We receive many calls from members around New York City looking for assistance with their speeding tickets, so we’re not surprised that the Big Apple figures prominently in this spotlight. But it is interesting to note that many of the most active hot spots are located outside of NYC. Just shows that you need to be careful no matter where you drive in New York State.
This information comes from the NMA’s National Speed Trap Exchange (http://www.speedtrap.org/), a unique website that gives drivers an opportunity to report on and exchange comments about predatory speed traps they have encountered on their travels.
We encourage you to send a link to this blog to those you know who live or travel in New York. Remember, an informed driver is a safer driver.
Five Highest Activity Speed Trap Location
1. Nassau: Northern State Parkway
50 Reports 100% Acknowledgement Rate*
“Within 3 miles of NYC border there are NYS Troopers using radar going both east and west.”
2. Corfu: Rte 77 Towards Darien Lake
46 Reports 98% Acknowledgement Rate
“Police sit and wait for speeders at the cemetery or school as the zone abruptly changes from 55 mph to 35mph, not coincidentally the area where they sit is not 50 feet AFTER the speed limit sign, ensuring you will get nailed because you don’t have enough time to slow down.”
3. Buffalo: Transit Rd/ Southwestern Blvd. West Seneca
41 Reports 100% Acknowledgement Rate
“Erie County Sherriff Deputy sits in a driveway by the bridge. Has been seen during the day and as late as midnight. Will sometimes be on the side of the road with no lights on at night.”
4. Ithaca: New York-13 Entering Ithaca by the curve at Purity Ice Cream
39 Reports 100% Acknowledgement Rate
“They hang out just around the curve in front of the gas station with hand-held guns and nail people who don’t slow from 45 to 30.”
5. Staten Island: Hylan Blvd. & Sharrots, by Mt. Loretto
37 Reports 100% Acknowledgement Rate
“Officer sitting across (waterside), in tan car, now also has a “buddy” to back up in a large black car. Speed limit is 40 on a long wide stretch of Blvd., but 50 is not difficult to accidentally drive, & if you do 45 while the guy in front just drove past at 55, YOU will be the one he catches.”
Ten New York Cities with Most Reported Speed Traps (for the Last 5 Years)
Rank | City | Number of Speed Traps | Acknowledgement Rate |
1 | Brooklyn | 113 | 85% |
2 | Staten Island | 108 | 86% |
3 | Queens | 62 | 71% |
4 | Rochester | 57 | 90% |
5 | Bronx | 38 | 92% |
6 | New York City | 34 | 85% |
7 | Troy | 33 | 90% |
8 | Albany | 30 | 73% |
9 | Buffalo | 29 | 96% |
10 | Manhattan | 28 | 78% |
* Acknowledgement rate is the percentage of yes votes to total votes by motorists indicating whether the reported locations, in their opinions, are actually speed traps. Data are available at the links provided.
About The National Speed Trap Exchange
With the development of The National Speed Trap Exchange (http://www.speedtrap.org/) more than 10 years ago, the National Motorists Association pioneered the use of interactive media to alert motorists to potential speed trap activity in their communities. Since then the site has reported on nearly 80,000 speed traps throughout the United States and Canada.
