Unfair Speed Trap
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Left home at 6 a.m. on Aug. 9 for a doctor’s appointment in Pinehurst. Traveled down U.S. 15-501 at my usual 62 cruise-controlled speed.
Came into the Legacy community around 8 a.m. and was stopped by an Aberdeen policeman for doing a speed over the 45 mph limit in a school zone. This is true. I do not deny it.
My upset with this scenario is that the 45 mph speed zone sign was so close to the actual school as to not allow enough slowing time to meet the zone’s requirement.
In other words, this is a speed trap set up to catch unsuspecting drivers unfamiliar with the geography of Moore County.
It really smacks of the ol’ town policies involving motorists and the speed trap syndrome.
I have not had a speeding ticket since, I think, the ‘70s. I’m 65, a retired school administrator for 29 of 32 years, from a neighboring county. Would I purposely, knowingly, and willfully, as stated on the speeding ticket indicated, drive through a school zone at that speed?
I don’t think so.
Put your “school zone ahead” sign out another 100 yards in either direction so that uninformed drivers like myself have a fair chance to do the right thing.
Yes, under the circumstances, I was speeding. It is the circumstances of my getting my “ticket” that upsets me.
I’ll bet (and I am a betting man) that if anyone cares to look at the data, many “out-of-towners” are ticketed in this zone more often than “in-towners.” The local Aberdeen cop wasn’t the least bit sympathetic.
This is entrapment pure and simple. Another money-grubbing exercise by the Aberdeen authority.
Anthony W. Sasseen
Little River, S.C.
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Comments
nothingspecial 9 months ago
Aberdeen have the same thing with the "prepare to slow down in 1000 ft" sign before the 35 MPH speed limit on Fort Bragg Road, when approaching Blue Farm from the North - it is actually much less than 1000 ft to the 35 MPH sign. Another great speed trap.
Courseaire 9 months ago
Most speed traps are set up for unsuspecting drivers to raise revenue and awareness - that's why they're called traps . Most town with the possible exception of "Mayberry" use them. You might want to slow down a bit and maybe read a traffic sign or two rather than whizzing by them. Set your cruise control at or just below the posted speed limit.
olebaldy 9 months ago
I almost felt sorry for Mr. Sasseen but I decided to ride out and check the area that he is talking about. The first thing I noticed is that there is a "reduce speed ahead" sign with a dayglo yellow "SCHOOL ZONE" on top with the hours that it is in effect posted two tenths of a mile away from the 45 zone, between the reduce speed ahead sign and the speed limit sign, there is the dayglo yellow school symbol posted, then there is the state marked 45 mph speed limit sign with a dayglo yellow topper stating "SCHOOL". I am not sure what Mr. Sasseen thinks constitutes a trap but a well marked school zone is not it, in fact setting your cruise control to intentionally violate the speed limit then failing to pay attention to school zones does not cause me to feel sympathetic at all. I hope the judge will take into consideration his previous driving record but to call this school zone a speed trap is completely incorrect.
JimRussell44 9 months ago
Way to go, olebaldy, we need more people like you.
Matt_Woodruff 9 months ago
And, 62 is 7 mph OVER the speed limit!
RmeMP 9 months ago
SPOT ON BALDY!!! mr nagy, please remove this flat out lie of a thread - the area is marked perfectly fine as it is!!!
ps - shame on you for your speed in a school zone, i wouldnt have given you a break either - and it has nothing to do with "money for the county"... it has to do with not having to tell a childs parents that their son/daughter was killed by someone such as yourself not paying attention!!!
Sean 9 months ago
I don't think I am alone in thinking that the Electric Chair is not off the table here!!
Mozambique 9 months ago
Speeding tickets are one of those things that NOBODY thinks they deserve and we all feel we were cheated into getting, but it's probably the most black-and-white law there is, and it's completely constitutional. There is a 'gauge' on our dash and and a sign on the road. Can't really argue it....usually.
That being said, what does bother me is seeing officers speed, not wear their seat belts, and break numerous laws without their lights on, and knowing that they will NEVER ever get in trouble for doing it in the same way they would nail us for. And I'm pretty sure it's not a law yet, but does nearly every single officer constantly have to talk on his phone while driving? I'm not trying to cut on any of our local officers; I truly think they are among the best I've seen, but I don't care who you are, no one is good at talking on the phone and driving.
JimRussell44 9 months ago
I agree with your comments completly, Mozambique. law officers should be providing the "good example" for all of the rest of us.
MikeNC 9 months ago
"I’m a retired school administrator for 29 of 32 years, from a neighboring county. Would I purposely, knowingly, and willfully, as stated on the speeding ticket indicated, drive through a school zone at that speed?"
