It is no mystery that many police officers will stake out locations where motorists are more prone to speed, readily waiting to write a speeding ticket to some unsuspecting driver. It is an unfair tactic, and one that motorists in South Carolina, and throughout the rest of the country, have grumbled about for a long time.

But, it seems like in certain areas of South Carolina, this practice has reached epidemic proportions. Some residents think it has reached a point where South Carolina is beginning to garner a less-than-flattering reputation for being especially unkind to drivers.

One of the problem areas, which has been chronicled by local media and disgruntled drivers alike, is Highway 378 between Myrtle Beach and Columbia. This route will take a driver through a small town called Town of Turbeville, where the speed limit drops suddenly from 55 mph to 35 mph.

One local writer recorded his experience being caught by police officers when he did not slow down fast enough. He received a ticket costing him a whopping $388. The ticket was also issued under a town ordinance and not under state law, which would have added points to his driver's license. This man was not alone, as many drivers have faced an identical situation in the same area.

This is a problem even for experienced drivers who know the area well. You can imagine how easily an out-of-state visitor could be sucked into this trap. Without knowing the local speed limits, one lapse in concentration or a missed traffic sign could leave an out-of-towner speeding through Town of Turbeville and left with a hefty ticket to pay off.

Source: TheDigitelCharleston.com, "'Town' speeding ticket given during primary coverage in S.C. cast a poor light," Ken Hawkins, Jan. 30, 2012