I travel this road north & south 5 days a week @ peak traffic time & disagree that it is a speed trap. I've rarely seen anyone pulled over, let alone seeing any speed traps. The speed limit was reduced in this area because of the large amount of traffic due to the increased amount of businesses in the area. Also, this portion of the road was widened to 3 lanes; therefore I-79 between the mentioned mile markers transitions from 2 lanes to 3 lanes & back to 2 lanes; therefore, a slower speed really is well-advised.

There is no contractual agreement between the State Police and DOH, this section of interstate is annexed by the two cities to to obtain properties on the opposite sides of the highway. No they do not do snow removal on the interstate, but they also do not do snow removal on certain city streets that run through their cities because they are still considered state highway. Should they not enforce traffic laws on these streets? The eight mile section of interstate is not evenly divided, Clarksburg has from the on/off ramp at around the 118.5 for U.S. Route 50 to the Simpson Creek Bridge at around the 120.5 mile marker, which the speed limit is 65mph in both directions. Bridgeport has from around the 120.5 to the 125 mile marker, the speed limit northbound from the 120.5 to about the 122 mile marker just prior to the rest area is 65mph then increases to 70mph. Southbound the speed limit between these mile markers is 70mph. In speaking with Clarksburg officers the general answer was that they do not do alot of traffic enforcement on the interstate, but do alot of accident reports for a short section of highway. In speaking with Bridgeport officers some of the officers stated they do traffic on the interstate because alot of the drugs that come in to their city comes from the north into the local hotels, some officers stated they do traffic enforcement, because most of their fatal accidents have happened between the 121 and the 125 mile markers, and the accidents have been speed related or a combination of speed and distracted driving. All the officers (Clarksburg and Bridgeport)stated that they give quite a bit over the posted speed limit (9 to 10mph) most stated they look for aggresive driving (lane to lane, speed in relation to other vehicles). It appears as though both cities do the accident reports on the interstate which means when you wreck from speeding while texting while changing your radio station, they have to do the report for your insurance and the report sounds quite long. The locations the Clarksburg officers gave for their traffic enforcement are all in the 65mph zone. The location the Bridgeport officers stated they do traffic enforcement are north of the 121 and mostly in the 70mph zone around the 123 to the125 mile marker (there is only one cross over in the 65mph and thats north just after the 121mile marker). As for the multi-million dollar "municipal" buildings, Clarksburgs building was built over twelve years ago, a few years after their city saw a large expansion in business and their old building needed condemned. Bridgeport's new building was an existing structure that was renovated and their new public safety complex was built to house an expansion of the fire dept. to better serve their citizens due to growth geographiclly. My personal opinion and experience is that if your traveling between 70 and 75mph and your using common sense you'll be left alone. If your passing everybody, zipping lane to lane, your probably gonna get stopped. If it's so terrible to run the speed limit, go talk to some of the family members of those killed on I-79 and see how bad it could be.

If you want to stop this B.S. of city cops ticketeing federal highways sue them for impersonating a state police officer since the state police are the only one's allowed by a contract between the Fed. gov. and the state and the state cannot give this to the cities without the Fed. agreeing. It dosen't matter about what they annexed because they still don't own the Federal highway and can't give themselves jurisdiction over it. If police were actually interested in the safety of others they wouldn't write tickets for fines, your punishment would be jail. They only care about the money!!! The previous comments must have been written by cops or their family members defending their abuse of power trip.

I too travel this stretch of highway 5 days a week and I can honestly say that there is rarely a day that I DO NOT see at least 1 Bridgeport City Police cruiser either running radar or in the process of writing a ticket. My father is a retired WV State Police Officer with nearly 25 years of service and I have to say that I am disappointed that the presence of troopers on our highways has greatly declined over recent years. They do serve a purpose, and that is to ensure we drive at safe speeds determined by the state and federal governments. That being said, it makes me sick to my stomach to see these city police officers out on our highways, writing tickets as a source of income for their communities. (See Bridgport and Summersville.) I saw them cycling 3 different cruisers through a speed trap near the Jerry Dove exit last week. This isnt about safety, although they easily spin it that way. This is about ego, power and revenue. Get a life City Kitties! !

It just amazes me to see 3 cruisers day in and out in that section of highway & then to hear Bridgeport defend they are doing it for public safety. Of all the drug & other problems we have in Clarksburg & Bridgeport I could think of a lot better use for law enforcement. All I can do is not support any Bridgeport business as long as they continue this practice. I am all for controlling the speeds on our Interstates but not by the City setting up speed traps.