All-members alert. The State of Alabama is running a speed trap on I-20 east of Birmingham, between Mile 144 and Mile 163. The area is hilly and wooded, with poor visibility and lots of hiding places. From Mile 144 to 158 is a perpetual construction area with a 55 speed limit. The rest is a 60 zone, arbitrarily reduced from 70 for "safety".

The state is broke. To save money, the Troopers are about 100 below authorized staffing, and there are NO troopers patrolling other parts of the state between about 9 PM and 5 AM. But the speed trap is always fully staffed because it makes money.

If you get a ticket there, your case goes to the District Court in St. Clair County. There are only two ways to beat a ticket in this court. If the cop doesen’t show, the judge may dismiss it – or he may keep you sitting there for two hours to give the cop time to get there, like he did me. The other way is to get elected to the State Legislature – they exempted themselves.