Semi Truck drivers rack up millions of miles on interstates and highways criss-crossing the United States from coast-to-coast and border-to-border.
When OTR drivers exit these major arteries, their routes sometimes take them on two-lane roads through small towns for cargo drop-offs or pick-ups. These short stretches of blacktop are often where truckers encounter serious problems.
Speed Trap Towns Entrap Drivers — and Worse
Police in sleepy little towns may not encounter many law-breakers or speeders. So, some cops invent questionable grounds to ticket more drivers and rake in the cash.
Recently, one speed-trap town in Alabama made news for its driver shakedowns and scams designed to separate drivers from their hard-earned money and property.
A Tale of One Town
Tiny Brookside, Alabama, (pop. 1,253) is due north of Birmingham. Over seven years during the past decade, only 55 serious crimes in Brookside required referrals to Alabama’s state law enforcement agencies or courts for further action. None reported involved rapes or homicides.
That statistical pattern soon changed dramatically.
Sea Change Arrived
Four years ago, Brookside’s police chief instituted far more stringent ticketing policies and added more officers to monitor Brookside’s 7.5 miles of roadways.
This aggressive policing was implemented to generate more revenue for Brookside. Between 2018 and 2020, the take from property forfeitures, fees and fines comprised half the town’s annual income. Their revenue increased more than 640 percent.
Fallout from Forfeitures and False Ticketing
Big rig drivers caught in speed-traps face missed driving deadlines, blemishes on their good driving records or even threats to their CDLs. Worst-case scenarios could even include property forfeitures, like so many residents and motorists experience while driving through these speed-trap towns.
Brookeside police allegedly pursued drivers far beyond their jurisdiction, invented laws and terrorized immigrant drivers and passengers during traffic stops. Some drivers ticketed for nonexistent infractions went to jail and got into debt for fines, fees and expenses related to the false police stops.
The Tide Is Turning Back
The week after an article describing the above conditions in Brookside was published online, heads rolled. First to go was the police chief, who resigned after coming under fire for his likely illegal ticketing tactics. Simultaneous federal and state audits may reveal additional illegal practices.
Meanwhile, a state representative is pressuring the town’s judge and city prosecutor to resign as well.
Other Snares Await Unwary OTR Drivers
OTR truckers, do you have similar stories about speed-trap towns like Brookside? We welcome comments from truck drivers describing their experiences with speed-trap towns all over the United States. List the town’s location, what happened during the stop and any tips for avoiding police profiling and aggressive or creative ticketing policies.
Dirty cop was allowed to resign and keep his FULL pension as USUAL a…Ole should be in jail.
In the late 80’s early 90’s the little scale in McAlister, OK. was generally fair and didn’t mess with you to much except when the produce harvest was in full swing, at those times it was always good to have an extra bushel or 2 because you were going to be that much overweight and would have to take thst much off or be fined for your “Transgression of the weight laws” as it was put to me by the fine, upstanding scale officer. Never seemed to bother me or most of the drivers that went thru there, but then again, that was when you could go and do your job without having everybody’s mother and their uncle shoving a new rule or regulation down your throat, and their hand in your pocket, the worst offender that I see are not the cop out doing his job, but the politicians making rules for an industry that they know nothing about, and listening to the so called professionals that know even less.
You hit the nail on the head !
worst one in jonesboro la bunch of low life asshole crooks, its not going on ure cdl just send us money
Uniontown, Alabama is another town that is always setting up speed traps. It’s better Selma and Demopolis, Alabama on us 80