Speed enforcement in AZ. and NM?

[speeder]

Planning a drive along the I-10 from CA. to NM to see parents for x-mas, just wondering if anyone could offer some insight into the level and types of speed enforcement in those two states. Do they use radar extensively? Laser? TIA as always.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by speeder

Planning a drive along the I-10 from CA. to NM to see parents for x-mas, just wondering if anyone could offer some insight into the level and types of speed enforcement in those two states. Do they use radar extensively? Laser? TIA as always.

Denis - I was in Santa Fe over Thanksgiving. Little to none to and from Albuquerque. I cruised at about 85-90 mph in the rented Camry.

[Type911]

AZ uses Laser & radar. Often times AZ Hwy patrol will park in the median, sometimes hidden, & shot you with "instant-on" radar as you pass by.
My experience is that AZ will also patrol in packs, east/west bound.

NM...haaa yeah 85-90 mph is pretty much the avg speed on I-25 from ABQ to
Santa Fe. I have found NM enforcement to be pretty lax on the interstates, they seem to patrol the secondary hwy's more. Of course your results may vary. Bring the VI

[speeder]

Thanks, guys. In AZ., I guess a V-1 would be pretty handy if it could warn you of them *blipping* people ahead of you.

[sammyg2]

Be really, really careful on I-10 past the calif ariz line, just before the ariz 60. I drive that way going to wickenburg a couple times a year and I'd say there is at least one cop there half of the times I've passed that spot. They sit in the median and pull over one car after another. I've seen about 8 highway patrol cars working that section at once.
I got pulled over there a couple of years ago. I knew they were there, I had the cruise control set 1 mph below the speed limit, and still got pulled over. The guy asked me all kinds of questions for 10 minutes, sat in his car for 15 minutes (prolly checking my record, I bet he was dissapointed because I don't have one). Eventually he let me go with a warning. For nothing. I did nothing, but he gave me a written signed warning. He told he it was so he would have some paperwork to show he pulled over. He was actually pretty cool but i got the impression the people he reports to are *********s and make him do all kinds of things he doesn't think are exactly OK.

Slow down there and you'll prolly be OK.

[sammyg2]

Here's a map showing exactly where I'm talking about. East of Quartsite, sitting in the middle median which is huge and covered in trees and bushes. It's at the bottom of a long gradual downhill when heading west. I'm almost tempted to check that spot on google earth to see if there are cops in the picture

[kstar]

Sammy:

Looks like a smokey in the median at:
33°40'8.55"N
114°10'10.54"W

About right where you said they might be!

Best,

Kurt

[sammyg2]

LOL the resolution isn't good enough on that stretch of road to see if they are there or not.

[kstar]

I'm using the Google Earth application - can see a car pretty well from above:

[Scott98]

There are virtually no cops patrolling the interstates in NM. Even if they are there, your V1 will pick them off miles away in most instances due to the terrain.

Scott

[Eric Coffey]

What Sammy says x 1000. My bro would drive over from 29 Palms almost every weekend when in the Marines, and always encountered heavy police presence on that stretch. After a couple tickets, he learned to slow down on that section of the 10. Also keep in mind that here in AZ, if you get cited for 20+ mph over the limit, it becomes criminal speed (misdemeanor), with a mandatory court appearance.

[speeder]

Thanks, guys. Duely noted.

[RoninLB]

Ariz Calif border is a drug and gang Hy. Crossing L Havasu from Az to Calif is another one. Easy to sneak in Az from Mex.




You can cruise [off-season] 80-100 in NM on imperfect 2 laners if you know how. Many locals do. It's great 911 driving. I90% of HP has radar on full time. An always slow down before the small towns. Speeding becomes sacralige n some places. And you also slow down before passing oncoming cars. If you have a front/rear 930 spoilersl you can increase my #'s 10-20 at least. And run like that for hours.

Same deal w/Az if you know where to go.

[Danny_Ocean]

I've been coming/going to NM for the last 3 years. The only place I've seen State Troopers is in the parking lot of their barracks (just an FYI, YMMV).

[Jeff]

Speeder, If your route is going to be I-10 to 17 to 40 to NM. Try this route instead. It is much more scenic and will save you around 1 1/2 hrs.

I-10 East
202 East
87 (Country Club) North (left off the exit)
260 North East (it will split from 87 in Payson, you will take a right)
277 Left
377 Left
77 Left
40 East. This will bring you out in the town of Holbrook Az.

Have a safe trip.

[Jim Sims]

V1 is useless relative to wild game and drunks (there are are plenty of both here). Hitting even a rabbit at 90 mph may result in an unfortunate result.

[sammyg2]

I don't know if this still applies but about 30 years ago you would have to be careful when driving in new Mexico around the 4 corners area, gallup, shiprock etc on friday or saturday nights. The traffic gets, well we'll just say they could drive with alot of imagination

[RoninLB]

parts of NM are just as full of wildlife as when Geronimo hunted there.

[speeder]

Believe me, that's my biggest fear out on the road.

[Jim Sims]

Then slow down; especially when driving at night. There is occasional aerial based speed enforcement in NM (one can see the timing marks on the road surface) and there's one officer over by Vaughn still using the binoculars, stop watch, land mark method to pick off Texans speeding to the ski areas of the north. A V1 is useless in these instances.