[jambo101]

Originally Posted by Occifer

How can someone claim to have spent 18 years in law enforcement and not know how a speeding citation is proven? Or find it strange that you weren't asked for your insurance or registration? Or not know why tickets cost more in different places? I'm no fan of the way things are done in Waldo, but if you really had the law enforcement experience that you claim to have then you would know the answer to those questions.

I have proudly served twenty years in the US Military 18 years of that in law enforcement.

Occifer To answer your skepticism i got the impression gabulldog was military police and not some county mounty, i doubt military police would be familiar with the nuances of handing out traffic tickets.

[Cruzincat]

Originally Posted by gabulldog

1. How does the officer prove I was traveling at the speed I was cited for? Is this electronically recorded on the radar or does the court use the officer's integrity via a written statement. Are we automatically guilty until proven innocent? How do I know the gun has been calibrated; I am sure it will be documented somewhere. Why is the price of the ticket different (i.e. $200 in Orlando and $270 in Waldo)?

This wasn't in Florida, but one day I was driving on a through street with a low speed limit, going downhill, and probably was speeding a little. The county cop was sitting at the bottom of the hill on the right and pulled me over. I had a radar detector which never went off. I looked the police car over and could not see a radar gun anywhere. So, as I was gathering my documents to hand him, I asked him if he was using radar, because "My radar detector did not go off?" He only gave me a warning. I wonder if I hadn't said that, if I would have received a ticket instead of a warning.

[AnnieA]

I thought radar detectors were illegal....? where did I read that ?

[AnnieA]

Florida needs to ban radar detectors - Orlando Sentinel answered my own question. Interesting opinion. I am going to get a radar detector.

[Cruzincat]

I my case that I stated above, the cop was judging my speed sitting in his patrol car, watching me approach him, via his rear view mirror. He had to know I would have fought that one in court.

[jersiedevil12]

Can the town of Waldo sell or give away mailing list to Lawyers and driving Schools? I got a recent speeding ticket at 5.30 am in Waldo and now I am recieving all sorts of junk mail from this incident. I know it originatees fro this because it includes summons number in mailing address. Not only did i get a 200.00 dollar fine and 3 points but now have my home address out in public.

[jersiedevil12]

Can the town of Waldo legalally sell your driver information? After getting a speeding ticket there by the time I got home I was recieving junk mail from Lawyers and driving Schools. I know it stems from this incident because included in my mailing address was the summons number. I wonder if any of the signs leading up to the speed trap are legal? Are the signs set at the proper height(seven foot from ground to the bottom of the sign)? Are the signs the correct color(black on white )? Do the signs meet current retroreflectivity? Are the signs correctly spaced out and enough time to ajust speed before getting summons? I know I am from Jersey and I would have asked these questions in Court but due to job I could not attend. If anyone is interested in answers to these questions they can be fount in the MUTCD book, Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

[seogorilla]

Its the racket in Florida my friend is a defence lawyer there its how they work , they take all your information claim its public record and the local lawyers know before your really do what charges you have, they have deals with all the cops and local courthouses to obtain the information and send letters out to you to solicict your business.

The do not send it out the next day as they know the court systems here are so full it will takes months to get to you , in season they have only the locals to milk money from , when season comes everyone is fair game and Florida has the worst redneck cops around as no one but a moron would want to be a cop there , they wont go where there is real crime they are scared .

[jersiedevil12]

They got to me quickly it was no more then a few days and I was on their junk mail list. The next time I am in Fla. I plan on looking at eveything I had in my original post.

[Miami HurricaneZ]

I only write speeding tickets for 15+ over the speed limit on the highway and 10+ in residential areas. I am very active when it comes to traffic enforcement. Speed Limits are posted for a reason. Obey them and you will not have a problem.

I can't comment on Waldo Police Department because I'm not familiar with them. However I know they are always talked about for being the worst speed trap in the country. Starke and Lawtey, Florida are also mentioned.