Smokey Point, Washington Speed Traps

State trooper sitting at off ramp, left lane. Spots a motorhome facing East on the overpass getting ready to do a left turn onto the south bound on ramp at red light. Trooper is very animated and comes around the corner looking up, screaming while shaking his own harness. This guy is so agitated he does a U-turn right on the traffic filled overpass to pursue this motorhome onto the freeway on ramp for an alleged seat belt violation! Maybe this guy was having a bad day and should have just had a supervisor come and take him home. I just really wish I’d have had the video cam going. This trooper appeared to be extremely threatening.

Between I-5 exits 210 and 212, I-5 has a wide median/grassy strip with a U-Turn for official vehicles (read State Patrol and Sheriff). Driving south on I-5 there is about a half mile median stretch of woods before reaching the grassy median and the paved median U-Turn. The speed limit is 70 mph. Law enforcement vehicles cannot be seen until it is too late. This is a favorite state patrol hunting ground and sometimes a State Patrol airplane is used to track speeders going south so the ground Patrol waiting on the paved U-Turn can nab them. It is operational day and night.

The State Patrol uses this spot heavily. It is another ideal spot. Driving south on I-5 about a half mile before Exit 210, I-5 curves to the right then downhill about 1/4 mile. The Exit 210 overpass comes into view. In the median there are some tall trees that obscure the center of the overpass until the driver is about half way down the hill. Once past the trees the patrol vehicle can be seen but it is too late. In the summer it is especially difficult to see the patrol car because of the leaves on the trees.