Everybody knows that backroads are a great way to avoid traffic, school buses, and even speed traps from police... so why is one small stretch of pavement in the Hudson Valley so heavily monitored?

One of my favorite things to do is to find a new route to my destination. Knowing which random streets to take gives a sense of pride, not to mention that the roads are always way more fun to drive. That feeling might be disappearing.

I live in Newburgh, NY and work in Poughkeepsie, which means that every morning (and evening) consists of a 35-minute drive between Orange and Dutchess County. Recently, I thought I found a way to alleviate my boredom caused by taking the main roads.

At first I thought I had hit the jackpot. Instead of taking the traffic-clogged Route 9W, I discovered a maze of backroads that took me through beautiful rural areas of Ulster County on my way to the Mid-Hudson Bridge. But then I started to notice all the surveillance (below).

"Smile, you're on camera", read the sign on a roadside telephone pole, followed by a litany of "no dumping" signs. I'm a strong supported of the anti-littering movement, but I couldn't believe that cameras would be actually necessary on what I considered a random backroad. Then came the police...

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Over the last several weeks, there have been multiple occasions of police presence on this narrow, unpainted road in Highland, NY. It seemed like they were camped out to make sure cars stopped at a particular 3-way intersection (below)… but I was struggling to comprehend how it could be worth their time.

On a busy day, I might drive by 5 other cars on this backroad that connects Mahoney Rd and Chapel Hill Rd in Ulster County. There's no school zones or bus stops in the area either, so why are police spending multiple days fishing for people who roll through stop signs? Now, there's a new addition to the road as well.

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As of this week, a speed-monitoring sign has been added to the sleepy backroad (below). Between surveillance signs, police presence, and now a speed monitor, I'm starting to suspect the mayor, police chief, and even the governor may all have homes on this random route.

The route itself is actually three roads: Peach Ln, Mahoney Rd, Gabriety Rd, and Perkinsville Rd (below). While I understand residents not wanting non-locals to turn their quiet street into a racetrack (and I make sure to drive as respectfully and lawfully as possible), the conspiracy theorist in me wants answers. 

Did this road used to be abused by crazy drivers? Is it still? Or are there just some very vocal residents with ties to local officials that allow them to monitor the roads so closely? Either way, I will continue to (slowly and respectfully) take the scenic route when I need a change of pace from 9W.