Clearfield, Utah Speed Traps

On 1500 East, just north of the curve transitioning from 2250 North in Layton, there is a new strip mall that has just been completed. The speed limit here has been reduced to 25 northbound and 30 southbound, which is rediculous as there is very little traffic and no homes until further north. Police like to hide behind the strip mall which hides them from traffic travelling both directions. They also often sit in the driveway just south of there, obstructed from northbound view by a smaller building. Watch your speed here–25 may seem too slow, but they’ll get you.

The officers will radar cars headed eastbound by sitting in the parking lot south of the Domino’s. They tag people westbound sitting in the heating/cooling business parking lot that is just east of Main Street in Clearfield where SR193 ends. There is no pattern to the time since I saw people pulled over constantly. It’s an easy stretch to get people because the posted limit before you reach I-15 on SR193 is 55 mph. Once you pass I-15 headed westbound, the speed limit changes to 35 mph. I witnessed most tickets to the westbound drivers.

This one is a little sneaky. This trap is just after the "Clinton/Clearfield" exit if you are travling North. When you see "Motel 8" and "Taco Bell", you know you are close. Whats tricky is that I think they can tag you as you make it over the apex of the hill. If you are heading South, it will be after the "Roy City" exit. There are no real reference points to know when you are close when heading in this direction. As far as I have seen, they will usually face the north bound side. I have not seen very many cops here, but they will park there from time to time. As far as how sensitive they are, I haven’t seen to many cars pulled over here. But it is still a trap that is used.

Turning off S. R. 193 you begin a downhill descent that also has a couple of sweeping corners prior to reaching a straight stretch in the road. There is one 25 mph sign right after you leave the highway but before you enter the curves. The patrolman parks just past the last curve which was not visible from above and that is where you are nailed. There is a nice wide spot just past where the officer parks for the offender to pull into. They really have thought of everything. If you are going the opposite direction the speed limit is 30 mph up to the highway. This is a commercial area going to a retail/commercial area with very little evening traffic. The patrolman was there for at least 3 hours the evening I received my ticket. The fine is roughly $11.00 per mile over the limit. I am from out of state and that was my first ticket since 1982. Family in the Clearfield, UT area say that this is a typical set up.

The Clearfiled, Utah officers actually park one block beyond the Clearfield City limits, just into Layton, Utah, on the Layton part of the street. They park in the cover of darkness on the west side of the street, headed south. They are actually monitoring behind themselves, with radar.

2000 East is a wide street from Utah State Highway 193 (700 South)headed south. A one-car-width, center-pavement area is delineated by white paint lines, at each edge. There are traffic lanes to each side of this center area and the route leads past the Davis campus of Weber state University, and large business offices. There are no residences along the Clearfield portion of this road and all buildings have setbacks of 100 foot or greater. All of these circumstances lead one to feel the speed limit would be 35 mph, at minimum.

A 25 mph sign is placed on Angel Street (700 South) immediately after turning off of State Highway 193. State Highway 193 is actually a city feeder-street to and from I-15). Watch youself when driving this section of road, especially at night, as it is a revenue and quota generator for Clearfild city and it’s officers. Even if they write you for 0-10 mph over, the fine is $82. 11 to 15 mph over is $107, and 16 to 20 mph over is 157.