South Haven, Michigan Speed Traps

I-196 north of South Haven at the 23 mile marker state police hide behind the 71st. Street overpass and pick off north bound speeders.

On Phoenix St., approaching the downtown area from the east, cops tend to park and radar from the parking lot of the First Congregational Church. It’s a large parking lot on the right-hand side of the road…I think the only thing between it and the traffic light at Broadway is a bank. There’s a ravine immediately before you reach the lot that blocks your view, so you won’t see the car there until it’s too late. The posted speed limit is 35, but as it’s a 4-lane road and the main road leading into town, people typically drive closer to 40 mph.

Most out of towners don’t need to worry, unless they are blatantly violating the law. The people who have to worry are the locals, as the cops will try to earn the city money by really squeezing the law to find a violation. The reason is it’s a tourist town and they really don’t want to kill the golden calf. I am a local and have seen a lot of friends pinched for things that the tourist staying next door do and not get bothered.

Speed drops from 55mph to 50mph 1/10th of a mile north of Phoenix, just south of police/fire station, so there is lots of police traffic in that area. Most people are not paying close attention to speed limit signs when they are that close to approaching an intersection & already slowing somewhat to make a turn or preparing to stop at the intersection. I received a ticket claiming I was in the 50mph zone, when I was not yet there.

COPS ON BIKES, One on one corner one on another, radio each other to stop cars for seat belts and speeding. This is done all over town and on both sides of the bridge.