Moved to WALDO, FLORIDA SPEED TRAP (Gainesville, Leesburg: attorney, house, schools)
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The billboards are sponsored by AAA and when you request a trip tic they route you around Waldo, Lawtey and Starke. Yes, there are flashing lights. Yes, the speed limit signs are very visible. Yes, there is no excuse to speed since you are amply warned. However, what is the justification for a ticket when you know the speed limit drops and you slow down way ahead of the posted signs at each and every change. What is the justification for the Lawtey officer to stand behind the speed limit sign and aim the radar gun into the speed zone you are in (i.e. you are doing 55 in a 55, he is standing in 45 and aims the gun at you while you are still in the 55.) He then hops into his car, turns the lights on and pulls you over in the 45 and cites you for going 55. Will he show you his proof -- yea -- wanta buy a bridge in Brooklyn???
The justification is a police protection budget of over $190,000. What in the world are they protecting in Lawtey? The fire protection budget is around $13,000. Even with a volunteer fire service, that isn't enough to maintain equipment, etc.
The citizens of Lawtey, Waldo and Starke aren't going to vote to change because they aren't having to pay taxes. You and I are funding these hell holes. The citizens of Lawtey, Waldo and Starke don't get the tickets. If only the statistics of how many out of state folks got the tickets as opposed to Florida residents got tickets were known (sorry for the goofy sentence but you know what I mean.) it would be very revealing. I have a winter home near Tampa and will never drive in Bradford county and down the 301 corrider again.
If you were pulled over in the school zone in Waldo at 7:17 am you might want to check what time the Waldo school opens as I to believe the state statues (316.1895) for a flashing liht at a school zone can only be enforced one half hour before school is open and one half hour after school is let out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CANUBELIEVE
UNTILL NOW, THE NIGHTMARISH STORIES OF UNREASONABLE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IN WALDO FL. WERE SIMPLY THAT, "STORIES". DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES I, (AS MANY OTHER WORKING PEOPLE), AM DOING WHATEVER IS NECESSARY JUST TO KEEP MY BILLS PAID, MY SON IN COLLEGE, MY MORTGAGE PAID AND, MY HEAD ABOVE WATER. FOR ME, MY JOB KEEPS ME ON THE ROAD SOME 40,000 MILES PER YEAR. I CONSIDER MYSELF A SAFE & COURTEOUS DRIVER. ON THE ROAD AS MUCH, I DEAL WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOT DAILY AND OFTEN FIND MYSELF "WONDERING WHERE THE COPS ARE"...WELL I FOUND THEM OR, I SHOULD SAY THEY FOUND ME, IN WALDO FL.. MONDAY 03/02/09 AFTER LEAVING PORT RICHEY FL AT 05:00 AM IN ROUTE TO JACKSONVILLE, ON SR. 24 AT 07:17 AM (JUST BEFORE SUNRISE) OFFICER T. LOGAN WHOM IN ADVANCE, I SAW SITTING IN HIS VEH. WAITED FOR ME TO PASS THEN PULLED ONTO THE ROADWAY BEHIND ME WITH LIGHTS FLASHING. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS IN SIGHT ON THE ROAD AND YES, I WAS CLOCKED DRIVING 35 MPH (THE POSTED SPEED)... UNLESS, THE FLASHING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ... THEN THE SPEED LIMIT IS SUPPOSEDLY 15 MPH. OK, THE CITATION I WAS ISSUED BY OFFICER LOGAN WAS... $444.00 THAT IS NO TYPO.. $444.00 (four hundred and fourty four dollars) . I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR OUR MEN IN BLUE. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE ARE POLICE OFFICERS WHO WILL "HOLD-UP" LAW BIDING WORKING CITIZENS FOR WHATEVER REASONS THEY MAY HAVE AND, BEHAVE IN WAYS TO ALTER THE OVERALL GOOD MAKE UP OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS KIND OF OUTRAGEOUS PENALITY/FINE IS JUST THAT, OUTRAGEOUS. THIS TICKET HAS SEVERLY HURT ME FINANCIALLY AND CERTAINLY SEEMS EXCESSIVE (to say the least). I CAN ONLY WONDER WHAT HAPPENS TO "REAL CRIMINALS" IN WALDO. PERHAPS NOW, THEY CAN AFFORD THAT NEW ELECTRIC CHAIR THEY WANTED IN CASE SOMEONE SHOULD "J-WALK".
