Welcome To Speed Trap, Oklahoma
A Bubbaworld Editorial Opinion
There really isn't a town named 'Speed Trap, Oklahoma'. That would be too obvious even for those that operate speed traps in many Oklahoma towns through which major U.S. and state highways pass. For many years speed traps existed all over Oklahoma. A few years ago a law was passed to put them out of business. That law has now effectively been repealed and the speed traps are back in business. Therefore, Speed Trap, Oklahoma may turn out to be any town through which you pass.
As of April 30, 2007 speed traps were legitimized and condoned throughout Oklahoma. Previously Oklahoma cities and towns ran the risk of losing traffic ticket writing authority if more than 50 percent of their operating revenue came from traffic citations.
That is no longer the case thanks to some trickery on the part of State Representative Paul D. Roan (D-Tishomingo), who in the role of 'Flim-Flam Man' managed to sneak what is known in Oklahoma legislative circles as a 'woolly booger' past not only his fellow representatives, but also the Oklahoma Senate and Governor Brad Henry.
Roan pulled off his trickery by adding an amendment to HB 1616 which was a 'clean up bill', one requested by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety to clean up previous legislation, clarify meanings and issues relating to law enforcement, transportation and public safety.
What Roan's amendment did was basically repeal Oklahoma's anti-speed trap law, except on interstate highways. It did this by removing the authority of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) to revoke the ticket writing authority of those towns determined to be speed traps. Speed trap cities and towns are now free to write as many traffic tickets as they wish on non-interstate federal highways and state highways throughout the state of Oklahoma.
Additionally, Roan's amendment revoked the right of citizens to lodge a complaint with and request an investigation by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) of alleged speed traps. Previously anyone could lodge a complaint against and request an investigation of an alleged speed trap. Not any more.
