On 10/3/2014 6:56 AM, F*O*A*D wrote:
Florida town infamous for speed traps disbanding police force

Last year, Waldo, Florida's seven police officers wrote nearly 12,000
tickets. CBS News


WALDO, Fla. -- The City Council of a tiny north Florida town known as
one of the nation's worst speed traps has voted to disband its small
police force.

The Waldo City Council on Tuesday voted 4-1 to eliminate the department
just weeks after the chief and interim chief resigned because of state
investigations into many issues, including an illegal ticket quota.

City Manage Kim Worley told the Gainesville Sun that a Florida
Department of Law Enforcement audit found many expensive computer and
facilities fixes were needed, a cost the small town cannot afford.

The move follows a revolt by five Waldo officers, who said that they
were forced to meet an illegal ticket quota and that evidence was being
stored improperly by the department's interim chief.

As CBS News reported last month, Waldo's seven police officers wrote
nearly 12,000 speeding tickets last year, collecting more than $400,000
in fines - a third of the town's revenue.

The town had six different speed limits in just a couple of miles.
Drivers enter the city at 65 miles per hour. It then drops to 55, 45 and
then 35.

Asked if the situation "rings well" with him, Gordon Smith, the sheriff
in neighboring Bradford County, said: "It doesn't because you're
creating this cash cow. Where there's cash register justice."

Smith was put in charge of the police department in Hampton, just nine
miles down State Highway 301, after the city's police department was
disbanded this year. Several town officials are suspected of stealing
some of the money raised by fines.

"That's legalized robbery," Smith said. "And we shouldn't be doing that."

- - -

I'm amazed Waldo was able to get away with its brand of highway robbery
for so long. The town has been known for decades as nothing more than a
speed trap. Used to drive through it a few times a year on trips to
Gainesville and U of F and a couple of bass fishing lakes. There really
was nothing there except a few gas stations and crappy pseudo antique
shops. Got stopped once for going "too slow" down 301, but didn't get a
ticket. Everyone who knew about Waldo pretty much went "too slow" until
they were out of the town's jurisdiction. I remember a few of these
central Florida dip**** towns...they were pretty much all terrible
places. North of Waldo was Starke, where Florida used to electrocute its
death row prisoners, and south of Waldo and Gainesville was Orange Lake,
which was ok for bass fishing and eagle spotting, and then Ocala, a real
dump of a town.

It's not uncommon to have successive speed limit reductions on main
thoroughfares when approaching small settlements. Are you opposed to
keeping people safe? Waldo was merely taking advantage of it's
situation. Thanks to the liberal media, this small town is losing it's
police protection. Let's hope the citizenry has the fire power to look
after its own security.

Ocala has taken on the stink of Washington DC with it's Federal
courthouse.

On Fri, 03 Oct 2014 09:00:52 -0400, Harrold wrote:

Thanks to the liberal media, this small town is losing it's
police protection.

===

That's a bit of a stretch. The Waldo cops did nothing but write
traffic tickets. As I understand it the town actually annexed a
stretch of Rt 301 just to get access to the drive through motorists.

On 10/3/14 12:53 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 03 Oct 2014 06:56:13 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

WALDO, Fla. -- The City Council of a tiny north Florida town known as
one of the nation's worst speed traps has voted to disband its small
police force.

I have been through Waldo many times. It is the way to get from I-75
to I-95 without going through Orlando and Jacksonville.
I understand why people got tickets, you are rolling along doing 65 in
a 55, then you suddenly come into a little town, The speed drops in 10
mph increments until you get to 35 over about 2 miles.
That is common with a dozen little towns on that 301 and A1A stretch.
The only difference was that Waldo was aggressive in enforcing the
35MPH (writing at anything over 45) where you could cruise through
the other towns at 50 or more most of the time.

I never got a ticket there. I knew better.

How fast can you go in down town Huntingtown? Are they aggressive in
enforcing that? I know the whole state of Maryland was a speed trap
when I lived there. The MSP would set up a RADAR on the beltway, have
a couple dozen cops running out in the road stopping all the cars and
write tickets 30-40 at a time. "Following the flow of traffic" was no
defense. Everyone got a ticket.
I got a ticket for 40 in a 35 in Clinton once, at midnight. That was
ridiculous.



Downtown Huntingtown? Surely you jest. It's a little cut-through of a
road that is connected to Route 4 at both ends. Downtown consists of a
fire station, a post office, a dance studio, a bank, a little strip mall
with a 7-11, a not yet finished medical office building and a small
grocery store. I'd guess the posted limit is 25 or 30 mph, but whatever
it is is clearly posted at both ends.

Aggressive enforcing is done on Route 4. It's 55 mph on most of it, but
there are areas where you have to slow down, and they are clearly
marked. My guess is you have to be doing 65 in the 55 zone to get a
ticket from the County Mounties.

--
“My heart goes out to the people of Ebola.”
Sarah Palin

On 10/3/14 2:18 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 03 Oct 2014 13:35:19 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

On 10/3/14 12:53 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 03 Oct 2014 06:56:13 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

WALDO, Fla. -- The City Council of a tiny north Florida town known as
one of the nation's worst speed traps has voted to disband its small
police force.

