Jurisdiction

Brighton (Island Pond), Vermont

Speed Trap Location

Main Street

Nearest Reference Point

n/a

GPS Coordinates

n/a

Time of Day

Any time of day

Level of Enforcement

High

Type of Enforcement

Radar, Laser, Photo

Date

9/2004

The cops LOVE to write tickets. You WILL be pulled over for 4 MPH over ANY posted speed limits. Make sure you vehicle is properly inspected. Also watch out for stop signs. If you are from out of state, skip the town all together.

Comment (10/2004): GPS coordinates for cop's favorite speed trap: N44-47-08.6, W71-48-41.7This sideroad speedtrap is tucked back off the road about 100ft. and is approximately 3.25 miles north (actually west, but Rt. 105 is a N-S highway) of the Wenlock Crossing RR tracks and approximately 1 mile south of the Island Pond Airport. When traveling north on 105 he will shoot you from a mile away as you come over a slight knoll. Also beware, he will wander south of Wenlock Crossing and I have seen him as far as Bloomfield (the VT-NH border). Finally, as a 30 year resident of the Kingdom I can honestly say that the cop does not care if he pulls over a Vermonter, a Texan, or anyone. He will ticket you, period.

Comment (12/2004): Here is the real story not just the rumor mill stuff. The local Law Enforcement does not stop or ticket anyone unless they are exceeding the speed limit by 11 or more MPH. If you stop at the clearly posted stop intersections no matter how long, you will not be stopped or issued a ticket. They do not target out of state vehicles but do target any vehicle whose operator violates the law. These are the facts.

Comment (7/2005): The 12/04 comment sounds nice but isn't true. Grew up in the area and still go back regularly. This may be one of the Top 5 speed traps in the country. Speed limits make little sense and I have know people to get tickets for as little as 3 MPH over the limit.

Comment (8/2005): You are right about that town. I got a speeding ticket from a constable in that town. He is very well known in that area for handing out tickets, even if you have Vermont plates.

Comment (1/2006): If you are from the town AND HAVE THE RIGHT LAST NAME you wont get a ticket in Island Pond. ALL OTHERS BEWARE. The local constable has been known to make up his own laws. Even the local state camp ground has a warning to it's vistors.

Comment (1/2006): I have been going here for years and I can say I have been lucky, however I am one of the very few. Every year someone we know gets a ticket for speeding or failure to stop, when in fact they did stop, but not long enough, or were traveling a few miles over the limit. This has been ongoig for as long as I've been visiting, and I have been told by locals it has been that way for as long as they can remember. The hidden traps are just that ! Traps ! BEWARE !

Comment (1/2006): It’s really a shame to have such a constable for such a small, precious town. It’s proven to be bad for business as many visitors won’t even go to Island Pond anymore because of being pulled over for nonsense and the feeling of being harassed for no reason. This little town survives on tourism and this “bully in blue”, as he’s been called, feels the need to pull every single one of our visitors, ticket them and piss them off enough to never come back. Maybe he’d feel a little different if he owned a business that required visitors to come spend money!

Comment (3/2006): I agree that this is a speed trap town. I was stopped and ticketed for 5 mph over the speed limit. So the person that said that it has to be 11 mph over does not know what he is talking about. Also to that person whom said that.. There should also be common sense and discrection involved before a ticket is written. This constable likes to puff out his chest and become Mr. Macho and never gives any warnings , just tickets. Unfortunately some constables think that they are above the law. When in fact they may be the biggest crooks of all. :-)....

Comment (3/2006): We are from NH and own a lake house in Morgan, VT and used to drive through Island Pond on the way there. After getting a ticket for 3 MPH over the speed limit and one for an "incomplete stop" at the 4-way in the middle of town, I will no longer go to Island Pond for any reason! I failed to make a complete stop at a stop sign in town, was probably barely rolling, and got a ticket. I will no longer go to the restaurant in town or the grocery store like I used to. That constable needs to be less of a pinhead. We used to spend at least $3,000 per summer on groceries, gas, and meals out, but no longer in that town.

Comment (8/2006): I live in Brownington and used to go to the local Jennifers restraunt every Friday. Stopped going to Island Pond totally several years ago when the constable was recognized for issuing the most tickets in the entire state. Doesn't matter if you're speeding or not, if you're not a local, you'll get stopped and ticketed for something, real or not, be ready to pay homage for traveling through town. Someone should get the ACLU or 60 minutes to check it out and sue the town back into the stone age. You have no rights, no recourse, and no chance of winning in court. Avoid and boycott this town at all costs.

Comment (9/2006): It's not just speeding, it's any infraction. The local state park gives you a card to hang from your mirror, but they warn you that "The constable" will ticket you for this. You would think he'd be ready for retirement, this has been going on in Island Pond for 20 years

Comment (9/2006): This is the worst speed trap in New England bar none. The local "John Law" is neiher a State Trooper nor a County Sheriff- Just a town constable whom the Town supports because of his "revenue enhancement" efforts. It's why I refuse to patronise any businesses there. Motorists driving in this area need to be very careful and avoid the town if at all possible.

Comment (11/2007): After recently reading a news article about this constable I have located Island Pond on the map so that I can avoid passing through that town for any reason. Vermont is one of the most gorgeous states in the country and as a Massachusetts resident, it is desirable as a vacation destination because it\'s I can drive there. Boycotting the entire town is the only way to hope for change in this situation since the town administration is complicit in this scheme. With so little vacation time per year it is not worth ruining an entire vacation by getting a $200 ticket from an arrogant, in-your-face cop. He can shake down and bully someone else and I\'ll spend my time and money somewhere else.

Comment (01/2008): I guess my only question is - were you or were you not speeding? I occasionally exceed the posted limit (AKA speed) and have received two tickets in my life. I have no defense, I was, after all, speeding, so quit whining and pay the ticket. Two above or ten it\'s still speeding.