Hillsboro, Oregon Speed Traps

they employed a radar cop and 2 chase cars when they got me. There were so many cars pulled over traffic was backed up almost to the esplanade.

Most people that live west of Portland on the way to the coast know about this one. Police cars like to sit on the overpass (that is extra wide, probably for this reason) and radar people. I’ve learned to look for them every time but it’s a good idea to slow to about 60 when going under the overpass anyway, just in case. Most of the time they are clocking the back of your car, so typically you can see them first, but not always. They are there randomly and regularly during rush hours and when it’s dark (there aren’t any lights in the area since it’s pretty rural).

Seems odd, since you’re pretty far outside of civilization at that point. But the speed limit is still 55. Generally, after you get past 185th (exit 64) going west it’s a good idea to slow when you get to the overpasses, as the police are up there against the opposite side waiting to clock you.

Usually coincides with AM & PM rush hour traffic. Road is posted 55 with traffic usually running at 65-70. Typically it is the Washington County (in Oregon) Sheriff using saturation patrol but not always. I have seen from 3 to 10 officers working this route from Cornelius Pass road to Shute road and sometimes a bit beyond. Enforcement is somewhat intermittent, they will focus on the area for a week or more and then be gone for a few weeks. Mostly using radar (forgot which band), occasionally laser.
The officers like to sit on top of the Shute road overpass or just west of the Cornelius Pass road overpass, behind bushes or overpass structures (and hiding behind the overpass signs as well).
Getting a reduction for going to court has become almost a thing of the past as the local governments are looking to squeeze money out of anything or anyone they can get their hands on. Be ready for a serious battle when you go to court, with the judge obviously favoring the prosecution.

SE 32nd St in Hillsboro runs south from E Main St, turns into SE Cypress St which then exits at the Sunset Esplanade at SE TV Hwy. The entire length of this road is posted at 25 mph because of the number of cul-de-sacs that directly open up on SE Cypress and the driveways on SE 32nd, itself. The result is a residential side-street that looks capable of handling higher-speed traffic. Police generally sit along Cypress St in one of the cul-de-sacs. You will notice that the local traffic here ALWAYS does the speed limit or just a hair above it: that should be a big clue.

The section of Evergreen Rd between Shute Rd and 25th Ave, has a posted Speed Limit of 45. Untill Dec of 2003, the limit was at 50, in Jan 2004 the limit was lowered to 45, without any justification. Typically the speed limits are decided based on a survey, the survey for this section of the Rd. shows that the correct speed limit should be 50. The cops usually hide in a parking lot near the Shute Rd intersection. It is typical to find upto 6 cop cars on some days when they decide to generate tickets for typically 15 over the limit.