Jurisdiction

Asotin, Washington

Speed Trap Location

129 US Highway

Nearest Reference Point

n/a

GPS Coordinates

n/a

Time of Day

Any time of day

Level of Enforcement

Some

Type of Enforcement

Unknown

Date

5/2005

The city needs to generate revenue to pay the cops wages, so you will now see cops either parked at the North entrance to the city or parked accross the street from the Asotin Market. Second street is the main drag through town, it is also a school zone. Beware!

Comment (1/2006): I was caught in this speed trap on the 12th of this month 3:30 pm - year 2006 north of the city. I now know that the city had moved the speed signs a little more than a month ago. The speed sign I am refuring to is the 35mph sign north of the city. The 35mph sign was moved from just beyond the bridge north of town to 150' to 200'farther out on the highway (150'to 200'). There was no 25mph sign to replace it. It was left unposted at this time for the unweary driver to get caught in the speed trap. By the way the cops sit right by the 35mph sign and points their radar gun down the road to catch the unweary drivers. The cop told me that I was going 37 mph in a 25mph zone but I also could see the 35mph sign. If I have any questions about this citation I received they would be:How far away from a speed sign do you have to be to go that speed? and:Dose the city have the legal right to move the signs and not inform the local goverments close to them about the changes in their city? and:The moving of the 35mph sign and not posting a changed speed of 25mph back in that location- is that legal?Thankyou for my time to share this with anybody who wants to read this or who has had similer situations in this area I am refuring to.

Comment (1/2006): As a former resident of the town, 22 years, I also recently noticed this slight change on my way to visit relatives. It was actually a topic of discussion. If I am not mistaken, the city limit actually end right at the junction with Clemens Addition (the little road that splits to go up the hill). This is several hundred feet before the location of the new signage. The "new" zone that the city installed (not the county) now encompasses county territory vs. the city limits itself. It may be worthwhile to contact the county to find out.

Comment (1/2006): Asotin is really cracking down on speeders after several years without any enforcement. With a state highway going through the middle of town by the school, there have been a lot of close calls. Fines are DOUBLE in a school zone! Regarding the previous posting, you can't speed up from 25 to 35 until you pass the 35 mph sign (check your driver's manual). Also, the WA Dept. of Transportation moved the signs, not the city. They posted bright orange flags on the southbound (inbound to town) signs. With all the kids, bikes and downtown traffic, plus turning traffic near the 25/35mph transition, I can't say I blame the city for trying to keep things safer.

Comment (1/2006): I learned in drivers ed that when there is a speed limit change that it takes effect after the sign, just because you could see the sign does not give you the legal right to exceed the speed limit, I also know that there is a school and a football field in the same area you were speeding in, my opinion is you gambled by speeding and lost, pay the fine and get over it, or tell the Judge your sad tale, I don't think he'll have any more sympathy for you than I do.

Comment (2/2006): We live on the southeast end of Asotin, on Wilson Street heading to Heller's Bar (Snake River Road). We have been concerned about the many cars exceeding the speed limit in front of our house, some driving double or more the posted 25 mph speed limit. Being alarmed by our observations, we decided to do our own traffic survey. By our estimates, from 11 1/2 hours on various dates and times of day, total car counts for an entire 24 hour period would average about 792 cars, or 5,544 per week. This is during the winter season. Although we do not possess radar, we estimate as a percentage, 43.8% are driving at a "reasonable" speed and 56.7% are well in excess of the 25 mph speed limit. Checking Asotin City records, we learned the Chief of Police and his staff issued about 9.16 citations per week, or 1.31 per day, during a 6 week period from December 5 to January 6. Your chances of getting a citation for speeding, at this rate, are almost nil. We encourage and applaud the police for enforcing our speed limits, and for trying to keep our city a safer place.

Comment (6/2006): Just recently the State legislature on the East side of the State enacted a law that Speeding in a school zone is not arguable in court.A 30 mph over in a 20 mph School zone is an automatic $200 ticket.-