Worst cities for speeding tickets across the USA

— -- Pack up the kids. Load the car. Brace yourself (and your stomach) for Thanksgiving and all that comes with it: togetherness, turkey and … tickets?

To help holiday travelers avoid speeding tickets, the National Motorists Association (NMA) has prepared a list of the worst speed trap cities across the country. Speed traps have historically been those stretches of road known for lurking police officers with a reputation for handing out high numbers of speeding tickets.

The NMA, which describes itself as an advocacy group for the "interests and rights of North American motorists," defines a speed trap as "any time the enforcement is focused on revenue instead of enforcing safety," according to association spokesperson Aaron Quinn. Predictably, law enforcement takes exception to that: "The term speed trap simply isn't accurate because what we're doing is preventative as we work in areas with a high frequency of traffic," said Lieutenant Everette Clendenin, a public affairs officer for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. "We're not trapping anyone."

Located in Raleigh – the city taking top nod on the NMA's list for speed traps in North Carolina – the N.C. Highway Patrol warns that speed is the leading cause of traffic collisions and fatalities nationwide. "We always, but specifically around the holidays, advise drivers not to risk speeding because it's simply not worth it," Clendenin said. "Slow down and live."

With AAA estimating that 38.7 million people will hit the road for at least 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving, drivers may find themselves in unknown territory — and unknown traffic rules. "People are traveling this time of year to parts of the country they are not so familiar with so this list highlights areas where these traps exist," Quinn said. "We just want drivers to make it to Thanksgiving dinner without an undeserved ticket."

Following is the list of the cities by state where the NMA says travelers are most likely to encounter law enforcement with radar:

ALABAMA Worst speed trap: Montgomery Dishonorable Mention: Birmingham, Huntsville, Uniontown

ALASKA Worst speed trap: Anchorage Dishonorable Mention: Fairbanks, Juneau, Seward

ARIZONA Worst speed trap: Tucson Dishonorable Mention: Gilbert, Phoenix, Scottsdale

ARKANSAS Worst speed trap: Little Rock Dishonorable Mention: Augusta, Fayetteville, Parkin

CALIFORNIA Worst speed trap: Fresno Dishonorable Mention: Fullerton, Los Angeles, San Jose

COLORADO Worst speed trap: Colorado Springs Dishonorable Mention: Aurora, Denver, Fort Collins

CONNECTICUT Worst speed trap: Enfield Dishonorable Mention: Danbury, Groton, New Canaan

DELAWARE Worst speed trap: Newark Dishonorable Mention: Dover, Felton, Fenwick Island

FLORIDA Worst speed trap: Waldo Dishonorable Mention: Lawtey, Ocala, Orlando

GEORGIA Worst speed trap: Pendergrass Dishonorable Mention: Atlanta, Duluth, Marietta,

HAWAII Worst speed trap: Honolulu Dishonorable Mention: Kailua, Kaimuki, Maui

IDAHO Worst speed trap: Boise Dishonorable Mention: Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Post Falls

ILLINOIS Worst speed trap: Naperville Dishonorable Mention: Carol Stream, New Lenox, Peoria

INDIANA Worst speed trap: Indianapolis Dishonorable Mention: Bloomington, Culver, Fort Wayne

IOWA Worst speed trap: Des Moines Dishonorable Mention: Ames, Cedar Rapids, Davenport

KANSAS Worst speed trap: Shawnee Dishonorable Mention: Leawood, Overland Park, Topeka

KENTUCKY Worst speed trap: Louisville Dishonorable Mention: Lexington, Middlesboro, Owensboro

LOUISIANA Worst speed trap: Woodworth Dishonorable Mention: Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Metairie

MAINE Worst speed trap: Kittery Dishonorable Mention: Augusta, Falmouth, Portland

MARYLAND Worst speed trap: Frederick Dishonorable Mention: Columbia, Hagerstown, Waldorf

MASSACHUSETTS Worst speed trap: Worcester Dishonorable Mention: Lowell, Newton, Springfield

MICHIGAN Worst speed trap: Livonia Dishonorable Mention: Ann Arbor, Redford, Warren

MINNESOTA Worst speed trap: Minneapolis Dishonorable Mention: Bloomington, Elk River, Plymouth

MISSISSIPPI Worst speed trap: Starkville Dishonorable Mention: Jackson, McComb, Tupelo

MISSOURI Worst speed trap: Foristell Dishonorable Mention: Curryville, Independence, St. Charles

MONTANA Worst speed trap: Missoula Dishonorable Mention: Darby, Havre, Joliet

NEBRASKA Worst speed trap: Omaha Dishonorable Mention: Bellevue, Grand Island, Lincoln

NEVADA Worst speed trap: Las Vegas Dishonorable Mention: Henderson, Pahrump, Reno

NEW HAMPSHIRE Worst speed trap: Manchester Dishonorable Mention: Nashua, New London, Somersworth

NEW JERSEY Worst speed trap: Paramus Dishonorable Mention: Bridgewater, Monroe Township, North Brunswick

NEW MEXICO Worst speed trap: Albuquerque Dishonorable Mention: Cuba, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho

NEW YORK Worst speed trap: Brooklyn Dishonorable Mention: Batavia, Rochester, Staten Island

NORTH CAROLINA Worst speed trap: Raleigh Dishonorable Mention: Charlotte, Greensboro, Wilmington

NORTH DAKOTA Worst speed trap: Grand Forks Dishonorable Mention: Fargo, Thompson, Washburn

OHIO Worst speed trap: Columbus Dishonorable Mention: Akron, Canton, Lindale

OKLAHOMA Worst speed trap: Caney Dishonorable Mention: Moffet, Moore, Kiowa

OREGON Worst speed trap: Portland Dishonorable Mention: Beaverton, Eugene, Springfield

PENNSYLVANIA Worst speed trap: Horsham Dishonorable Mention: Feasterville, Harrisburg, Warrington

RHODE ISLAND Worst speed trap: Providence Dishonorable Mention: Johnston, Pawtucket, Warwick

SOUTH CAROLINA Worst speed trap: Greenville Dishonorable Mention: Columbia, Gaffney, Society Hill

SOUTH DAKOTA Worst speed trap: Sioux Falls Dishonorable Mention: Rapid City, Wagner, Yankton

TENNESSEE Worst speed trap: Nashville Dishonorable Mention: Memphis, Piperton, Smyrna

TEXAS Worst speed trap: Houston Dishonorable Mention: Arlington, Austin, Estelline

UTAH Worst speed trap: Sandy Dishonorable Mention: Roy, Salt Lake City, West Valley City

VERMONT Worst speed trap: Wilmington Dishonorable Mention: Barre Town, Island Pond, Norwich

VIRGINIA Worst speed trap: Virginia Beach Dishonorable Mention: Chesapeake, Emporia, Norfolk

WASHINGTON Worst speed trap: Bellingham Dishonorable Mention: Black Diamond, Ritzville, Seattle,

WEST VIRGINIA Worst speed trap: Summersville Dishonorable Mention: Charleston, Gauley Bridge, Hurricane

WISCONSIN Worst speed trap: Rosendale Dishonorable Mention: Appleton, Milwaukee, Waukesha

WYOMING Worst speed trap: Thermopolis Dishonorable Mention: Cheyenne, Jackson Hole, Rawlins