Chatham, Virginia Speed Traps
On US 29 and business 29
The city police patrol US 29 business with radar guns. The county sheriffs office is contracted with the city to patrol US 29, around the city, with their radar cars 24/7. The speed limit is up and down and they love it. Most nights there is 3 or 4 cars. Beyond this point the state police are heavy all the way to Lynchburg.
Tightsqueeze Rd.
Exiting 29 west onto Tightsqueeze Rd there are no speed limit signs until the 25mph school zone at the High School. . Exiting the zone, another sign says to "Resume Speed". As there is no sign saying what that speed is, and were you to follow Virgina code that states that 55mph is the limit for umarked roads, you will be 10 mph over . About a mile down the next sign is the suprise, being "End 45mph zone"! If using a radar detector you’ll get a K band ADO (automatic door opening) alert passing the Food Lion …..
Town of Chatham
Exiting 29 North on the Chatham exit the speed limit drops to 35mph. Then 25 mph shortly afterwards. As this road is through rolling hills, unmarked crusers can be found on the blind side of these hills working Ka band radar as drivers crest and begin their descent. Their principle roosting of late has been near the National Guard armory, but as there is a cop shop only a short distance down the road, and in the town proper this is subject to change. Suggest using a radar detector, and keep it out of sight if using this exit to pick up 57 for Martinville…
State Highway 29
Law enforcement officers from Chatham (Pittslyvania County)near the VA/NC border set up their traps in 55 mph zones. Because State Highway 29 has many alternating 65 and 55 mph zones in Pittslyvania County, if you miss the change fro 65 to 55 you are vulnerable. The officers set up at the base of a hill, and if you were driving 65 in a 65 and missed the change to 55, at the bottom of the hill it’s easy to be at 72-73….and thus well over the 55 limit. I was one of many they flagged, and (stupidly)I failed to pay attention and got nailed at the same spot again. I wasn’t even TRYING to speed, just missed the shift in speed limit.