Bristol, Tennessee Speed Traps

At the bottom of the hill, just as you see the 25 mile an hour sign, many times a policecar is hidden at the next street right in the curve and it is hard to see him. Hardly anyone goes 25 miles an hour on this street, especially having to come down such a long hill.

City, County, and State all sit in a small valley in the median of the freeway. There is a 3% grade coming down into this spot from either direction. The speed limit is 55 with a design speed of 75. It is an excellent catch-all with no street lights and it is very rural on this stretch of highway. It is two miles north of the back entrance to Bristol Motor Speedway. A real boon for police to catch the tourists/fans.

The officers sit in the parking lot of the former Rex building on the Volunteer Parkway (US-11E) and wait for speeders. It is nearly impossible to see them until they’ve already got you on radar. It is a fairly well known trap locally, and cops seem to be backing off of the site somewhat as of late. They are also often located directly across the street radaring traffic in the opposing lanes.

Virginia State Police are very concentrated along this stretch of interstate, especially at the Tennessee state line. As you cross from Tennessee into Virginia the speed limit drops 5mph, and they are in unmarked cars waiting on those who don’t immediately reduce speed. Very high fines for small infractions.

2.5 miles up island rd. in gravel parking lot or in island rd. Faith Baptist Church parking lot. (Island Rd. off 11 West across from Exson)