For decades, both newcomers and novice drivers in North Texas have been told one thing: Don’t speed in Pantego or Dalworthington Gardens.
That warning was one of the first Jill Weaver received when she moved to Texas 17 years ago. Weaver, who lives near Dalworthington Gardens, sets her cruise control to 39 mph when she drives on Bowen Road — a mile under the speed limit, with some wiggle room in case her speedometer gives a false reading.
“The people behind me are getting frustrated, I see it in the rearview mirror, and they drive around me,” Weaver said. “Just a few blocks away they get pulled over.”
While her child is learning to drive, she teaches him the same lesson.
“I will not pay the fine and I certainly do not want my insurance premiums to be any higher than they were when a teenager was behind the wheel,” she said.
The two cities, which lie next to each other within Arlington’s city limits, have earned the nickname “speed trap” because of fears of increased traffic enforcement in both cities. City leaders refuted the label in a 1959 front-page article in the now-defunct newspaper. Citizens of Arlington.
The city government continues to condemn this designation to this day. The mayors of both cities say their communities have simply become safer thanks to increased law enforcement.
According to the city’s safety authority, Dalworthington Gardens Police issued 4,249 traffic violations against moving and non-moving vehicles between January 1, 2023 and August 1, 2024. During the same period, police recorded 1,746 speeding violations.
Mayor Laurie Bianco said the city supports the efforts of police and law enforcement, particularly along Bowen Road, Pleasant Ridge Road and Pioneer Parkway.
“People don’t come to our city to commit crimes because they know better,” she said. “We are law enforcement, and as soon as you start distorting or minimizing laws, you’re inviting rabble that you don’t want in the city.”
The City of Pantego issued 3,208 traffic violations between January 1, 2023 and August 13, 2024, according to statistics received upon request.
Mayor Russ Brewster said there are several places in the city where people could get into trouble: a long school zone across Bowen Road and the hill in Arlington that leads to Pantego.
“I would say that when they go down a hill, they don’t really think about it, they speed up,” Brewster said. “They don’t think, ‘Oh, I need to slow down a bit because I see the speed limit sign,’ they just seem to roll through.”
State law prohibits law enforcement from enforcing ticket quotas, which are regulations officers must impose in order to generate revenue. However, according to Drive Safe Online, Texas law does not define or prohibit enhanced enforcement measures commonly associated with speed traps.
When he reaches the hill at Park Row Drive, Rob Arndt slows to 30 mph, puts the cruise control on and stays alert in the area. The drive can be scary, though he says the area isn’t as heavily policed as it once was.
“I think it’s great that they don’t just not care. But if you’re afraid of going a mile an hour over the speed limit because you’re going to get pulled over and get a ticket for it? That’s a little over the top in my opinion,” he said.
Forrest Nelson drives through Pantego almost every day. Although he has received one speeding ticket, he says police are doing what they can to enforce the law.
“I think it’s an urban legend, and frankly, it’s not a bad urban legend if it keeps crime out of your city,” he said.
Cities want to go beyond the label
Brewster said he doesn’t feel like his city is a speed trap and would like to dispel that reputation.
“We have this reputation and we are trying to get rid of it. I don’t know if we will ever succeed, but that is our goal,” he said.
Instead, Brewster said, the city wants to be known for its unique restaurants and shopping districts. City officials and business owners have recently focused on walkability, especially along the main drag on Park Row Drive.
“A lot of landowners and property owners are fixing up their sites – redesigning this and that – to make us more walkable… We’re not a destination town, but we want to be a unique little town that people can visit and have a good time,” he said.
Bianco said Dalworthington Gardens has prioritized its economic development, making attracting retail and restaurants, particularly along Bowen Road, a top priority.
“We’re trying to establish ourselves as a tourist destination,” she said. “For years we were considered a dormitory town, but we’re making progress.”
Bianco said the city wants to stand out from the crowd – but not through strict traffic controls.
“We are simply protecting our citizens, and we have laws for a reason. If people don’t follow them, our society will fall into chaos. And that will not happen under my watch,” Bianco said.
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