This page was last revised November 29, 1996.
Rt.2 through Acton:
Between piper road and the state police farm. the local police love to
park in the trees just before the road rises you don't see them till they
are on you.the Acton police are very quota conscious and are at their
worst at the end of the month
I-290 in Massachusetts:
Going south into the city of Worcester, right after the Rt. 140 interchange,
there is a trapping area on the hill, as the highway curves around to the
left. The radar vehicle is well hidden in a pocket on your left, at the
inside of the corner. Speeders are radioed ahead, about 100 yards down
the highway where a cruiser or two are parked, one trooper points at you
to pull over, and if you don't a chase vehicle will tag you. Ugly, but
generates lots of revenue for the state, so that they can (yeah, right)
fix all those potholes.
Rt. 2:
Frequent Speed traps set up on Route 2 anywhere from 1-5 miles
west of Route 128, normal instant on Radar Traps.
Rt.16 West in Everett Ma:
Just pass the Route 99 Overpass. This is a 35MPH zone with easy capability
to handle 70MPH so a ticket here would be expensive, expect the trap to be
set at least once a week. Also further on down RT 16 right after it crosses
Route 93, this is a superslab type highway that merges down into a congested
area, frequent traps in the 35MPH slow down area.
Rt. 16 in Newton:
Nice, straight, 4-lane, well lit road through Newton with a 25 mph speed
limit. Watch for local cops at either the Mass Pike entrance or at the Rt.128
end by the Wellesley Hospital.
I-290 East of Worcester, the 13-mile stretch before 495:
This is an EXTREMELY heavily patrolled road. Cops hide about once a month for
a week at a time, all along the U-shaped turn arounds, and even in the
breakdown lane. BE VERY CAREFUL along this stretch!! Also, MA has a 1994
red Camaro. I couldn't be sure whether or not the roof was blacked out
(indicating a Z-28), but the body appeard a 6-cyl!
Rte 190 North:
Another heavily-patrolled road...this is unfortunate, since the road was
designed for traffic at 85-90 mph easily. Cops like to hang out at two
main places: just after the first sign for Rte 140, there's a bridge
over 190. They like to wait just after the overpass.
Rt 12 (Sterling/Clinton) exit:
They wait on the main road just after the exit ramp.
Between Amherst and Belchertown on Bay Road:
Headed towards Belchertown, the speed limit drops from 40 to 20. As you
come over the hill there's generally a cop
Route 9, outside of Belchertown center (coming from Amherst):
There's almost always a cop during rush hour and on weekend nights within
the 1/4 mile between the pride station and town.
On umass-amherst campus -- everywhere. be very careful
Route 9, before the bridge into northampton, often a trap there during rush hour
Lexington:
In the center of town, on weekend nights, always a cop somewhere on mass
ave (for that 1/4 mile)
Route 9, in Ware:
About 1 mile from center of town (coming from Belchertown) as speed limit
drops from 40 to 35 and you are headed down a steep, curving hill, there
is a cop hidden on a side road. He or she is almost always there during
rush hour and weekend nights (our house is at the bottom of the hill --
we are constantly seeing people pulled over)
Route 9, in Ware:
1/10 mile from friendly's (in center of town) coming from Belchertown,
occasionally a speed trap.
On Route 3 South heading towards the south shore.
In the downhill curve just after the Braintree T exit:
Usually a MASS state trooper is waiting - mostly during daytime hours -
not during busy commutes.
Brighton:
Soldier's Field Rd. and Soldier's Field Rd. Extension. State
Police Barracks encourages Blues to "fish off their own Pier". Particular
targets seem to be younger drivers. Radar traps near the Public Theater and
just past Market St. underpass. Also patrol w/ radar. Speedlimit drops to 25
at Pool Rotary. Watch it!
Brighton:
Soldier's Field Road and Extension (west of Storrow Drive). This spot has
been mentioned already, but I thought it worthwhile to add that they are
always out on weekend mornings, both Saturday and Sunday. I have seen three
cars pulled over at one time at 7am on a Sunday! They patrol both the east
and westbound sides, especially around Martignetti Liquors (westbound) and
east of the State Police barracks (eastbound). The speed limit is low: 25-35
most of the way.
Lowell Connector outbound:
Just as you pass the 495 north ramp and start that long left turn downhill.
Usually 1 or 2 cops waiting in the breakdown lane. Speed limit is 50 NOT 55.
Quincy:
On Sea street there is one speed trap located in the library parking lot at
the corner of Palmer street. Also in the Germantown Area at the other end
of Palmer street there are two traps. One is a school parking lot on the left
as you approach from Palmer Street at the top of a hill. there are almost
always City cops busting cars going 26 MPH there. Also just past that about
1/8 mile there is a small rotary with some trees in the middle. there is
sometimes a cruiser in back of them with a radar gun also busting anyone
going even 1 MPH over the non-posted 25 limit.
I-90 West:
mi. 100.5, as you go over the hill, they sit on the right side.
