Smithers, West Virginia Speed Traps

I posted information about this speed trap last year and the only thing that has changed recently is their new deceptive tactic of catching you. Since my jan 2010 encounter, I have run a premium radar detector every trip on this route and it is a life saver.

However, to those motorists who choose not to run a detector, Smithers has a new weapon in speed detection to catch you. Between the Smithers township and the Catholic church is a nice straight stretch where Smithers doesn’t write too many tickets because most of it is posted 55 and you can see the police car before he can get radar lock in most cases. In early february of 2011, I ran by the wide spot on this staight stretch and just as the speed limit went from 40 to 55 my Escort went crazy. I looked everywhere for this bogy. What looked like a broke down Envoy or Trailblazer in this wide area was a Smithers city police officer with a radar gun. The vehicle had private WV tags, the person in the drivers seat was uniformed, and there was a blue light in the windshield. The vehicle did not look anything like a police vehicle so please just be warned, don’t speed through this town.

I have been running this route to work and back five days a week for about eight years. I generally drive my VW new beetle and set my cruise at 35 which is 5 miles below the posted limit. However, due to snow, I was not able to get the bug out of my driveway for 3 weeks and had to take my blue Ford F-150 to work and back daily and it is not equipped with cruise. On the morning of January 7, 2010, I was traveling east on U.S. Route 60 and an officer was traveling west in a white Jeep with no markings other than a blue light bar on top. At the point of Dales Photography we met and since I had no cruise and was not paying close attention I was traveling at 50 which is 10 over. I looked into my mirror and seen him touch his brakes but not blue lights so I thought I was in the clear. The speed limit goes to 55 about 1/4 mile past the point I met this officer so I accelerated to the speed limit. When I got to Boomer, I slowed to 45 and as I pulled into the Go-Mart in Alloy for gas, I looked into my mirror to see a white jeep running at a high rate of speed with it blue lights on. The officer cited me while I pumped gas into my pickup in Alloy. I know that a local officer can persue out of his jurisdiction to make a traffic stop but I’m not sure if he can travel two miles out of his jurisdiction to initiate the stop.

I did not fight the ticket for jurisdiction because I’m sure that my story and the officer’s would probably be different and I’m sure that it’s a no brainer whose word would be the loudest in court. In addition, they did reduce the fine to 43 with no points. The locals say the Smithers jurisdiction ends at the large Catholic Church in Boomer but that in not true, it ends about 1/4 mile west of the church. I have not run a radar detector for 15 years because I have realy tried to be in compliance and it worked well until I met this officer in Smithers. So I purchased an Escort Passport 8500 x50 and a uniden beartracker a few days ago – well worth the money. If I had that Escort on Jan 7, the officer would have had no reason to run that Jeep so hard to catch me all the way in Alloy, WV, well out of his Smithers jurisdiction.

Also beware that a Smithers police officer used radar on me west of their Jurisdiction underneath the overpass that takes you across the river to Montgomery. Maybe he had no intention of enforcing that 50mph speed zone but I’m sure that Mongomery probably needs the help. Yes, I’m paying attention to what you are doing down there now.

Traveling West, If you miss the speed limit signs in the curve you will be in the trap. Parked in the weeds where you can’t see him unless you get a heads up from your detector. But even then it’s too late. Fine is $125. Radar is ignored and speed reduced to43 mph if you pay. No points, and it don’t show on your insurance. The Town motto is "Watch the growth". If you get a ticket here you will know what they are growing on.

Sitting at East End of Rt. US Hwy 60 on Sunday mornings.

5/2008

It is very important to maintain the speed limit through out the township of Smithers. The law enforcement may be waiting just out of sight (behind a conveinence store, fast food restaurant, etc.) When you see the sign post just out of the township that reads 55mph, don’t speed up until you get past the sign…..!