The comment below was written by the accused (not living in the U.S.):

“On 28 April 2006, I was charged with obstruction (Section 444 PPRA2000) for holding a sign that reads “Police speed trap ahead”. I entered a plea of not guilty and the prosecution withdrew the date before the trial – presumably for fear of setting precedent. Just before withdrawing, the prosecution also offered a “guilty with no conviction” bargain, which I declined.

This activity is *not* illegal if you know how to execute it properly and within the law. I intend to provide this education after seeking further collaboration with law experts.”

Drivers are allowed to flash their headlights to warn approaching drivers about a speed trap ahead, a state appeals court has ruled. A two-judge panel of the Appellate Division of State Superior Court ruled Thursday that Susan R. Luptak of Jackson, NJ violated no state laws when she flashed her high beams twice to warn an oncoming car on Perrineville Road in Monroe Township, NJ in October 1997.

The driver Ms. Luptak was trying to help turned out to be a police officer in an unmarked car. He pulled her over and issued her summonses for misuse of headlights and driving with a suspended license.

Ms. Luptak, found guilty in Monroe Municipal Court, appealed in State Superior Court in New Brunswick. That court threw out the headlight conviction but allowed the other charge to stand.

The appellate court said, however, that Ms. Luptak did not violate the law on misuse of headlights, which deals only with factors like how far high beams must project. The court also dismissed the charge of driving with a suspended license, saying the officer had no grounds to pull over Ms. Luptak.

Police in Madison, Wisconsin threaten to arrest a man for holding a cardboard sign warning of an upcoming speed trap.

Police in Madison, Wisconsin threatened jail time to a good samaritan who warned fellow motorists of an upcoming speed trap on Tuesday. Fred Zahn, who owns Renu Auto Body, stood on the sidewalk of Fish Hatchery Road with a handmade cardboard sign reading, “Speed Trap Ahead.” Police intervened as soon as they found themselves unable to issue citations, claiming Zahn could not exercise free speech on “city property.” Officials said that he could be charged with obstructing a police officer.

“You should have seen how people slowed down when they saw my sign,” Zahn told the Wisconsin State Journal. “(The police) say they’re out to slow people down, but you can’t tell me it’s not about the money.”

A Utah Highway Patrol dashcam tapes a motorist being tasered over a minor speeding ticket.

A Utah Highway Patrol trooper tasered a man on the side of a freeway over a minor traffic ticket. Trooper John Gardner was running a speed trap on US 40 on September 14 when he pulled over the SUV driven by Jared Massey, 28.“You were going kinda fast,” Gardner said as he approached the SUV. Massey immediately asked the trooper to tell him how fast he was going. The trooper did not answer and, instead, told Massey to hand over his license and registration. Massey believed he had not reached the 40 MPH “work zone” sign when the trooper saw him and that the trooper never actually clocked his vehicle. Massey did not want to sign the ticket without more information from the trooper, so the trooper insisted Massey step out of the car.“Turn around and put your hands behind your back,” Trooper Gardner said as he immediately drew the taser on a stunned Massey. When Massey started to walk toward his car, Gardner fired while Massey’s pregnant wife watched.

“Officer you’re getting a little excited, you need to calm down,” Massey said after he was placed in handcuffs.When another police officer arrived on the scene to ask what happened, Gardner responded, “Oh, he took a ride on the taser.”“How was it?” the other officer asked.“Painful, isn’t it?” Gardner said.Before leaving, Gardner searched Massey’s vehicle. Massey will fight the citation on January 12 in Uintah County Justice Court.

This is just an experiment to play around with the Google Map embedding thing. This map shows where the hotspots for speed traps are in Lakeway, Texas.

Update: Actually, I’ve found out now that I can make just ONE map with any/all speed trap hotspots on it for the whole country! Check it out by clicking on the link under the map. Then you can zoom out and see the whole country. Of course, I don’t have very many sites marked at this point. More will come later as the site grows.

View Larger Map with MORE Austin Speed Traps!