The sound of sirens and the sight of blinding flashing lights in the rearview mirror may bring fear, anger, anxiety or nervousness to almost any motorist. But since the development of www.speedtrap.org by the National Motorists Association, these negative emotions could possibly be avoided.
The speed trap Web site allows visitors to post specific roadways where they believe speed traps are located. The site considers a speed trap to be a location where police regularly station themselves to detect speeding motorists in an area where the speed limit is “grossly under-posted and universally ignored.”
Postings for all 50 states and numerous cities within those states can be found on the site.
Along with each posting, individuals must include several pieces of information, including the city and roadway locations and the level and type of enforcement.
The site lists the level of enforcement as some, moderate or high and lists the type of enforcement as radar, laser or airplane enforcement.
Some University students have already discovered the site. Patrick Spikes, business sophomore, said he is familiar with the site. He said one posting for the Baton Rouge area is located along a roadway where he regularly drives.
In the month of November alone, 11 postings of speed traps have been posted for the Baton Rouge area.
One location near campus that has been posted twice on the site is located on LSU Avenue, off Highland Road, south of campus. According to one posting, police use radar detectors at this site a few days a week from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. The other posting said officers are located on this roadway during the afternoon rush hour using a level of high enforcement.
Though many people believe speed traps do exist, Louisiana State Police Capt. Jim Mitchell said the state police never intentionally set up a speed trap. He said their goal simply is to enforce the speed limit to protect motorists, and ultimately save lives.
Mitchell also said this Web site does not affect the state police’s enforcement activity. He also said to his knowledge, the site is in no way illegal.
Although both Mitchell and Spikes are familiar with the site, not all individuals have been informed about it.
Kyle Cantrell, finance junior, said he has not heard of the site before. But he said he plans to check it out and tell others about it.
Cantrell said he thinks this site possibly could lead to safer driving because individuals who know about speed trap locations may slow their vehicles down in those areas.
The National Motorists Association was founded in 1982 to represent and protect the interests of North American motorists.
According to the speed trap site, NMA is “dedicated to eliminating arbitrary, unfair and exploitive speed limits and the enforcement of those limits.”