Camera Speeding Ticket without Sign Notice... (Chattanooga, East Brainerd: construction, legally, safety)

[Vcize]

I recently got a ticket in the mail for speeding, caught by a camera. I thought that there had to be a sign notifying the drives that speed was being checked by detection devices to get a ticket for speeding in this manor. Is this not the case? There are definitely no signs warning of the camera in the area.

[jjs7one]

Where is the area in question?

[An Einnseanair]

They can give you a ticket any time you exceed the legally posted speed limit, warning sign or no warning sign. The warning signs are just a way to convince people that it's all about safety instead of revenue.

Also, you probably got a ticket from one of the 2 or 3 mobile speed camera vans that roam the area. The only permanent speed cameras in Chattanooga are on Barton across from GPS, Hixon Pike at the "S" curves, and S. Crest Rd. at the GA line. Plus I think some of the red-light cameras will also issue a ticket if you're going more than 10mph over the limit. The mobile cameras are in unmarked white panel vans, usually parked on the shoulder slightly diagonal to the road. I believe they do usually (always?) put up warning signs, but there aren't any rules about where they put the signs... such as 1/2 mile away in a cluster of orange construction signs, for example. These vans are no different from a traditional speed trap featuring a police officer with a radar gun. I've seen these vans parked all over town. S. Broad just south of Chatt. Creek; E. Brainerd at I-75; Brainerd just west (downhill) of the McCallie Tunnels; and on MLK in that 25mph speed zone where people usually drive 40 are all popular locations. Just curious, but where does it say you got your ticket?

Incidentally, the cameras were mentioned in today's Chattanooga Times Free Press.

[Vcize]

Ah, I know exactly the vans you're talking about, I see them parked over on Amnicola highway just off 153 where it's absurdly a 40 mph speed limit in a wide open 4-lane area.

The ticket in question came on East Brainerd road, heading west under the I-75 overpass. 4-lanes, downhill, 52 in a 40 :\

There's some kind of rule about not being able to get several camera tickets within a certain timespan, right? Otherwise I'm pretty sure I'll have another one coming from that Amnicola Hwy spot, along with about 60,000 other people that do 50+ down that road every day.

[An Einnseanair]

Originally Posted by Vcize

The ticket in question came on East Brainerd road, heading west under the I-75 overpass. 4-lanes, downhill, 52 in a 40 :\

Yep, that's the spot. For a while they were "hiding" the speed-camera sign amongst the construction signs back over the hill to the east.

[Davojones]

I have gotten a couple of tickets in that location on E. Brainerd Rd. They did have a sign posted but it was in the curve up by Mari-Jon Lane. My wife thinks we just have an automatic bill for $50 every month because of that van.

[Nonlocal]

Speed limit on Amnicola is 50, except for the curves RIGHT before you get to 153.

[VolDude]

Just don't pay it.

[dasmarian]

Amusingly, someone put a hand-written sign in the median on Brainerd just before the tunnel (heading west) warning people to look out for the van. Go society!

[sc2tx2tn]

Hah! I thought that van was like a taco truck or something (I just moved here from TX and taco trucks are like icecream trucks!). I guess I was driving too fast to pay attention!