Sounds like you did just that. Guilty as charged. I only wonder why you brought your openly admitted guilt out for the entire county to read and comment on.....Mike
MikeNC 9 months ago
speed limit on 15-501, 45 MPH. So you were already over the limit, the moment you left the house, setting your cruise at 62 MPH. 17 Miles over the limit. Diane
invmc 9 months ago
"Would I purposely, knowingly, and willfully drive through a school zone at that speed"? Why not? You purposely, knowingly, and willfully set your cruise control 7 mph over the 55 mph speed limit that you were in prior. If people arent from the area, then I guess they need to pay a little closer attention to what they're doing. You are most likely to be that citizen who will complain to local law enforcement about cars speeding through his neighborhood and want more done about it, but when YOU get a ticket, then it's a speed trap.
RadioNC 9 months ago
Welcome to Aberdeen. Home of the cop with zero judgment when it comes to writing a citation. A good cop builds the public trust to them. A bad one pushes them away. They do not understand the difference. Again, welcome to Aberdeen.
JimRussell44 9 months ago
Diane evidently doesn't get too far out of town. (Oh crap, now I'll be hearing from Mike).
JimRussell44 9 months ago
RadioNC, speed limits are not recommendations, they are the speed limits we are supposed to adhere to. Almost every cop gives all of us a break while we are out on the highways. Go out on I95 and drive 70 mph and you will feel like you are backing up. The HP will not stop and ticket you if you are keeping up with the vehicles around you. Most give you at least 5 to 10 mph over the posted speed. They are looking for the ones that are faster than the normal traffic flow. Within city limits and in school zones, there is no extra tolerance beyond 1 or 2 mph and that should be the case. Be honest, when you get stopped and are just given a warning, you feel like you got away with one. I've put in a lot of miles over the years (one 15 year stretch averaged about 50,000 per year), so I know the score. Every driving ticket I've ever received was deserved and represented about .01% of the ones I should have gotten. A ticket was a far more positive influence on my driving manner than a warning was.
cooldaddy 9 months ago
Which part of 62 do you not understand is over the limit? Pay your ticket. We have enough signs as is. When you see a school zone, do you really need extra signs to tell you to slow down? There are no school zones in NC that have a sign that says "Heck yeah, Speed! You can't hit our kids!They are fast!" This sounds like a case for our local expert on everything. He is not a lawyer, or anything else for that matter, but he can somehow blame it on the 487 million square foot, 37 story, 6 billion dollar one world detention center he has in in his mind. Your fine will be used to add another wing he may protest, so you have a shot I can't remember his name right off, but he is on here alot. Soda or something like that...
MikeNC 9 months ago
JimRussell44 6 hours, 49 minutes ago ..Within city limits and in school zones, there is no extra tolerance beyond 1 or 2 mph and that should be the case. Be honest, when you get stopped and are just given a warning, you feel like you got away with one
Oh crap, I agree with Jim. I remember a saying that a cop once told me about making ticket decisions...."Eight you skate and Nine your mine." That way he did not have to make it a personal decision....Mike
mymindwanders 9 months ago
Considering your record, ask for a prayer for judgement.Its not a trap.Its a school zone.
geoffcutler 9 months ago
This is now the what...third, fourth letter to the editor on Aberdeen ticketing, roadblocks, signage, view obstruction. The letter writer doesn't need a lecture, He knows his mistake. Aberdeen needs to begin to address what's becoming a syndrome, and a bad one for its image. Protect and serve is the motto. Harass and instill fear is not. Folks will take notice if this continues, and businesses, shops and tourism will suffer. Just ask Pinehurst.
cooldaddy 9 months ago
No, he needs a lecture. It was a school zone. If you want to call a school zone a speed trap, no problem.. Whatever it takes. He already admitted to being one of the ones who speeds at a rate he is sure will be tolerable. There are stop lights and RR tracks down the road that give a hint "This could get a little busy". There's your sign. You were speeding anyway. Was your argument... that at 62 MPH you were actually going only 7 mph over what you thought was 55 MPH? Really? Well, good enough then. Cheaters , and that's waht you admit to being, sometimes get what they deserve. Maybe the judge will reduce it to 7 over the limit for you, since you were a school administrator, who in part, frowned upon cheating, I am sure. "Ok kids, it's ok to copy maybe one or two answers from your classmate, but no more!" As for the locals, the school has been there longer than you have been alive. If you think it is ok to speed there, you are probably one of the jackasses that speed at the pinehurst circle to cut in front of people across the solid white line. Once in a while one gets caught...and most applaude.
Toda 9 months ago
My first question to Mr. Sasseen would be, "why did you set your cruise control while driving in the city limits of Aberdeen?". We have traffic signals every hundred yards or so, and that is reason enough not to get up to speed to set a cruise control.
Zoey 9 months ago
People, Mr Sasseen was in the "Legacy community" not smack dab in the middle of Aberdeen. "As for the locals," that area is known as L.A.-Lower Aberdeen or The Bad Lands!
. I wonder when the newest of Carthage PD's perpetual problems will surface....
JimRussell44 9 months ago
boscoe50: And everyone said "Amen".
Toda 9 months ago
boscoe50 ~ I have to respectfully disagree with your statement, "the LEO's are not paid to be sympathetic".
The officer could have taken the high road and said he would bring my compliance to the DA, instead, he told me that it had not been uploaded and just tear up the citation. He had no reason other than compassion for my not having to spend the day in court.
