Fife, Washington Speed Traps
Interstate 5 north and south-bound near overpass at 54th Avenue East
Airplane will fly in figure-8 pattern over the several miles long straightaway before and after the 54th Avenue East exit (City of Fife), spotting for the WSP cars which are usually lined up on the on-ramps where they can’t be seen until after you go under the overpass – and then you have to look back sharply over your right shoulder to see them. But it’s too late because the airplane already timed you well before you reached the overpass. This is not necessarily a daily occurrence; it’s done randomly but when they set this up, they’ll usually do it for several days running before they move on to the next zone. Keep an eye out for their single-engine plane doing lazy figure-8’s over this stretch of I-5.
54th Avenue
PO will park his cruiser facing opposite way of the road at the city hall parking lot, thus the offender thinking the cruiser is parked doing business inside the city hall. The road is a loop and is also a School Zone. Posted Speed limit is 20MPH. Do not exceed more than that especially during school hours. Yes it is a High School and I got me a $132 ticket 5 years ago for doing 30 on a HIGH School Zone road at 830AM. Go figure, High School kids and 830AM = Ticket. My 1st and ONLY ticket since I’ve started driving. Also Fife is very good at catching DUIs, so if you even think of doing it, don’t do it here. Don’t do it period.
I-5
Unmarked Cars are: Golden Colored Dodge Intrepid brand new. Dark-tinted glass. No WSP plates.
White Volvo Station Wagon
Dark red or Burgandy Ford/Mercury Sedan
Valley Avenue (or anywhere in Fife, for that matter.)
Valley Avenue through Fife has long been known as one of the worst speed traps through Pierce County. When they say 30 m.p.h., they mean it! Other areas of Fife are also high enforcement areas. A recent (October 7, 2001) Tacoma News Tribune article title pretty much sums up the situation in Fife: Tops in tickets ; Last year, Fife police officers issued more tickets than the city has residents.
I-5 North or South
The cops hide right behind the overpass coming down the hill from puyallup ave. It was dark out so I couldn’t see him, so early moring or late at night be aware. And these cops dont cut any breaks for just coming down a steep hill on an Interstate where you are already going 5 or even 10 over.