Summersville, West Virginia Speed Traps

Summersville City limits are from Mt. Nebo to County High School, about 5 Miles. City Police patrol this area 24 hours a day 7 days a week, they will ticket anyone for speeding. Have worked in this area for past 5 years and have seen it every day. This small town generates 8 million a year from traffic tickets. If you are travelling this route DO NOT SPEED IN SUMMERSVILLE.

Leaving first motel just where the speed limit drops from 65 to 50 traveling north made it through one light and slowed for second that was red.I wasn’t clocked but "paced" at 66 according to very rude city cop.I was ticketed as dozens of WV tags sped past us.If you’re from NC join me in bypassing this this place and save yourself $117.

At intersection at bottom of hill, after you enter city limits,unmarked Crown Vic is parked. As you come down hill, limit changes from 55 MPH to 50MPH without any previous notice. The light is generally green or changes from red to green as you proceed down the hill. Seem to focus on out of state or out of country vehicles. Four cars pulled over at the same time. Marked vehicles move slowly up and down the highway and as you approach, at the prescribed speed, they wave you over. They suggest you were substantially over the limit and ‘benevolently’ offer to reduce the speed shown on the ticket. I am from Ontario and they had first hand knowledge of the point at which you could lose points on your license and reduced the speed to 1 MPH below that point. This is truly a scam given my cruise control was on the prescribed speed. To fight the ticket in court, they set a trial date two weeks after the supposed infraction, and it is unlikely anyone would make the return trip in order to challenge the charge. So it is nothing short of a legalized money grab. WATCH OUT!!

I am a West Virginia native who now lives in South Carolina. I used to live close to Summersville and had to drive through it often. The speed enforcement in Summersville is unrealistic, overbearing, and more concerned with generating revenue than improving safety. My advice to anyone going through Summersville via U.S. Route 19 would be to drive about 45 MPH in the 50 MPH zone. It’s only about 3 miles long, so it goes by quickly. The local Barney Fifes dearly love out-of-staters, especially the Canadians. It really makes my blood boil to think these overbearing cops are giving people the wrong impression of West Virginia, which is a state beautiful in landscape, heritage, and culture.

Speed limit drops from 65 to 50 without previous warning. Local police are stationed just inside 50 mph indicator. WV cars are speeding by while out of state drivers are cited without recourse. I will not frequent WV again and I urge everyone to boycott WV in every way possible. Its not the cost that is paramount, but the fascist tactics of these people that must be addressed.