Jurisdiction

Amarillo to Decatur, Texas

Speed Trap Location

Highway 287 - Every Town

Nearest Reference Point

n/a

GPS Coordinates

n/a

Time of Day

Any time of day

Level of Enforcement

High

Type of Enforcement

Radar

Date

4/2002

Almost every town on Highway 287 between Amarillo and Decatur is a speedtrap town. Speed limits drop from 70 to 35 in about a quarter-mile in many places, and the revenue enhancement police depts often have several cars on duty at the same time to patrol their mile long strech of the highway. BE ADVISED. Whenever you approach a town on this highway, SLOW DOWN. Speed limits are unrealistically low in these towns for obvious reasons, and good luck fighting a ticket in one of these rural counties if you aren't a local.

Comment (11/2002): I have driven Hwy 287 since I moved to Dallas, in 1972. The small towns used to be really bad, but since the speed limit is 70, it isn't bad. The small town speed limits go from 70 to 55, to 45, to 35,ect. You have to pay attention. HAPPY TRAVELING TO THE PANHANDLE. Drive the speed limit and you won't get a ticket.

Comment (11/2002): Be Warned! Enforcement of speed limits is strict and if you are "just passing through", you become a prime target for a ticket.

Comment (12/2002): Actually Amarillo to Dallas. I made it from Dallas to Angel Fire, NM and almost back before getting stopped. Just south of Amarillo is a trashy town Claude, Texas. Up until this point my entire trip consisted of 90-95 MPH and lots of sections moving at a steady 100MPH. If your car can handle it and there are very few other cars, it would be considered "safe and reasonably prudent". I got it for 92 in a 70 while 5 miles north of Claude while the nice state police who I pay for with my tax dollars was traveling north. It is amazing they think they can turn around and come get you. Make sure you drive the speed limit in the towns, everyone should know that rule by now. Unfortunately it took me a little while longer to get home, not wanting two tickets in one day. Hwy 287 was loaded with cops on the highway and in the towns, I saw eight writing tickets before I got to Dallas. I will know start to look for an attorney in Amarillo who will fight this for me, I have never once paid a speeding ticket. it's pretty easy to get them dismissed by requesting jury trials... claiming the court does not have jurisdiction over you by signing everything "W/O prejudice UCC1-207" and then your name. Cops don't know what it means and judges who have seen it before don't want to deal with you. I had a radar detector but ripped it down when the cop pulled me over, one of the offenses on the back of the form for court listed "Radar Detector" and a fine of $180.

Comment (12/2002): In Tx when you sign a ticket, all you are doing is signing a promise to appear. You are being released on your signature, rather than posting a bond. Making any notes or adding anything to your signature has nothing to do with the charge. Officers don't judge how you make your signature, and they shouldn't, if you make what you claim to be your signature on that given day is your signature.All state police use video in thier cars, so you will be on tape signing the ticket. No codes or republic of Texas numbers will change anything, if you deny it is your signature, your going to give yourself a more serious and rather costly charge in addition to the ticket. Jury trials are usually not the way to go on a traffic charge, people don't like serving on a jury for $10 a day because someone wants to fight a ticket. Your better off with the judge in almost every case. The jury is picked from the small towns residents that drive the enforcement action. Good luck getting a Attorney to fight the charge for less than it would cost you to defer the ticket or take defensive driving...which is what I would suggest if you qualify. Don't believe those crazy rumors on signing tickets!

Comment (12/2002): The person who wrote the comment on 12/02 is an anti government extremist. The code ucc1-207 is reference to the uniform commercial code that anti government groups like the republic of Texas and others write on government documents. They believe this gives them exemption from laws. All police recieve training in reference to these groups and thier dangers to law enforcement. All police are very aware of the phrase "w/o prejudice ucc1-207". If you try this method, you will most likely cause the officer to treat you like a violent anti government threat.You will not be treated like a normal citizen because people who often use this tactic are very dangerous to officers. People who leave posts on this site are surely not happy with thier tickets, but I don't think these people hate police or are anti-government. Police officers don't make laws, they enforce them. The police have taken an oath to enforce all the laws, not just the ones they agree with. If you disagree with a speed limit, contact the representative(city council,state represenative,ect.)tell them how you feel. When an officer enforces a law, half the citizens cheer, and half the citizens jeer. Its a job that has to be done, so don't take it personal. Next time you see a police, you might be the one to cheer!

Comment (12/2002): 92m.p.h in a 70m.p.h is quite fast I think 82-84 m.p.h in a 70 m.p.h zone would be ok.

Comment (7/2002): what is said above is so true.I found out the hard way..

Comment (10/2002): Well, good grief you are traveling a back highway you should expect to have to slow down while going through a small town! The speed limit is low because you are in a small town where the people walk and expect for you to let them cross the street with out being ran over. People are pulling out of parking spaces because you are allowed to park on main street in most small towns and if they let you travel 70 mph through the town you would wind up killing someone. If you don't like slowing down through the small towns. go the long way around on a major highway.

Comment (1/2003): I've driven the same Highway for last 30 years and I've never gotten a ticket.Yes the small towns are a ticket problem but people driving that road know it and drive accordingly.I go little over open road limit and am fine .Going thru the small towns they have a right to slow things down.things a little more laid back . Anyone driving 90miles and over should be thrown in jail.Any one thats beenhit from behind will agree.

