The speed limit drops drastically from 70 mph to 35 mph in a VERY short space and WELL prior to town. After noting the “Reduced Speed Ahead” sign I disengaged the cruise control and was “coasting” to a lower speed while following the two vehicles ahead of me. I was in town and at the posted speed limit of 35 MPH before I noticed the Police SUV with no siren but flashing lights behind me.
The officer asked for my driver’s license and his next words were “You blew by me at 72 MPH in a 35” and stated that he was going to write me a ticket. He offered an opportunity to refuse the citation but after driving from Arkansas en route to a family reunion in Cloudcroft with my wife and three grandchildren in the car, I was not prepared to be “held in custody until taken to appear before judge when one becomes available” as is stated on the back of the citation. It’s a no win.

Because I have cruise control and a Garmin GPS that registers speed, and I was “coasting” to a slower speed, I have no doubt that the 72 MPH allegation was totally false. Unfortunately, I was the last of three vehicles, the easiest one to stop AND I had an out of state license tag. He did not ask to see Registration or Proof of Insurance, he only asked the year model of the vehicle and seems obvious that he was only interested in getting the information and complete the paperwork required to collect the $229.00. The situation occurred on Thursday July 14th 2011, however, the date on the citation was July 13, 2011 when while I was traveling from Beebe, AR and remained overnight in Elk City, OK. Perhaps he didn’t make his previous day’s quota.

During my return in the opposite direction on the same highway a few days later, I reviewed the west bound signs and observed that it is highly impossible after passing the “Reduced Speed Ahead” sign to reduce from 70 MPH to 35 MPH posted sign without significant braking.

This is but another example of Highway Robbery in small town rural America