In my opinion, that is the sign of a professional police officer. I didn't ask for him to change his decision; he chose to change due to the fact that I complied once my error was cited. Not all officers are hard nosed egotists.
FightFireWithFire 9 months ago
I am sick to death of hearing people in this area constantly complaining about getting speeding tickets. How's about you act like a responsible adult, consider what effect your actions of exceeding the speed limit have on others around you and stop exceeding the speed limit. I don't always follow the speed limit, but I will be the last one to complain about the police doing their job. I wish they would write more tickets. And for the record, police don't set up "speed traps" as you folks like to call them to "raise revenue". They sit on the side of the road and run radar to enforce the speed limit.
Stop being arrogant and thinking the rules don't apply to you and I guarantee you will encounter a lot less strife in your day-to-day activities.
getreal 9 months ago
Sorry, Anthony, I'm not with you on tis one. Even though I was ticketed in an unfair manner in the past, YOU admit you have your cruise control set above the limit. Why would you even write the letter? School Zone? Even worse, kids can dart out into the street at any time. I despise Aberdeen Police and never go to Aberdeen anymore, but your complaint is really off the wall. Note to others, ALWAYS come to a complete stop even if the road is past the stop sign and you have already stopped at the sign! Count to 5 and then go, it will save you a lot of money. When I have people coming into town, I always tell them to obey the speed limits at all times, (not a bad thing anyway) because the mercenaries are out there, hiding and waiting to get them. It makes our town sound not so friendly, but they need to be warned.
Tbucket 9 months ago
TODA,
Since this post was started by a school professional let's do the math with your posting. Say one hundred yards is the distance between traffic signals in Aberdeen. One hundred yards equals 300'. The only two locations that might even be close to that are US 15/501/NC 211 South at US 1 to US 1 at NC 5 and US 1 at US 15/501/NC 211 North at Johnson Street. The rest of the distances between signals is well over 100 yards - oh that would be a football field.
I've had some issues with Aberdeen PD over the years, none over being stopped. One was an APD Officer stopped southbound on US 1 at US 15/501/NC 211 North while the vehicle in front of him made an illegal left turn. No action taken. When I stopped him on Poplar Street near Main Street he said there was no sign. Not true. The other issue involved an officer leaving his patrol car stopped in the northbound left turn lane for Magnolia Street during school arrival time for Southern Middle School. This not only blocked all parents and school buses from making a left turn with a green arrow, it made the arrow display and delay release of southbound US 1 traffic. His mess backed up beyond the driveway to Harris Teeter. Oh yeah, he and another APD Officer were having a social moment in the Robert's Golf driveway some time after pushing a stalled pick up pulling a small boat trailer off the highway. When the problem was pointed out to him, he indignantly asked if I knew how hard it was to cross US 1 as a pedestrian. Told him yes I did and that I knew it was lots easier with a uniform, a badge, a bullet and a blue light.
The school pro should face the full consequences of our traffic laws, period.
Tbucket 9 months ago
TODA, Since this post was started by a school professional let's do the math with your posting. Say one hundred yards is the distance between traffic signals in Aberdeen. One hundred yards equals 300'. The only two locations that might even be close to that are US 15/501/NC 211 South at US 1 to US 1 at NC 5 and US 1 at US 15/501/NC 211 North at Johnson Street. The rest of the distances between signals is well over 100 yards - oh that would be a football field.
I've had some issues with Aberdeen PD over the years, none over being stopped. One was an APD Officer stopped southbound on US 1 at US 15/501/NC 211 North while the vehicle in front of him made an illegal left turn. No action taken. When I stopped him on Poplar Street near Main Street he said there was no sign. Not true. The other issue involved an officer leaving his patrol car stopped in the northbound left turn lane for Magnolia Street during school arrival time for Southern Middle School. This not only blocked all parents and school buses from making a left turn with a green arrow, it made the arrow display and delay release of southbound US 1 traffic. His mess backed up beyond the driveway to Harris Teeter. Oh yeah, he and another APD Officer were having a social moment in the Robert's Golf driveway some time after pushing a stalled pick up pulling a small boat trailer off the highway. When the problem was pointed out to him, he indignantly asked if I knew how hard it was to cross US 1 as a pedestrian. Told him yes I did and that I knew it was lots easier with a uniform, a badge, a bullet and a blue light.
The school pro should face the full consequences of our traffic laws, period.
Really_Now5 9 months ago
My daughter attends The Academy and I am so thankful for the Aberdeen Police who are out there. The other day they had a semi pulled and as a rough guess I would say he was going all of 65 miles an hour. Could you imagine that hitting a car after picking up children or even the school bus. The signs are properly placed pay attention! Get over it when ever anyone gets a ticket or caught the cops are %^&*'s but if your house is broke into or your child is missing and they do there jobs you all but put them on a cloud to be praised. So tell them thank you for doing the job that the state pays them to do.
RmeMP 9 months ago
my motto, while running radar, was always, "five you' re fine, nine you're mine".
(words of advise from a former LEO)