South Bend, Washington Speed Traps

Noticed last weekend July 6 that the south bend police had two cars and three road pirates near the boat lunch on hwy between A & D streets. As soon as they write one they pull over someone else and then give them a piece of paper demanding money.

Heading south on Hwy 101 the speed goes from 55-40-30 in .4 miles. I saw the I was approaching the town and saw the 30mph. I tapped the brake to turn off the cruise control which was set a 58 to slow down before the 30mph sign. A South Bend patrolman passed me going North and pulled a u-turn behind me. Clocked me doing 52 in the 40mph zone as I was slowing down for the 30mph zone. Small coastal town a long way away from home so no way it’s worth the $113 to return and fight it.

Heading North on HWY 101 from Hwy 4, about a mile before South Bend, the speed limit changes from 55 to 40 to 30 mph. This is a HEAVILY patrolled area. State Patrol AND local police hide in driveways and other areas. Today I counted 6 patrol cars (each giving tickets) between Raymond and South Bend. Avoid South Bend and Raymond entirely if you can. They give tickets for 3-4 miles over the speed limit. This is a cash-strapped area and the speeder or anyone violating the traffic laws will be stopped.

I was heading south driving in the 30mph zone. I saw a 40mph sign and just a little passed the sign I saw a cop car. I double checked my speed limit which said 40mph (in which I was now in the 40mph zone) so I didn’t even slow down when I passed the cop car….sure enough I got pulled over.

Cop said he clocked me going 41mph in a 30mph zone. I said “no sir, I was going 40mph in a 40 zone. He proceeds to tell me that he was parked “right at the 40mph sign” [which is a pure lie…he was parked well beyond the sign] and that I speed up too quickly. When I asked to see the radar gun reading, he wouldn’t let me see it…in fact I’m willing to bet a grand that he didn’t even use a gun to radar me based on the position of his car.

I then said…so basically this is a speed trap for out of towners to rip them off….and he said “yes.” If I didn’t live more than a days drive from this place I would absolutely contest (only for the sole fact that I don’t believe he radar gunned me).

We drove between 25 mph AND 28 mph, I got wrote up for doing 35 mph in a 30 mph ,, 113 DOLLAR TICKET!