AND YES, I WAS THINKING OF RETURNING TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE A "NICE" QUAINT" "OLD FASION" LITTLE TOWN WITH AN ANTIQUE SHOP ETC.... NOW RE-THOUGHT... ANY PLACE "BUT" WALDO !!!
CANUBELIEVE
If you were pulled over in the school zone in Waldo at 7:17 am you might want to check what time the Waldo school opens as I to believe the state statues (316.1895) for a flashing liht at a school zone can only be enforced one half hour before school is open and one half hour after school is let out.
Actually the whole set up of the school zone under section 316.1895 through Florida is in direct violation of the law going both SR-24 north and south. Going south, there is nothing warning you that are in a school zone: no flashing lights, no posted times, no nothing, no uniform signs (this is bullet point 6, of the law). Going north bound, there are absolutely prior no warning that one is entering a school zone, until one is actually in the shool zone. Sure you get a flashing light, but it is 1/10th of a mile into the school zone itself. The words school school are not legal school zone warnings. The only signs one gets are cross walk warning sings, which are NOT LEGAL school zone warning signs at all. I'm having the department of transportation review the signs and testify in court for me. It angers me, they are unjust.
May I make a note, that this would be a legal school zone if and only if it had: 1 flashing lights & new mileage; or mileage & times, with enough ample times to slow down
sleepingkitty; Thank you for the lead. I am interested as to when the DOT. will be testifying on your behalf. Would you happen to know the name of the school that the crossings are for ? I plan to call the school for their schedule. I found a good aerial satelite map of the "school zone" on micrsoft virtual earth which, clearly shows (as you stated) , the flashing warning sign in the middle of the crossings, not prior to. Waldo Maps and Driving Directions, Street views, Satellite Images ans more - Waldo Florida
Our son goes to college in Tampa. We told him be careful on 301, be careful on 301, blah, blah, etc. His first day home on Spring Break and he gets a 114 dollar ticket. He said he was all by himself on the road, not a car in sight. (obviously our warnings did nothing). Argh! We've decided not to drive on 301 at all. It's annoying to watch your speedometer constantly. The speed limit is up and down, up and down. There is nothing to miss on that road anyway. I'm done with that road.
As an officer in Florida, I would like to dispell some rumors on this board. First off, there is no such thing as ticket quotas in the state of Florida, and they are illegal. Some agencies, (FHP), are instructed to have a certain number of, "contacts" per hour, or per shift. A contact may be a traffic stop, traffic crash, etc.
I hear all the time people complaining about receiving a traffic citation. If you committed a traffic violation, however petit it may be, you deserve to receive a citation. Everyone has a change to challenge the citation in court.
You would be surprised to learn how little of a percentage goes directly to an agency who writes a citation. Typically for each county, the clerk of court has the break down of where the fine amounts are distributed to. Log onto the clerk of courts in the county, and it should be posted. Most receive less than 10% per citation. You have to remember, Waldo is a very big town, drawing in tons of tourists each year.
Jon,
First, thank you for your public service, and your willingness to post here. I worked for the county sheriff's dept before I became a professional firefighter 18 years ago. I respect all those who work in public safety.
I totally believe if one is speeding one deserves a ticket. That being said, I do drive a bit over the limit at times, but luckily have not had a ticket in over 30 years.
The stigma and reputation that Rt 301 and Waldo has is unlike any other town I've ever heard of. I plan on driving down to my Florida home in October, and go back and forth weather to go this way. It does seem the most direct, but I'm not sure it is worth the risk. Even if I drive below the limit, who is to be believed? I wish there were better ways to get from I-95 to Leesburg.
Since that trip is months away, I have time to get the input of others who could advise.
Is it right for the Waldo police department to have a quota for speeding tickets. Just this past week a police officer was the cause of an accident by pulling out in front of a car on County 24 to go after someone speeding which involved 3 cars. The officer involved in the accident was a Rooky - ( Someone
should investigate the department to see if the officer was properly Trained and Licsened to be on patrol by him self.)
This same Rooky brags about writing 20 + tickets a day
What do you think.
Dan L
You moved to Waldo?
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School Zone Tickets