I-90 West:
mi. 114.1, they sit on the right shoulder.
I-90 East:
1 mi. before rt 95, they sit on the right shoulder.
2 West:
between mi. 117-116, they sit on the right shoulder.
2 West:
:
2 mi. west of rt 495, they sit on the right shoulder.
Rte. I-95 North just beyond I-93:
In between the Rte. 28 North and South exits, there is a clump of
bushes that they love to sit behind. When the bushes have leaves
on them, the cops can be very hard to see. It also happens to be
at the top of a leftward turning hill.
On Rte 9 on the Natick line (the Speen St. interchange):
There is
often a Natick patrol car on the inside of the curve on the
eastbound side, as well as about a mile down the road from there.
On many occasions, the officer is standing outside of the
patrol car, aiming at traffic with a hand-held radar gun.
In Natick, on rte 135:
A Natick police car can often be found
on speedtrap duty on the eastbound side of the road (which tends
to be poorly lite), in the one-mile stretch between the West Natick
T station and Mill St.
Rte. 128 north:
Between the rte 2A (Lexington) and rte 4/225
(Lexington/Bedford) exits, there's a lovely descending curve and
straightaway. The temptation to do ninety through there is strong,
but be careful; there is occasionally a state trooper on the
curve's exit. The same warning holds true for the same curve
going southbound. However, it's worth noting that because of
the volume of traffic, the staties rarely set up speed traps
on 128 during daylight hours; they will instead cruise through
traffic and sneak up on unsuspecting motorists.
On Rte. 30 between Framingham and Weston:
The Weston police occasionally set up shop on the eastbound
side of the road.
I-95 at the Newburyport overpass:
State cops sit on the blind side of the bridge abutment
and wait for you to come past. Seems to be most often active on
weekends, but State Police barracks is close, so there is a
lot of activity in that area. Also saw some enterprising
officer up top of the overpass once with a radar unit and an
associate about 1/4 mi further down the road waiting.
I-95N ramp in Peabody (entering from Rt.128N):
On weekends, often several cruisers stacked on Northbound side
of road just past the long right-hand curve before the Rt.1
merge. Have seen them get 5-6 cars at once on a busy day.
Route 93 North in Dorchester:
A State Trooper usually waits in the breakdown lane at the Savin Hill
boatyard from 12:00 - 2:00 pm to catch anyone using the breakdown lane.
Brookline:
Inbound Beacon St just before Coolege corner @ Store 24.
Most mornings. Like a 25 mph zone.
I-93N Andover area:
Around the #42 to #44 exits on right side there is a big grass
area between the on/off ramps. A Mass state cruiser or a marked
war wagon sits way back off the highway. You don't see him until
you pass by. Usual speed is 70-75 mph in morning rush hours. If
over that, they'll probably come after ya.
Rt 117 - Maynard/Sudbury:
Watch it all along this road East or West. Both towns love to bag
you. Speed limit is 35-45 I think. The cops like to hide just off
the road in the woods or even in house driveways. Use a radar
detector along this road.
Waltham:
Totten Pond road eastbound, just inside 128.
The road goes down a hill with a curve to the right.
Approx. .5 mile after the 128 overpass, there is a parking
lot on the right where Waltham's finest often set a trap.
Speed limit is 35, but anyone in a fast car is fair game to
be pulled over for "doin' 50". Most active after the
morning rush hour weekdays and Fri/Sat nights between 9
and 1am.
Rt. 44 in Middleboro:
One cop there has written an average of 3,000 tickets
a year on this road for the past ten years. That's more
than the average of most towns in Massachussetts.
Milton:
Randolph St. southbound 1/4 mile from Adams St. Local police
park on side walk hidden behind trees. Speed limit 35mph
they are there on sunny days for PM drive time.
Watertown:
On the Road that runs along the Charles River behind the Arsenal Mall.
The cops tend to sit in the "lover's lane areas" waiting to pick you off.
Also farther up towards Watertown square where there is a playground near
the river they are almost always parked on a small side street waiting.
Also they wait at a rear non-enterable gate to the Arsenal Mall near the
Perkin's School for the blind.
I-91 North:
Just after crossing from Connecticut into Massachusetts, right-hand bend with
cruisers positioned in U-turn.
Route 9 Westbound:
2 blocks before intersection with Hammond Pond Parkway. Every few mornings
there will be a biker cop with radar gun on one of the cross streets,
aiming his gun at the westbound traffic. It's a 40MPH zone
that can easily accomodate 60MPH so many speeders get bagged.
Rt 117 in Bolton:
This is the MAIN road through town and also the
same road many people in neighboring towns use as a "short cut" to I-495.
Anywhere along this road could be found one or more of Bolton's finest.
Most of the time they hide at the Bolton Orchards parking lot where Rt 110
crosses Rt 117. The Bolton Police have the following as unmarked: White
Ford Explorer, although they never wash it so it's kinda dull at night.
