“I’m a little confused… Jericho has a PD?”

Marion residents sound off on ‘speed trap’ north of town

ralphhardin@gmail.com Marion resident Bo Greene took to social media to air his grievances over a speeding ticket he received last week while passing through Jericho.

“I’m sure this is old news to everyone else, but Beware!” he posted on a Marion residents Facebook community page. “Speed Trap at Jericho!”

While the perils of passing through the tiny community lead-footed are nothing new to many Crittenden County motorists, Greene was apparently new to the game.

“I usually don’t speed at all, but I didn’t get from 55 to 45 quick enough,” Greene said. “$185.00!

No Warning! No discussion. Should have that town thriving in no time!

Quarter-mile Jurisdiction?

Really? This county should be ashamed!”

The post triggered a flurry of commentary.

Brandon Gatewood said, “I was caught in that speed trap a couple of years ago.” Bill Hale Jr. added, “It’s been an issue out there for a while. They were investigated about the ‘speed trap’ but nothing changed. If I have to go that way, I slow down way before the signs. “They will get you for anything they can!” noted Kristy Davison “My girl will go the interstate to avoid going through there,” Hale added. “We do now too,” said Jessica Simmons. “They got me one day and my husband the next.”

William Flowers Sr. offered his two cents…

“You would figure that they had learned their lesson for getting tickets for speeding and no seat belts themselves,” he said. “Going to take complaining to the State Police in Little Rock to stop them.”

“Yep,” Simmons agreed.

“Because every time I see them on 77 coming through Marion, they are speeding.”

Jane Krablin confirmed, “Yes a speed trap. A lot of people get tickets there.”

Greene asked, “I wonder how they can be radar certified with that small of a population? Unless that isnt a law anymore?”

Joe Douglas said, “They aren’t radar certified.”

“It’s known speed trap, Amanda Beck said. “But I thought they lost their PD?”

“So, I’m a little confused,” said Kali Jamila “Jericho has a PD? I get off the highway on the Jericho exit but we live off James Mill Road.

It’s apparently not always an automatic ticket.

Nathan Gibbs said, “I went through there about four years ago on my way to Wapanocca running 59 mph. Told him the fish were biting and I had to go. He let me off with a verbal warning. I thought I was getting a ticket.”

Simmons replied, “You’re lucky, because I said the same thing — ‘The crappie are biting, and I got away from my kids, sorry, I’m excited.’ It was the truth, but didn’t work.”

Erika Wanner said, “It’s purely a revenue maker… not much else in that town.”

“Must be in need for money,” opined Rita Jenkins. “I don’t go that way unless I just can’t help it. I don’t know why they even need a speed zone. Not much there at all.”

Randy Prater offered some advice.

“If the officer is not certifi ed to run radar, I would be willing to bet the radar gun has not been certified either,” he said. “Been there done that many times, and every time, the ticket was dropped.”

Beverly Weatherford offered another driving tip.

“I am new to the area… I just wanted to say I moved here from Middle Tennessee and am always careful about speed limits. I had a friend who got a ticket because she started going faster before she was right by the speed limit sign. The policeman told her she had to be even with the sign before speeding up. Because of that I do the same now.”

Amanda Renee said, “Don’t tell anyone there’s a speed trap… my thing is if they avoid there and speed somewhere else, then what happens when they hit a child or cause a wreck?”

Flowers said, “it’s a BS speed trap. It goes from 55 mph to 45 mph. No warning, no nothing. I mean, like 2.5 seconds from seeing 55 then 45. Yep, no time to slow down.” Wanner agreed, saying, “If there was warning that’d be different, but there’s not.”

Leon Presley noted, “A speed trap, defined by the state of Arkansas, is if a town gets a certain percentage of their revenue from speeding tickets.

They were shut down not too long ago for being classified as a speed trap.

Apparently they’re back at it again.”

Earlean Nelson got the final word in, though it might have been tinged with a little sarcasm.

“Every town gives tickets,” she said. “Even Marion, and I’ve gotten more in Marion than I have in Jericho… their town is so small, police have nothing to do except tickets… no violence in such a peaceful family-oriented community.”