The 30 MPH Speed Limit

Tourists in cars, trucks and cycles may ignore Montauk’s 30 MPH speed limit, at their peril.

With visitors walking into the highway from between cars, and children running across the road from motels and hotels, and all the deer who leap from the bushes at night, 30 MPH is about the top speed anyone can drive, for the safety of themselves and others. The Easthampton police have deployed many cars on both the Old Montauk Highway and the new one and they revel in catching speeders who are going faster than 40 MPH. This is a word to the wise: in Montauk, stick to slow speeds and enjoy the views. The Easthampton Star’s police blotter section is obese with reports on speeding violations, as well as drunken driving arrests. To stay out of those pages, keep your eye on the speedometer. Never pass where there are double yellow lines, even if you own a Mercedes or a Hummer and think you reek of clout. You will learn differently after the red lights flash in the rearview, and if you hit a person, and you are under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs, you can expect to experience an East End cell and get the book thrown at you.