I usually run with a good radar detector. But one morning, my girlfriend tempted me with her turbocharged Volvo. So, I drove it with no detector through Clear Lake Shores. It got away from me as I was contemplating finding some fresh coffee.

These kind folks have a great little money-maker set up in a very short stretch of highway 2094 just outside of Kemah. The area is only about two city blocks long (their jurisdiction). It fronts along a stretch that has a shopping center on the south side (Target and Home Depot with a few smaller stores and fast food restaurants along the street).

At times of heavy traffic (rush hours, for instance) a cruiser is consistantly patrolling back and forth along this stretch (with moving K band radar). Key to their success is that the speed limit in this zone is 40 mph which is 5 mph below the zones that bracket it! They only allow a 10% overage before ticketing. So, if you’re going 45, you’re target ticket material.

One thing to note is that if you do get a ticket, they have "deferred adjudication" as an option. But you have to ask the city clerk about it. It isn’t shown on the ticket. That is like "a prayer for judgement" in some other states. You pay a slightly higher fee to the city clerk directly, and your ticket and record are wiped clean… no report to the state or to your insurer. It isn’t cheap… my ticket for going 55 in the 40 was deferred for a total of $238!

Happy Motoring!