Be careful on PA roads!

[Steve Calvin]

I just read a magazine article that says the Pennsylvania DOT and State Police have formed teams of officers who dress in full camo and station themselves along roadways in the woods with battery operated radar units. When they see someone speeding they radio ahead to uniformed troopers in marked cars who pull the people over and bless them with tickets.

I've seen them on the side of the road in beat up old trucks or cars with the hood up and using radar while standing behind the hood but this is REALLY sneaky.

If you get a speeding ticket in PA you'd better have alot of cash on hand or a credit card. VERY healthy fines.

 

[BarryK]

doesn't surprise me. I've had to drive throughout PA a lot in the past for my job. PA state cops are known for being sneaky. If that's not bad enough, i really wish they would fix their roads! PA has the worst roads I've ever had to drive on and i'm a sales rep (well, WAS a sales rep) and covered from PA down thru NC and no state had raods anywhere as bad as PA. The PA turnpike, for such a major road thru the state, is a discrace. Sometimes I wonder why they even put radar traps on the PA turnpike considering at times the road is so bad who wants to drive it that fast anyway.

 

[Nevets2004]

BarryK, As you know, I'm going to Carlisle this year. We can discuss the PA roads then.

 

[BarryK]

BarryK, As you know, I'm going to Carlisle this year. We can discuss the PA roads then.

hmmm, after a 2 1/2 hr trip to get there in my '65 on PA roads I may be too shaken up to talk....

 

[Bill Heygster]

It's impossible to speed on Pennsylvania highways. About the time you get up to speed there's another construction zone. Seriously be careful in Maryland as well. The smokies are all over Interstates 95,81,83. 70,etc. and route 50 to Ocean City. They are using some very strange unmarked cars.

 

[JonM]

Here in my state Connecticut, the state police pose as Department of Transportation workers on the side of the road. They have a bright orange DOT dump truck, wear hardhats, and also use the hiway cameras to track someone.

 

[BarryK]

It's impossible to speed on Pennsylvania highways. About the time you get up to speed there's another construction zone. Seriously be careful in Maryland as well. The smokies are all over Interstates 95,81,83. 70,etc. and route 50 to Ocean City. They are using some very strange unmarked cars.

I lived in MD for a number of years. They do use strange vehicles at times for unmarked cars!
I used to have to use 95, 70, and 50 a lot and they always did patrol and trap those roads regularly.

I remember once about 15 years ago I was cruising up 70 almost to Frederick when I saw a huge orange sign similar to a construction warning sign on the side of the road but it said "Warning, Radar trap ahead".
i'm thinking this was awfully strange that they would actually warn people about a radar trap so it must have been one of two things; either there really was a trap ahaed and they were being very generous with a warning or there wasn't a trap and they were just trying to scare people into slowing down. In either case i wasn't taking a chance so i slowed down to the current limit of 55 and set my cruise control.
About a mile up the road over a crest as the road dipped down into a big valley were 2 radar cars and about 8 or 9 chase cars. They had almost a dozen people pulled over. After having put out a warning sign a mile back telling people they were there, you know these people weren't getting any more warnings, they were getting tickets!

 

[BarryK]

Here in my state Connecticut, the state police pose as Department of Transportation workers on the side of the road. They have a bright orange DOT dump truck, wear hardhats, and also use the hiway cameras to track someone.

D*nm, now that's getting sneaky!
I have a mental image of a speeder getting chased down by a big orange DOT dump truck.

 

[Senator75]

I'm still shocked when I see those MD State Troopers swagger out into the middle of the road to stop speeders...yes, on foot. (And yes, swagger, because they are all bow-legged. I mean they have to be...they must have cajones the size of grapefruits to walk out in front of a car travelling 85mph! )


I've never seen that in any other state, and I dread the day that one of them gets smeared down the highway because the speeder was tuning his radio.

 

[BarryK]

I've never seen that in any other state, and I dread the day that one of them gets smeared down the highway because the speeder was tuning his radio.

if that happens I guess a warning is out of the question.....

 

[Nevets2004]

So we've moved on to other states? OK, speaking of being sneaky, I was travelling down the New Jersey turnpike and saw a stranded van on the median. No problem. The next day, the same van was there. Still no problem. But on the third day I saw an extra set of wheels behind the van. Guess what? Yes, it was Mr. policeman with a radar. Cracked me up.