Comment (1/2003): In 15 years I have received one ticket. We make this trip many times a year. I found it very interesting the way cop hides on a little dirt road JUST far enough from the 45mph sign that seperates the 70mph speed limit area of the highway into the town. If you do not decrease your speed between the time you round the curve on the highway and see the sign, and when the cop clocks you at the 45mph post, you'll get a ticket. He does the same thing on the other end of town. He must get dizzy issuing one on one end, then running to the other side to do the same there. And why shouldn't he? Are you going to drive all the way back here to try and fight it? Not me. One in 15 years is enough to learn how to decrease my speed to 25 long before I reach that town, all the way through it and on to take any business I used to do there right on down the road to the next town! It would have been easier to just pay the ticket but I did the defensive driving just to keep from donating anymore $ to their cause.

Comment (2/2003): These are all interesting comments. I will agree with many the comments you shared. Sure, try your antics to get out of your ticket. True, most judges don't care to play games. You can play them all you want, but don't gripe when I play mine. As a police officer, I don't care how much your fines are, nor does it bother me if you shell out your dollars for Dowee Cheatem' N'how-attorneys at law. That's your loss. Fact be told, speed isnt what kills, it is the sudden stop when you hit someone or something that's moving in a different direction and/or at a different speed. So keep that in mind as I go and tell another family that their loved one was just killed in a wreck because one of your relatives was speeding, lost control and impacted their family member's vehicle. Speeding, an innocent crime. Best bet, slow down. Most cops give some leeway when it comes to speeders. Just don't be stupid and expect a warning for driving grossly over the speed limit. I don't get paid by the number of tickets I write, nor does any police officer in the state of Texas. If we did, you'd have a legitimate beef and I'd be wealthy. 'Til then, I'm still busting my butt to make ends meet, fulfilling my oath of office, to protect, without prejudice or passion, and enforce the laws of this great state. This means, I don't care if you live in the town where I serve, of if you're passing through, if you break the law, you take your chances of being called on the carpet, whatever that entails.Respectfully submitted by a north texas police officer

Comment (2/2003): Anyone who drives 90-95 on 287 should not only get a ticket - they should have their license yanked. 287 is a dangerous highway. If you don't think so, just count the crosses the nexy time you drive it.

Comment (2/2003): Other than the town of Estelline, where you WILL get hammered for doing 1 mile over, most law enforcement will give you 5 miles over the limit. If you are stupid enough to be doing 90 to 100 mph, you deserve what you get. Next time leave earlier. Don't risk my life because you are an impatient idiot.

Comment (2/2003): Anybody driving 20 to 30 miles over the limit not only deserves the ticket but should have their license revoked for needlessly endangering other people. Just because a car will handle the speed doesn't mean the roadway or the driver can.

Comment (2/2003): I've been on this road pretty much all my life...and I've always seen Road Construction...for the past 15-20 years this highway has been plagued by road construction, SO naturally, it's going to be a speed trap. Secondly, it's really not that bad if slow down in the towns, and be EXTRA careful around Childress. Childress is a hot spot for State Troopers mostly because of the Prison there.

Comment (5/2003): I have driven Texas hiways for 30 years. I have never received a ticket because I do not speed. I follow and comply with the rules and laws of the road. On a recent trip from Amarillo to Dallas I was pulled over between Claude and Clarendon. The sheriff's deputy told me I was going 82 in a 70 and gave me a ticket. Shocked to say the least my fine was $120. I was traveling with my cruise control set on 70 as did the car traveling with me that was right behind me. So my point is...you can be a safe law-abiding driver and get tagged. What do you do? I don't know. If they want to write tickets they are going to write tickets. I can't take a day (or two) off to go back to Claude and fight the ticket. I guess I will just pay the extortion.

Comment (7/2003): I really wonder if you save all that much time taking 287 out of the Fort Worth and Dallas areas to head to Amarillo and points north, vs. using I-35 to I-40, I-70, etc. With the frequent speed traps on 287, the Interstate may be the better way to go. In fact, if motorists from DFW, Houston, Austin, SA, etc., boycotted 287, as well as truckers, it would starve out not only the small town goernments, but the restaurants, motels, etc., dependent on the traffic. Then maybe, just maybe, the Texas DOT would upgrade this road to Interstate caliber.

Comment (10/2003): One more comment on this particular trip. My trip is from Amarillo to Wichita Falls and back. I am going to switch my route to a more rural route. Amarillo, Memphis, Hollis, Ok., Altus,OK., then back south to Vernon then into Wichita Falls but remembering to be wary of Iowa Park. This should save me about $200 a trip, and may turn out to be 30 minutes longer at the most.

Comment (1/2004): US 287 is a dangerous highway, if you don't know how to drive defensively, I know, I drive US 287 from Amarillo to Fort Worth and back, and for occasional joyriding from time to time

Comment (2/2004): DITTO on Childress, especially 10 miles on each side. The terrain is mostly flat, but occasionally rolling. At night they hide just on the other side of a small hill - and remember it is 65 at night! It seems to get better the closer you get to Dallas.

Comment (02/2008): 10/2003 THE RESIDENTS OF HARDEMAN COUNTY WANT TO THANK YOU.

Comment (04/2008): I was also written a ticket for supposedly doing 81 in a 70. I have a digital speedometer in a new car and I had my cruise control set to 74. (yes I know, still speeding, but certainly not 81!). Even my 5 yr. old in the backseat pointed out to the cop that \"mommy wasn\'t speeding, I\'ve been watching her numbers\" - didn\'t help my case. Then he asked me random questions about the car: what year was it, where did I buy it, when did I last change the oil? And since I couldn\'t remember the exact name of the dealership I bought it at he answered, \"all you women are dumb and shouldn\'t be driving.\" I then told him I was a lawyer. :-) He grunted as he handed me the ticket.