Wytheville, Virginia • •

One of the most notorious speedtraps in the nation is all of I-81 and I-77 once you hit Wythe Co., VA. The entire Wythe Co. Sheriffs department patrols this area and just sit on it…and it appears that this is all they do. Same story as repeated over and over here…I was driving a newer car with out-of state tags coming down the hill on I-81 with two cars ahead going faster, got pulled over by Officer Jelly Belly (Lord, this officer was so out of shape…I doubt he could do any other police assignment) was told I was doing an 81 in 70, but he would be a sweetheart and drop it from wreckless. I saw 10 cars pulled over while just travelling through Wythe County…ALL by local Wythe Co. Sheriffs Dept. (Not VA State Troopers). This is total abuse of local police powers solely to create revenue for Wythe Co. (a $50 processing fee on top of speeding ticket is simply ludicrous). Literally, the Wythe Co. Courthouse must be paved in gold. It is a shame for the citizens of Wythe Co. that their home is just known as Speedtrap, USA. I wish that one could just avoid Wythe Co. altogether, but cannot if using I-81 and I-77. All I can say is spread the word and tell your friends never spend a dime in Wythe Co. (gas, food, tourism)….maybe put some economic pressure on this speedtrap capital and maybe they will wake up. If every counties’ sheriff’s office in this country abused their local police powers like Wythe Co., VA…people would simply have to stop driving!!!