As you travel north on HWY 17 just at the north end of NMB, speed limit is 45mph until you cross the ICW. It then goes to 50mph. When you exit off to travel on HWY 9 east, the speed limit drops suddenly to 40mph with for no apparent reason (same type of highway, same traffic loads, etc.). There is only one sign indicating this new speed zone – and the zone only lasts for about a half mile or so. Both the SC Highway Patrol as well as the Horry County Police are taking the opportunty to catch unsuspecting travelers surpassing the 40mph limit. While the 40mph limit "may" be reasonable through this area, there really needs to be additional signage indicating the "Reduced Speed Ahead". Please join me in calling the SCDOT at this number: 843-661-4710 to report the need for either more signage in this area to indicate the lower limit … or for a request to research why the speed limit is 40mph. For the record, I do not make it a habit of speeding nor have I been pulled. I have just noticed aggresive patrolling of this area and in my view the lack of appropriate signage seems to point to more of a speed trap rather than a genuine concern for public saftey.