Greetings from a 350Z owner......Our large group of Z's will be up there in a little over a week.

Just wondering if the people in attendance can give any updates on the LEO presence whether it's on the NC or TN side.....

Thanks.

 

The fuzz?

 

I have only seen a state trooper twice, but I have heard of a few people getting tickets. They are making people come back up here for court on their tickets so I would recommend not getting one if you can keep from it.

 

Yep......

 

i know they are referred to as leos there, buy why? is that an acronym? I was there last week, and saw about 4, two were running radar, one had someone pulled over, and the fourth was sitting, talking to another leo. They didnt move from their spots the entire 3 hrs or so that i was there. They were basically gathered around the lake at the foothills parkway. were made up of both TN troopers and Blount counties.

 

LEO = Law Enforcement Officer

 

There are surprisingly few cops.

 

They had a heavy presence towards the end of last summer.....and they've received new grant monies for more patrolling (issuing tickets...) It's all chronicled on tailofthedragon.com

Just trying to figure out if you guys were having any problems on the NC side of things. I know the THP and Blount Counties are acting like douche's.......trying to determine if there actions are solely on the dragon or if there are other trouble spots.....

 

On Friday, I counted 5 LEO's all day. I only drove briskly on line of sight only, then back to the speed limit for everything else. No problem. I did learn something though; the speed limit is 30. I could drive the speed limit around 99% of the curves and still have fun

 

Never saw a THP all week. All Blount Co. Sheriffs on the TN side (saw numerous, and thank goodness for all the photographers taking so many spots or else there could've been even more ). On the NC side, I did see some TVA Police around the base of the dam (on the road to the powerhouse) and on 28 as you got close to the bridge at the same location.

Stay safe and watch that speedometer!

 

I only saw a few LEO's the whole time I was there and that was on the NC side of the state line.
I got lucky going into Robbinsville, I spotted the local when I was right on top of him and passing
him at little more than what I should have been doing but he didn't bother coming after me.

 

I saw one on the way TO the Dragon, on 129, last Tuesday. He was on 129, returning FROM the Dragon and headed towards Maryville along that stretch of those reservoirs. That was the ONLY cop I saw at the Dragon thru Friday.

 

Followed two cars on the Dragon upon arriving Wednesday. I also saw two Blount Co. officers at the lookout Saturday afternoon during the rain - one white SUV and one black sedan. Once the rain stopped, they started patroling. Saw one biker pulled over midway between the lookout and the Crossroads. On the second run, they officers had moved to another location and had the radar pointed at me as I came around the corner. I think I disappointed them.

There were also two NC officers at the entrance to Fontana as we returned from the Midnight run, lights on, parked behind one of the first cars to return. Not sure what they were doing, but they had the guy who drives Sprog and he didn't look very happy.

 

On the Dragon:
- At the gravel pit by Tabcat - frequently one or two
- At the overlook, one or two
- Driving back and forth along the Dragon
- Stopping at random photographer corners
Vehicles: Crown Vics, Ford SUVs, and one sport bike

Elsewhere:
- US 129 along the lake - several spots they have been sitting, wherever you see a parking area, keep an eye out
- Rt. 28: Hanging out on either side of Fontana, and sometimes at the Fontana gas station. The NC cops are driving SUV's and Dodge Chargers - and are VERY ticket happy.

 

I saw that too... at first, I thought he was just checking out the rides then I realized he was probably waiting for people to show off for the camera.

No win situation for us though...

Mark

 

Thanks for the input guys....keep it coming.

 

You might just get a police escort. Twice on Sat a Leo saw me coming and pulled out in front of me to keep me running slow.

 

my brother tagged along with his 350Z. On a Saturday afternoon run, we both came up upon the trooper patrolling midway in the dragon, however he was several yards ahead of me. he was going around 45mph and said he got a yell from the officer of "Watch it, boy!", but luckily no ticket. i got freaked out because I was going 37mph when he clocked me as i exited a curve, but no ticket. Take the cherohala skyway if you get a chance, lots of scenic lookouts, didn't see any LEOs either day we drove it.