 

[Nevets2004]

I'm still shocked when I see those MD State Troopers swagger out into the middle of the road to stop speeders...yes, on foot. (And yes, swagger, because they are all bow-legged. I mean they have to be...they must have cajones the size of grapefruits to walk out in front of a car travelling 85mph! )


I've never seen that in any other state, and I dread the day that one of them gets smeared down the highway because the speeder was tuning his radio.

Hey Sen,

Actually Ive seen that very same thing in New York where I'm originally from. I was a new driver and I was a little over the speed limit in a K car (remember those?) when a trooper stepped into the left lane on the Taconic and put his hand up in a halt manner and pointed to the right shoulder where there were several other cars getting tickets. I never saw the smokie in the bushes that radioed ahead to stop me. Really sneaky.

 

[reefdiver]

At least most of you guys only travel THROUGH Pa on our wonderful roads. I have to drive them every day. ad I refuse to drive the vette on the Pa turnpike between Irwin and Monroeville...you wouldnt believe how bad that stretch is. On Sunday, Aug 1st...the fares will increase on the Pa turnpike. How's that for a kick in the groin? BTW...they've been doing that "camo" thing for awhile now.

 

[Dave1998]

I'm still shocked when I see those MD State Troopers swagger out into the middle of the road to stop speeders...yes, on foot. (And yes, swagger, because they are all bow-legged. I mean they have to be...they must have cajones the size of grapefruits to walk out in front of a car travelling 85mph! )


I've never seen that in any other state, and I dread the day that one of them gets smeared down the highway because the speeder was tuning his radio.

I have seen it on the highway going to the Dover mile track. As you know, everybody thinks they are NASCAR drivers the day of the race. Those guys
in the left lane were directed to the medium for a pit stop. It was a first for me. Fortunately, I hit a spare wheel that some truck lost in the dark earlier
that morning with my 02 GP, and I could not speed with a compact spare on the front ! And to answer the question, I drove 400 miles like that to and from the race and the compact spare looked like new. Another myth exposed that they only last 50 miles.

 

[Steve Calvin]

Hey Sen,

Actually Ive seen that very same thing in New York where I'm originally from. I was a new driver and I was a little over the speed limit in a K car (remember those?) when a trooper stepped into the left lane on the Taconic and put his hand up in a halt manner and pointed to the right shoulder where there were several other cars getting tickets. I never saw the smokie in the bushes that radioed ahead to stop me. Really sneaky.

On the Taconic?? :eek That silly sob must of had a death wish! I live in NY by the Taconic and that thing's basically a racetrack! I typically drive it around 60 (speed limit on it's 55) and people blow past me like I'm not even moving.

 

[Nevets2004]

On the Taconic?? :eek That silly sob must of had a death wish!

Yep, on the Taconic. I agree about the racetrack, that's probably why they had so many pulled over. I haven't been to that area in years. I guess it hasn't changed much.

-Steve :cool

 

[Steve Calvin]

Yep, on the Taconic. I agree about the racetrack, that's probably why they had so many pulled over. I haven't been to that area in years. I guess it hasn't changed much.

-Steve :cool

Nope, hasn't changed from the sounds of it. Want a real racetrack, try the NYS thruway. Jesus, people run that thing about 90.

Been here 30 years too long. Way to populated for this kid.

Retiring in a few years and then we're outta here. Lord only knows where though.

 

[Bill Heygster]

At least most of you guys only travel THROUGH Pa on our wonderful roads. I have to drive them every day. ad I refuse to drive the vette on the Pa turnpike between Irwin and Monroeville...you wouldnt believe how bad that stretch is. On Sunday, Aug 1st...the fares will increase on the Pa turnpike. How's that for a kick in the groin? BTW...they've been doing that "camo" thing for awhile now.

I've avoided the PA turnpike for years (because of it's normal motocross condition) but last weekend we went from Bedford to Hershey and was actually pleasantly surprized. The road was smoorth and there was not one construction zone anywhere - must be some sort of record. Ran 65 the whole way. Even had the toll taker when we got off give us directions in a friendly manner. I was impressed and shocked. .

 

[SLICKMAN]

On the Taconic?? :eek That silly sob must of had a death wish! I live in NY by the Taconic and that thing's basically a racetrack! I typically drive it around 60 (speed limit on it's 55) and people blow past me like I'm not even moving.

Yep, I live in this area too and the Taconic IS a race track.. If you don't do 70 with everyone else, your a hazard...

 

[Steve Calvin]

Yo, Slickman. I'm in Poughkeepsie. I work down your way at some computor company in Hopewell