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Speedtrap on Shellhorn Rd

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by bird, Jun 2, 2009.

  1. bird

    bird New Member

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    It seems that Shellhorn Rd near Loudoun County Pkwy has become the newest speedtrap, similar to what existed on Waxpool Rd near MCI building before they changed the speed limit there to 45. The speed limit on Shellhorn is 35, which is ridiculous since there is no reason to drive so slowly on that stretch of road. No one drives 35, especially during the morning commute hours when people take Shellhorn to Loudoun County Pkwy to avoid the horribly conjested Waxpool Rd. Today I received a speeding ticket from an officer standing near his motorcycle (didn't see him till too late). Of course every other driver was going as fast or faster than me, but I was the lucky one pulled over. This officer will have a field day giving out tickets today, as many as he can manage, since every driver is going above 35. I have been passed by police cars on this road, obviously going above 35. When will VDOT wise up and change the speed limit on this road to 45, like every other similar road in the area?? In the meantime, money will be made by ticketing every "speeder" on this road. :angryfire:
     
  2. mwb2218

    mwb2218 New Member

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    I've seen them out there on numerous occasions. I agree 35 is a bit low, but you do have residential towards Home Depot. I believe that is the reasoning.
     
  3. terelli

    terelli New Member

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    I see them a lot there too. It is ridiculous. It's probably the safest road in Ashburn....nobody is turning onto it or off it where they set up the trap. Nobody is walking along it either.
    Now, if they're camped outside a school zone... I get that...or along Claiborne while kids walk to school...ok. Or watching for aggressive driving along Waxpool...that would be nice.

    But Shellhorn?!
     
  4. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    Drive the speed limit - then you won't get a ticket. Slow down - enjoy life.....what's the hurry?
     
  5. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    agreed. there are roads where ppl drive dangerously that put folks at RISK. Claiborne. Ridgeway. Chickacoan. and these are just the ones on my little route...

    i'm all for speed traps but put them where it matters NOW.
     
  6. bird

    bird New Member

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    I have no problem driving 35 near the residential/ busy intersection area near Home Depot. But beyond this, towards LCP, there are no homes, no stores, no intersections, no pedestrians, and no reason to drive 35mph! Compare this to our own Claiborne Pkwy in Broadlands - now 45mph speed limit. This is a busy, residential area. Also, on Waxpool the speed limit is now 45 until you get close to the Regency area, then it is 35.
    Maybe VDOT posts a 35mph limit on every road until some buraucratic process runs its course and then they change it to something more reasonable.
     
  7. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    I got caught on that strech near Shellhorn & LCP doing 49MPH a few months ago, 1st I didn't have the baby in the sports car, so Mommy went out for a very expensive "joy ride"

    I told the cop "I thought it was 45 not 35", paid the ticket because it was my fault for not paying attention.
     
  8. bird

    bird New Member

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    I get you. But NO ONE drives the speed limit on this part of the road, at this time of the day. If you try to drive 35 on this road you are passed by angry drivers flipping you off. If I go 40 there are drivers in back of me, riding my a**. And as I mentioned, cops go over 35 on this road as the other drivers stay behind them trying to stay in the clear.
     
  9. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    It would be nice if the speed limits were adjusted a little more realistically.

    But lower speed limits mean more $$$ and that's the primary purpose of them I guess :(

    I am sure if the county thought it could get away with it, all speed limits would be lowered by 5 MPH just for the increased income. :(
     
  10. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    Yes - I get that - however - I'd rather drive 40 and NOT get a ticket. I guess it's my age and I've got a whole new approach on LIFE, but I'm not in any rush at any time and my life is so much more peaceful and relaxed.
     
  11. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    this is waxpool all over again. It's simply ticket income.. nothing more. As soon as the speed limit changed on waxpool in front of MCI.. the enforcement went away. Nothing about the physical characteristics of the road changed at all.. so its not like the road overnight became 'safer' or anything. The simple reality is it was no longer a lucrative trap zone.

    We've been through this before. Is it simple enforcement? Yes. Is there choice of location influenced by safety or need here? No way. It's just easy pickings. Just like the traps along LCP in front of Verizon is.

    I will say.. the amount of Police presence in the area is way up in my perception..which I like and have no problems with. I just wish they'd focus on areas that need it, not because they can.

    And as for the residential... no homes have property along that road. Just like claibourne, all the property is buffered by common areas and are significantly set back from the road.

    The road has a lame limit.. and the sheriff is cherry picking it. Given the # of years it took for waxpool to change.. I'm not holding my breath for this road. Especially since it's short and changes environment so often.
     
  12. exrook

    exrook New Member

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    The speed limit is 35 on that strecth of Shellhorn because when the metro finally makes it out there, the land east of home depot and south of Shellhorn will include high-density residential. I know this because I've been caught twice - once on my morning commute and once late at night driving home from the gym.

    I always set my cruise control to 40 ish now when I am on that road - if other drivers want to zoom around me and pay the tickets, that is their choice.
     
  13. mwb2218

    mwb2218 New Member

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    I drive 35 all the time on this road because I know radar is there constantly.
     
  14. ExRIGuy

    ExRIGuy New Member

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    This is basically a rip-off of wealthier taxpayers by desparate Loudoun County (what's the average income of a driver on Shellhorn? I bet pretty high . . . and most of us just pay the tix, unlike some of the deadbeat areas of Leesburg and Sterling where I bet half the tix would go unpaid). The rip-off is sorta like my property tax bill that is the same as it was when my house was worth 25% more.

    The cops are becoming no more than agents of the loudoun tax commissioner (the Waxpool 4-way stop sign decal check that went on forever was a great example), and of course to help pay their own salaries they need to nail us for going 45 on Shellhorn, which is a joke. The cops should be offended (and embarassed) that they went to police academy to learn to actually find real criminals and now spend all their time pulling over soccer moms on Shellhorn and scolding them -- all because the county screwed up its growth and hiring plans. I'm all for public safety, but we are crawling with speed traps and cops for an area that doesn't have much crime.


     
  15. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Not sure what you mean. Moorefield station is actually on the other side of the greenway.

    to the east of Home Depot is the property owned by Verizon and the power station.. to the south is the data centers and other flex\industrial space. That entire area is all commercial development.
     
  16. mwb2218

    mwb2218 New Member

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    No- Loudoun Station is planned at that section south of Shellhorn and has significant residential development.
     
  17. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    once the metro comes.. heh heh. hee hee. AAAHHAHAHAHAHAH!:pofl::pofl:
     
  18. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    I drive the speed limit EVERY day on my way to work on Shellhorn! If someone wants to zip by me, ok, no worries. Let them risk the ticket.

    And shame on you to let other drivers influence you into breaking the "laws of the road" if you choose not to do it on your own.
     
  19. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    riiiight t8... the same i way that I still weigh 130 lbs, give or take 30 lbs... hee heee!!! :happygrin:
     
  20. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Actually, RIIIIIGHT is correct. I may go a mile or 3 over the limit but NEVER go over 40 on Shellhorn... NEVER!

    And you are looking much slimmer these days! ;)
     

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