I just got nailed in a speed trap in Cheneyville, LA for driving 51mph in a 35 mph zone. They have it set up real well. It’s very rural and 55 mph until you get close to town from the south side. Then you get a “reduced speed ahead” sign and immediately after that a 45mph sign. Then immediately after that, there’s a blind curve which has a 35mph sign ½ way into the curve. The curve is sharp enough that if you are light (I was empty) you don’t want to slam on your brakes, so you continue to coast until you get out of the turn. Waiting on the other side of the curve is Johnny Law who writes you the ticket.
Now for the fun part… because I was 16 mph over the limit, I have to appear in court (635 miles from my house, each way). Even better, it’s not a regular court with a judge, it’s presided over by the town mayor, whose salary (I’m sure) is paid at least in part from ticket revenues. I really don’t need anybody to confirm this, but are we really that far back in the dark ages in some parts of the country?
Additionally, anybody have any experience with these Louisiana “Mayor’s Courts”? I’m trying to find an attorney who can go pay these people off and keep the points off my license, but I’m not having much luck. There are no attorney’s in Cheneyville, LA and the few who are in the neighboring larger towns seem only to do slip & falls, business law and unemployment claims. I really don’t want to have to drive 1,300 miles to go to “Mayor’s Court” and I REALLY want to keep the points off my license… right now I have 7 years, 1,100,000 miles with no tickets or accidents and want to keep it that way.