Patch Picks: Speed Traps

Patch Picks is a weekly feature that highlights editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off and more.

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This week's Patch Picks is a little different from previous weeks but still highly useful. Saving money is always important, and the last thing you want is an expensive speeding ticket.

To help you avoid tickets and save some money, we've listed a few areas where officers are known to set speed traps in Aliso Viejo. The following list is from the National Speed Trap Exchange:

• Aliso Creek and Wood Canyon Road

Motorcycle cops have been seen parked near the trees across the street from Wood Canyon Elementary School. Also, beware parking along the red curb to drop your kids off at school. They have been seen ticketing there too.

• Alicia Parkway near Paseo de Valencia

Motorcycle cops with radar guns have been seen in the morning and around lunchtime on Alicia Parkway going east. They park behind the shrubs near Starbucks in the Ralphs shopping center. Going west, they have been seen parked in the mortuary parking lot.

• La Paz Road before Moulton

Motorcycle cops have been seen hiding behind cars waiting to pull out on La Paz.

• Enterprise and Pacific Park Drive

Beware when driving uphill on Enterprise to make a right-hand turn onto Pacific Park. Police can park in an office park near the toll road and watch traffic below on Pacific Park. Many people do not stop at the traffic light on Pacific Park, and they can get ticketed.

• State Highway 73 near La Paz Road

There is a small spot on the northbound 73 toll road, near La Paz Road, where officers like to hide and catch people as they go downhill.

Stay safe out there!