This is a good time to remind folks out there about the town of Summersville WVA. They are still out there to take your hard earned money from you. I feel we have a responsibility to warn as many people as we can.
The fact does remain that the speed trap in Summersville is just a way for the town to use the road to generate revenue. They drop the speed limit by 15 miles an hour then vigorously enforce it. This is a dishonest way of getting dollars out of otherwise law abiding citizens. Yes, you have to admit it, it is a scam. Because of the signage not everyone gets a ticket; just enough people to pay the town bills and improve their infrastructure. Unsuspecting first time travelers of route 19 are the target. This town’s police web site honors the officers that write the most tickets. Check it out for yourself. Take a look at their website. I wonder if there are financial rewards attached to those honors. I would be interested in knowing more about where the money trail leads. They wrote over 3 million dollars worth of tickets in one year.
They will tell you it’s about safety but we know better, it’s about dollars. Some people on this site even suggested what I thought were some great ideas for the town to make an honest dollar by taking advantage of the natural resources to invite tourism instead of taxing travelers. We know; however, they aren’t interested in that because it is too easy just to write those tickets. No business risk or additional capitol investment with that ticket approach. I have been back through there is always multiple people pulled over getting a ticket.
I personally will not be spending any money in that town. Not at Summersville lake, the Summersville Wal-Mart, their hotels or gas stations. I have sent a letter and this link to the Pittsburgh Press which is the closest large city to there I think. Hopefully they will publish another article about Summersville soon. Anyone reading this post if you can take similar action in your city it would help to warn as many people as possible.
This movement is growing. Perhaps then the town will maybe use some of the millions they get from those tickets to re-look at legitimate ways to improve the safety of the road.
Let them know you don’t like it. Beep twice as you drive by Summersville!!!
