Speed Traps

When people think of speed traps, they usually associate the term with police officers hiding in a particular area trying to catch drivers speeding.

The classic example of the way the average person understands a speed trap involves a situation where the speed limit is set at 55 miles per hour, for example, but 80% of drivers travel at 70 miles per hour.

The California Vehicle Code defines “speed trap” in two ways. According to CVC 40802, a speed trap is either of the following:

  • A particular section of a highway that is measured as to distance with boundaries designated, marked, or otherwise determined in such as way that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time that it takes a vehicle to travel the known distance; or
  • A particular section of a highway with a prima facie speed limit that has been provided by the CVC or by another local ordinance or under four CVC sections, if that prima facie speed limit is not justified by an engineering or other electronic device that measures the speed of moving objects.

Some of the busiest speed traps in the San Francisco Bay Area include:

  • Fulton Street near Park Presidio
  • Golden Gate Bridge near Highway 101
  • Interstate 80 near Fairfield
  • Market street near Embarcadero
  • The San Mateo Bridge
  • Interstate 280 near lower Crystal Spring

Are Speed Traps Legal:

The question often asked about speed traps is whether they are legal. It seems like deceit for police officers to target a particular location specifically to catch an individual speeding where the normal flow of traffic exceeds the speed limit.

Unfortunately, a speed trap, in its colloquial use, is legal. California Vehicle Code (CVC) 40801 does prohibit using unjustified speed traps.

The Code states, “no peace officer or other person shall use a speed trap in arresting, or participating or assisting in the arrest of, any person for any alleged violation of this code nor shall any speed trap be used in securing evidence as to the speed of any vehicle for the purpose of an arrest or prosecution under this code.”
So, while a police officer’s use of hiding tactics to catch individual’s speeding is not illegal, the use of unjustified speed traps is.

To learn more about how San Francisco Bay Area law enforcement conduct and enforce speeding in speed traps speak with the experienced Bay Area Traffic Ticket Defense Attorneys at Ticket Crushers.

Our attorneys can help you navigate any potential consequences of obtaining a speeding ticket throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Valley, and coast.

Call Ticket Crushers at 1 (866) 842-5384 now to schedule a free consultation.

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