Speed Cops and Radar Signs

I tried to find out when Cape added radar to its arsenal of speed-fighting tools, but came up empty. I DID see a story in The Missourian Aug. 29, 1957, saying that Missouri had set an upper speed limit for the first time. It and Kansas had the highest speed limits in the country – 70 mph.

Before any of you question that statement, Arizona and Nevada didn’t have top state-wide speed limits; they required “prudent driving.” Iowa had no daytime limit, but dropped to 60 mph at night.

In this traditional Pointing Man shot, neighbor Eddie Ailor gestures at a defaced RADAR sign that was in our block on Kingsway Drive. That’s my house with the 1959 Buick LaSabre station wagon and the Dad’s Chevy pickup truck in the driveway. It’s funny how I didn’t remember the sign being there until I ran across the film.

This picture was taken in front of the Arena Building. It, like the shot above, were stock-trade-hack newspaper photos. Obviously, I was sent out to shoot a bunch of people pretending to interact.

I love the expression on the motorcycle cop’s face. He looks like he’s thinking, “I’m gonna give these boys two blocks head start, then they’re mine.”

6 Replies to “Speed Cops and Radar Signs”

  1. That’s Robert Gast on the cycle. The other officer is Lt. Riley, Jerry Wieser in glasses standing in rear. His dad, “Red” Wieser was Chief of Police. Tom Holshouser is the other man with glasses. Ron Hartle is kneeling with the plaid cap. He is/was a very good artist. I remember the other kid but can’t recall his name.

  2. Jerry Wieser is indeed in the picture. His father John “Red” Wieser was not Chief of Police but Police Commissioner. He is not in the picture.

  3. I was leafing through some old clips and found the original story that ran in The Missourian Aug. 18, 1965.

    The event was one of two father-son motorcycle safety seminars. The speakers were Sgt. George Montgomery of the State Highway Patrol, Lt. Glenn Volkerding and Sgt. Robert Gass of Cape PD.

    Ken Hayden, Jaycee master of ceremonies of the seminar, said the chapter was “disappointed” at the lack of response from parents and younger riders. Most of the audience of 60, he said, was made up of persons in their early 20s.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *