Elloree, South Carolina Speed Traps

Traveling south on State Hwy 47/ Cleveland Street posted speed limit is 55 mph. Driving past large stand of trees (Planted Pines) speed suddenly becomes 30 mph in front of Fire Station. There is no posted "Reduced Speed Ahead" signs of any kind prior to sudden posted speed change. City of Elloree police employ two unmarked cars, one black late model Impala "Darth Vader" unit with black rims window tinting and bank of concealed blue strobes under front visors and one white Ford Crown Victoria. Police units hide concealed behind trees on left side of street at Ulmer Street. Sudden 25 mph drop in speed with no posted speed reduction zone from 55 mph makes getting a ticket a certainty for out of state drivers. State Hwy 47/ Cleveland Street is an alternative route to the Santee State Park used by many visitors. Upon challenging police officer regarding signage and tactics, including request to verify and see any speed "lock in" on radar in patrol car incident officer became a hostile and confrontational to the point of threatening to arrest by inference and intimidation. Ticket written for 52 mph in a 30 mph zone for $180 fine. Maximum fine allowed by SC State Statute 56-5-1520 reads Sec G-3(3) in excess of fifteen miles an hour but less than twenty-five miles an hour above the posted limit by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than seventy-five dollars. Although officer claimed to have been following me from "past the fire station", after recieving the ticket I drove back to area beyond this and saw that this was a practical impossibility. This officer simply saw that I had a North Carolina tag and pulled up behind me when I pulled over near the intersection of State Hwy 6 and 47 to look at my road atlas to confirm directions.