Matoaka, West Virginia Speed Traps
Rt 10 west of Princeton
The town is located at the bottom of a long grade with the speed limit being 55, at the bottom of the grade it drops to 40 and in a short distance drops to 25. there is only 1 speed limit sign as you come into town that states 25. The local police dept. sits and hides to trap out of state and out of town drivers. It’s common knowledge that if you know someone in the present administration you can have your ticket dropped or reduced to improper equipment. The towns budget for the police dept. was funded by tickets until the town recieved the 4th largest grant in the state for $516,000.00 for entry level officers. The town has hired and fired a total of 17 officers since 1998. The present Chief being paid $15,000.00 a year has no experiance and none of the officers or Chief have been to the Academy to be certifide to be police officers. For a town of 313 from the last census taken this seems to be common knowledge that you don’t speed unless you know or have pull in city hall. Crimes of arson and drugs are overlooked with the Mayor te3lling the complaintives that nothing can be done that they need more evidence after pictures and video tapes have been provided. It’s more important for the officers to radar than to protect the citizens from crime is the feeling the people get. Questions loom because of the secrecy of the running of the dept. The council states that the Mayor runs the dept. and the council has nothing to do with running or over seeing the dept. With computor systems from grant money not installed for the officers to use and make thier job easier doing paper work all wonders where the money or laptop went. If you drive through drive 20 mph or you will pay a fine.