Arlington, Virginia Speed Traps

Heading South on Walter Reed Dr. just before King Street (where it becomes Beauregard and Alex City) AM and PM traps during the rush.

In the Pm at the light just before King St. motorcycle cops park on a bike path just off the street on the right. The cop comes out to the street to hit you with the radar/laser.

In the Am as soon as you cross King St. the cops park their motorcycle to right in a small parking lot for the condos and will step out onto the street to hit you with radar/laser.

Watch out on Walter Reed Dr. because they move to a couple different spots but I have listed the most common.

Going S. on George Mason from Washington Blvd. light, (Lacey Woods Park on right side), long flat stretch of George Mason is easy to get up to 40, they will walk out from side street (right before I-66 overpass) and laser you. They got somebody coming up BEHIND my wife.

Going north on South George Mason Drive after you cross King Street, you go down a short decline to Wakefiled HS. Then there is a short incline that you HAVE to give it gas to get up, then a long gentle decline with even if you coast you pick up speed. The limit is 30mph. At the bottom of the incline is the police car, often with the hood of the trunk raised to hide the lights on top. Or it’s a motorcycle. They give out tickets right and left at this site. Sometimes they are working the other side of the street as well on the evening traffic back.

Heading east on Columbia Pike, at S. Rolph St, at the exit ramp to I-395 (just up the hill from the Pentagon and Navy Annex); police use LIDAR at the bottom of a 200 ft drop in about 1/4 mile along a 4 lane main artery leading to the Pentagon. The speed limit is 30 MPH. Even coasting you have to ride your brake all the way to the bottom of this 5-7% grade or you will dramatically pick up speed. Also, to safely merge with freeway traffic at the entrance ramp (where they set up LIDAR at the corner of Rolph St) you need to go at least 40 MPH to establish a safe merge speed. Police are particularly prevalent around the last week of the month. An officer will hand-hold a lidar "gun," and he or she usually has chase cars at the ready on the side streets. The fines are the highest in the Nation (as of July 1st). VA resident can receive $3550 penalty for 15 MPH over. If speed is less than 20 MPH over it is an "infraction" and you do not have typical defendant "rights." For example, you have no right of "discovery" because it is not "criminal." Barriers to appeal are very steep in Virginia. I classify Arlington traffic courts as "kangaroo," due to the steep barriers to appeal and absence of a prosecutor in court (the judge "acts" as prosecutor), and no rights of discovery (to check on equipment calibration).

really all along gorge mason … watch out comming right down the hill. Apply Your Breaks!