{"id":355895,"date":"2016-04-04T11:04:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/traffic\/traffic-tickets\/are-speed-traps-legal.html"},"modified":"2023-11-28T11:29:38","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T16:29:38","slug":"are-speed-traps-legal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/traffic\/traffic-tickets\/are-speed-traps-legal.html","title":{"rendered":"Are Speed Traps Legal?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Are Speed Traps Legal?<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Natalie Moritz<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

One of motorists’ most common interactions with police is a traffic stop for exceeding the posted speed limit. Often, the police car seemingly comes out of nowhere, perhaps hidden behind a tree-lined curve in the road. This stealthy method of speed enforcement<\/a> is often called a \u201cspeed trap."<\/p>\r\n

While this type of traffic enforcement<\/a> can be frustrating for motorists, it is generally legal in all states.<\/p>\r\n

Law enforcement agencies and police departments use speed traps for several reasons. The most common goals are to improve highway safety, reduce auto accidents<\/a>, and generate revenue from speeding tickets.<\/p>\r\n

Basic Speed Trap Laws<\/h2>\r\n

The legality of speed traps depends on state and local laws and how different jurisdictions define the term. Each state sets its own laws<\/a> for how they speed traps and specifics on how they can be used.<\/p>\r\n

For example, the California Vehicle Code<\/a> prohibits using marked road traps and unjustified speed limit traps. A marked road trap is a section of highway designated for measuring the speed of a vehicle by calculating the time it takes to travel a known distance.<\/p>\r\n

An unjustified speed limit trap refers to a section of highway with a lower speed limit not justified by a traffic survey conducted within the past five years. Traffic surveys analyze transportation conditions and patterns to inform laws, planning, and management.<\/p>\r\n

Even considering the detailed legal language above, most speeding enforcement methods are legal in a majority of states, even California. This means an officer with a radar gun parked behind a tree-lined curve or otherwise hidden from view is not violating the law in either California or virtually anywhere else.<\/p>\r\n

Since speeding laws differ by state <\/a>or municipality, check your local laws for more specific guidance. However, police are generally not required to announce their presence when enforcing speed limits.<\/p>\r\n

Speed Cameras, Hidden Officers, and Entrapment<\/h2>\r\n

Motorists often use the term speed trap to describe a range of stealthy police tactics used to enforce speed limits and other traffic violations<\/a>. A few of these common practices and terms include:<\/p>\r\n