I used to live in McMinn County just to the north of Benton. I drove through Benton on a daily basis to and from work. It was always common knowledge of their bogus speed traps to the locals. In years past they used to confiscate personal property from out-of-staters to insure their court appearance until the state courts stepped in and told them it was unlawful. Now my personal encounter with the Benton City police occurred early one morning as I was on my way to work. The police cruiser was sitting under a gas station canopy at the south end of the city limits as I was heading south on 411. I was already outside the city limits and following a slow vehicle when I pulled out to pass in a legal passing zone. Wasn’t long until I saw the blue lights come on and I thougth this cop was an idiot persuing me after I had already left the city limits and even though I exceeded the 55 speed limit to complete the pass it wasn’t the speed he was pulling me over for. When he approached my vehicle I informed him he was out of his jurisdiction to which he replied he could go anywhere in the state and stop me. I knew this to not be true so I let him do his thing and write a ticket for improper passing. Later in the day I contacted my friends with the state patrol who told me he could not go anywhere and told me to inform the judge I was outside the city when he claimed the infraction occurred. Like other postings have stated it’s a kangaroo court with the Mayor’s wife sitting silent and the police detective conducting court. The detective said to me that his officer "would not have pulled you over if you were not guilty". Cost me $98.00 and if it weren’t for the fact I was moving out of state in less than a month I would have posted the $200 bond they wanted to take it to a higher court and a lawsuit just to finally put them in their place for all the wrongs they have commited against mostly Georgia travelers through this town.