The Department of Transportation has teamed up with local police to reduce a previously reasonable 25 mph speed limit to 15 mph near the Hilo Airport—creating what many are calling “a revenue-generating speed trap.”

An Airport Employee had this to say: “I had a spotless record until they set this up. I’m a good driver, just following the natural flow of traffic. But because I work here, I’m in this hot spot four times more than the average driver—and now I’ve two tickets in the past month. Its just not right.”

Taxi Driver: “I don’t wake up before sunrise, work a 12-hour shift, and pay my taxes just for the county to turn around and take me out of my job as a taxi driver. It’s bad for business, and it’s not fair to anyone trying to make a living. I put my cruise control on 20 and drivers are going by me at 30 and my passengers are restless because it’s just a weird limit for that area. It contradicts the natural flow of traffic.”

Residents say the change is a clear cash grab, with police patrolling the area 24/7. One local noted: ‘‘They just took out the 25 mph sign, put in 15, and now you see cops here all the time—making bank. Its suspicious. A school zone is 25. Theres not a pedestrian out here. It’s not warranted.”

“This change appears to prioritize revenue generation over public safety. As a result, hard-working, law-abiding citizens like myself are being unfairly targeted and penalized, tarnishing clean records without just cause. A fine is 3 whole days worth of work,” a driver exclaims. 

“Our community has a multitude of larger problems that need the police departments attention including trafficking, drugs, homelessness, domestic violence, and corruption.”

Unjust speed traps designed for profit, rather than safety, are an abuse of power. These tactics intimidate and exploit innocent drivers, turning public roads into financial traps. This is more than an inconvenience—it’s a systemic issue that demands accountability and reform.

“I was in no rush, in my zone, letting my vehicle slow down by itself, but then a police man comes out the bush and waves me down tweaking, like something wanted to crawl out his skin. Who’s the criminal?”

If you’ve been affected by this, you’re not alone. Locals are fighting back, signing petitions to end these predatory practices and restore the speed limit to a reasonable 25 mph. Join the movement to hold our public services accountable and stop the exploitation of Hawaii’s hard-working citizens.

”We must demand better. I urge the Department of Transportation and the local police to end this exploitative practice at the Hilo Airport and restore the focus of traffic enforcement to its rightful priority: safety.”

Lend your voice to this cause by signing this petition. Let’s hold our public services accountable and put an end to the criminalization of innocent drivers and return the posted limits to 25 mph. Together, we can stop the use of speed traps as a tool for revenue generation and restore fairness on our roads. 

Click here to learn more about the conflict: 
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/12C5vCJdewM/

1. Sign the Petition https://chng.it/vKVSdZwFNb
2. Submit your story (option for Tiktok and Youtube broadcast) https://forms.gle/g7JCTPet9edr64776
3. Join the Protest https://www.facebook.com/share/14nHn3fpRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Follow the FB page where you can access all the above in description: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1E9Cu8zY9j/?mibextid=wwXIfr #hilo #hawaii #speedtrap #radar #police #corrupt #cops