Kiowa, Oklahoma Speed Traps

We were driving northbound early in the morning from Dallas to the Buffalo River in Arkansas. My truck was heavily loaded down with over a weeks supply of food & gear, including a canoe, so we could not stop quickly. We saw the posted 70mph sign despite the darkness, but missed the 60mph sign. The next sign we saw seconds later was 50mph, and I immediately let off the accelerator, only to see another sign right after that 40mph. I hit the brakes and was slowing down, but it was too late.
The officer took my DL and did not return for over half an hour! He stated that the computer reported my vehicle stolen! Even if that was true; I was driving the vehicle and it was registered in my name! He apologized for holding us up for almost 45 minutes and then handed me my ticket!

I entered the town of Kiowa, Oklahoma driving southbound toward Dallas in the left lane of traffic when a vehicle cut in between me and another truck driving in the right lane. Immediately after being cut off, I was pulled over for tailgating. My speed was 37 MPH, and the vehicle that had cut me off was doing well above the speed limit and didn’t even use his turn signal. When I asked what I was being pulled over for, the officer was extremely rude and told me to shut up. I couldn’t even explain my side. I did NOTHING wrong and still received a ticket! I don’t know if I was suppose to receive a hard copy of the ticket, but I did not. I don’t know the officer’s information, I don’t know what I actually got the ticket for, and I would really like to know my price to pay for doing everything right! I was pulled over three years ago in this same town for speeding amidst their usual speed traps. I chose to go to court to fight that first ticket, but was less than impressed at how the officials in this town had each other’s backs. Nothing I said was even heard. It was very frustrating! Bottom line… I GOT A TICKET FOR DOING NOTHING WRONG KIOWA!!!

As stated by others, the speed limits drop rapidly and increase rapidly as you go into and out of town. I had already been through 3 or 4 other speed traps in small towns along Highway 69 on Sunday morning after Thanksgiving, being careful to follow limits. In Kiowa, officer was driving southbound into town as I was driving northbound out of town going through the progressions of 50 to 60 to 70 mph signs (you can see all of them at once they are so close). He cited me for driving 70 in the 50 mph zone. I might have been doing 70 as I was exiting the 60 mph zone into the 70 mph zone, but was in a packed to the gills Ford Explorer with a family of 5 onboard – not a recipe for rapid acceleration. I am retired military and was very respectful, answered his questions and didn’t even attempt to argue as I knew he would just put a code on my ticket that would tell the prosecutor not to amend it (I’m also an attorney). I’m not sure why, but the police officer was very rude and seemed to be trying to provoke me, but I just stayed very passive and polite. In the end, since I’ve got a completely clean driving record, I just paid the ticket rather than paying them a dime extra to have it amended. Beware Kiowa.

Every other town along this highway to the north had posted speed signs at 35, 45,55,65,70 until you get to kiowa. Theirs were 35, 45, 50, 60, 70. Seems to me the state of Oklahoma should look into standardizing their speed limits. I cant understand why this podunk needs to be different than everybody else. Can you say SPEED TRAP>

Apparently, the speed trap is the primary source of revenue for the town of only 200 families. The cops claim they use radar – a bit of fiction. When you go through Kiowa go at least five miles below the speed limit well before you enter the town and use your turn signal any time you change lanes. Be very aware of “construction zone” signs. Although there is no construction going on the signs remain in place so the fines can be doubled. If you plead not guilty and the cop does not appear for the hearing the judge will reschedule the hearing so the cop can be there. Payments must arrive in the court (not postmarked) by the date of the hearing.