH (35 MPH zone) when you see the school zone on Rama Road.