Fairview, Pennsylvania Speed Traps

Fairview Twp. officers sit on the entrance ramp of interchange 38 south (Reeser Summit) from the hours of 10 pm to 2 am (or later) when traffic volume is low enough to single out people "driving at excessive speeds" often in the 65 to 75 mph range.

There are white lines (faded) painted on the concrete medians, one line just prior to the entrance ramp (plainly visible), and one approx 75 yards north (prior to the exit).

Stopwatches and/or VASCAR are used to time cars between these lines.

Exit 38 is situated directly in the middle of a 55 mph sign (.8 miles prior) and a 65 mph zone (1 mile following) and they use this legal gray area to write tickets for 55 mph instead of the common assumption of 65 mph, which allows increased penalties and fines.

Officers will attempt to intimidate you by stating that you are being audio recorded to prevent you from asking for a zero-point lesser charge. Tickets can’t be changed to PA 3111A citations after they have been filed in the presiding district so ask before the officer leaves!

If you plead not guilty and show up for the trial *without counsel*, you will be greeted by the arresting officer and escorted into a private room where the officer will attempt to get you to admit guilt and if that doesn’t work, offering you "a deal" of reduced points so that they do not have to go to trial.

Do your research and bring copies of prior traffic dockets (available online from pa court system) which have "Summary Trial" listed on them and have guilty pleas or guilty verdicts as they will try to "high-ball" the deal unless you counter offer.

Do not accept the argument that zero point pleas are disallowed, do your homework and find one (made by that officer) that was accepted!

Note that new dockets are not filed after a plea or verdict so make sure you look for dockets that have trials scheduled, print them out, and then recheck those docket numbers after the trial date to see the result.

You have have the most bargaining edge if you can show the charge before plea in relation to the charge after plea.

Warning:

They are prepared and have much documentation so if you contest, get a traffic attorney to do the negotiating/trial or you *will* be getting points + fines.

Also, timing devices bear identification numbers similar to patrol cars so do not assume that the device was the police vehicle!

The only point that they do not have documentation of is proof that the enforcement area is indeed 55 mph.

They sit at the west end of the hill in a residence driveway with radar.

The speed limit drops from 40 going eastbound and 45 going westbound to 35 mph. They sit in a hidden driveway where they mostly watch eastbound traffic at the start of the 35 mph zone.
There is a secondary road they sit on near the curve in the road in that zone also.
Don’t speed up until you can see the 45 mph sign.

Driving from Avonia Road West on Route 20 the speed limit is only 35mph going up the hill. It’s hard to drive that slow going up the hill and often people are ticketed there for speeds of 45-50mph.

I am not sure where the police sit, but I got caught. This speed trap is near my church, and one night during a meeting there were at least 5 people nabbed.