Green Chevrolet Caprice, this is a late 80's model, not the current EGG
shaped Caprice. Just one final note. A town the size of Bolton (pop 3,
500) should write about 500 tickets per year, but these yahoos managed to
write over 4,000 tickets in 1994 alone. Also, Rt 117 travels through
Lancaster.....watch out near the pond
(next to the snowmobile ranch). They like to sit in the back and wait for
you to pass at 60 mph+.....they then nab you. Another rumor I have heard is
that the Clinton/Lancaster/Bolton police
all have jurisdiciton in ANY of those towns.....this rumor has not been
confirmed. That means that just because you cross the town line doesn't
mean you made it. Of course, the State Police like to help out in Bolton
too.....gotta get those quotas! :)
Route 3 southbound just before exit 12 (Marshfield / Pembroke):
State troopers sit in the median with radar and pull speeders over into the
rest area. Great location for the police, since drivers are cresting a hill
and do not see the Staties untill it's too late. This spot is well known by
locals. Weekends and non-rush hour times are a favorite. TIP:If everyone
starts slowing down for no apparent reason, slow down too! This spot also is
occasionally used for Northbound traps, but less frequently.
Bolton Route 117 between 495 and 110:
At the beginning of the month they have their eye out for expired registrations
in the area just as the speed slows to 30mph. They have an unmarked white Ford
Explorer that often times is parked parallel with the road, looking like a
regularly parked car. Though there are some good hiding spots on the road as
well. Bolton is know for the amount of revenue it generates out of speeding
tickets.
Egermont, Route 23:
In this small village, 25 Mph is vigorously enforces. One of the smallest towns
in Western MA but has the third highest revenue from traffic enforcement.
Middleboro:
At the rotary where route 44, 18 & 28 come together. Very aggressive and
obnoxious local police. I received a ticket for improperly entering a rotary.
I did NOT enter incorrectly.
Rt 4/225, Carlisle:
There are several places which 4/255 drops down to 25mph.
Radar is commonly found in the Kimbles ice cream parking
lot. Very strict and cannot be talked out of it.
Blaney road, Carlisle:
About 1.5 miles after you leave 4/255 going towards Concord
Center you will see radar tucked in the woods after a straight
away. Speed limit is 25 and they get people constantly.
Carlisle Center:
Back-way past the school, Carlisle
They sit at the end on the right just before you get back
onto 4/225
Route 2, in Williamstown:
Greater than 70% chance of rolling cruiser using K-band moving radar. The
patrol limit seems to be from the Friendly Ice Cream on the east side of
Williamstown to the cluster of rent-a-cabin motels on the west side. Easy
to avoid with a radar detector, as they don't seem to use instant-on. This
is a consistent trap; they run it all year, not just for the end-of-the-month
quota bagging.
Callahan Tunnel from Boston to Logan Airport:
Or East Boston, don't even think about crossing the yellow line! The State
Police were waiting at the exit of the tunnel. I don't know how they caught
me on this one with all the traffic but it was a $50.00 fine for switching
lanes. The trooper gave me a break (WOW!) on speeding. It is 35 MPH. A
friend of a friend was not so lucky driving 65 MPH.
Eastbound or Westbound on Soldiers Field Road in Allston/Brighton:
...where WBZ channel 4 is located. This is
another 25-35 zone that people speed on. There is a State
Trooper barracks here. Many people get off the Mass Pike
in Newton and go this route into Boston/Cambridge. There
are plenty of curves here for them to hide in. I have seen
plenty off pull overs and my brother and boss' husband have
both been nailed here. A cop said to one, "Keep it under
45.". This spot is frequently patroled from numerous spots.
Leo Birmingham Parkway in Brighton:
This is a long strip of
two lane road that is 25-35. Right at the Westbound end, a
Boston Police or State Police cruiser will be waiting. This
one is not too frequent...but since the posted speed is so
low, one might unknowingly go over the limit.
Brookline:
Anywhere. The local police don't like people from outside
Brookline driving through their community never mind
speeding.
I-95 Southbound:
Soon after exit 51, there is a bridge that 95 goes under,
a patrol car will be waiting.
I-495 around N. Attleboro:
I noticed cops patroling on a number of ocasions while
travling to the Emerald Square Mall. They are local cops
with white marked cars.
A bit of interesting data to include with each state might
be the formula for tickets and cost to insurance. {If anyone has similar info.
for other states I will include it. --Andy}
MA is (I believe):
if( ( car speed - speed limit ) > 10MPH ) Fine = (car speed - speed limit - 10MPH) * $10.00 + $50.00 else Fine = $50.00 Example: Doing 72MPH in a 55MPH zone is $120.00. Each ticket is 2 points. Each point is $80.00 more on your insurance for the next 5 to 7 years. If someone does some ridiculous speed over the limit, I don't know if there are additional fines, points, and/or jail time.
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This page was last revised November 29, 1996.
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