I have been through Waldo many times. It is the way to get from I-75
to I-95 without going through Orlando and Jacksonville.
I understand why people got tickets, you are rolling along doing 65 in
a 55, then you suddenly come into a little town, The speed drops in 10
mph increments until you get to 35 over about 2 miles.
That is common with a dozen little towns on that 301 and A1A stretch.
The only difference was that Waldo was aggressive in enforcing the
35MPH (writing at anything over 45) where you could cruise through
the other towns at 50 or more most of the time.

I never got a ticket there. I knew better.

How fast can you go in down town Huntingtown? Are they aggressive in
enforcing that? I know the whole state of Maryland was a speed trap
when I lived there. The MSP would set up a RADAR on the beltway, have
a couple dozen cops running out in the road stopping all the cars and
write tickets 30-40 at a time. "Following the flow of traffic" was no
defense. Everyone got a ticket.
I got a ticket for 40 in a 35 in Clinton once, at midnight. That was
ridiculous.



Downtown Huntingtown? Surely you jest. It's a little cut-through of a
road that is connected to Route 4 at both ends. Downtown consists of a
fire station, a post office, a dance studio, a bank, a little strip mall
with a 7-11, a not yet finished medical office building and a small
grocery store. I'd guess the posted limit is 25 or 30 mph, but whatever
it is is clearly posted at both ends.

I bet it is 30, that is the normal Maryland convention.
If you are doing 40, I bet they tag you.

Waldo's speed limit was clearly posted too.
Perhaps it confuses people when they drop it in 10 MPH increments over
a mile or two but that is standard practice in Florida. It is not like
going straight from 55 to 30 with little warning. I guess we are just
trying to ne nicer to strangers who do not know what is around the
next bend.


Cut the crap. Waldo has had a national reputation as a "speed trap" for
decades. The AAA has released many news stories about it. The "trap" was
there, as the article explains, to raise $$$ for the dip**** little town.





--
“My heart goes out to the people of Ebola.”
Sarah Palin

F*O*A*D wrote:
On 10/3/14 2:18 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 03 Oct 2014 13:35:19 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

On 10/3/14 12:53 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 03 Oct 2014 06:56:13 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

WALDO, Fla. -- The City Council of a tiny north Florida town known as
one of the nation's worst speed traps has voted to disband its small
police force.

I have been through Waldo many times. It is the way to get from I-75
to I-95 without going through Orlando and Jacksonville.
I understand why people got tickets, you are rolling along doing 65 in
a 55, then you suddenly come into a little town, The speed drops in 10
mph increments until you get to 35 over about 2 miles.
That is common with a dozen little towns on that 301 and A1A stretch.
The only difference was that Waldo was aggressive in enforcing the
35MPH (writing at anything over 45) where you could cruise through
the other towns at 50 or more most of the time.

I never got a ticket there. I knew better.

How fast can you go in down town Huntingtown? Are they aggressive in
enforcing that? I know the whole state of Maryland was a speed trap
when I lived there. The MSP would set up a RADAR on the beltway, have
a couple dozen cops running out in the road stopping all the cars and
write tickets 30-40 at a time. "Following the flow of traffic" was no
defense. Everyone got a ticket.
I got a ticket for 40 in a 35 in Clinton once, at midnight. That was
ridiculous.



Downtown Huntingtown? Surely you jest. It's a little cut-through of a
road that is connected to Route 4 at both ends. Downtown consists of a
fire station, a post office, a dance studio, a bank, a little strip mall
with a 7-11, a not yet finished medical office building and a small
grocery store. I'd guess the posted limit is 25 or 30 mph, but whatever
it is is clearly posted at both ends.

I bet it is 30, that is the normal Maryland convention.
If you are doing 40, I bet they tag you.

Waldo's speed limit was clearly posted too.
Perhaps it confuses people when they drop it in 10 MPH increments over
a mile or two but that is standard practice in Florida. It is not like
going straight from 55 to 30 with little warning. I guess we are just
trying to ne nicer to strangers who do not know what is around the
next bend.


Cut the crap. Waldo has had a national reputation as a "speed trap" for
decades. The AAA has released many news stories about it. The "trap" was
there, as the article explains, to raise $$$ for the dip**** little town.






Same as Arizona in the 1960's.

wrote:
On Fri, 03 Oct 2014 13:52:42 -0500, Califbill
wrote:


Same as Arizona in the 1960's.

The only ticket I ever got in Arizona was a 70 in a 55 and it was $5
no points

AAA listed it as a speed trap for the reason they had a 50-55 speed limit
in the middle of the desert. 90 miles of nothing before Flagstaff, 55 mph
speed limit. I got a 15 over ticket, because I slowed for the city limits
of Flagstaff about 5 miles from any habitation. He had chased me for 8
miles he said and could not get a clocking. He had had to tuen around and
try to catchup. Tag me and another car he waved over for the 15 over. Was
$1 a mile. Lady asked me how fast was I going after the cop left. She
said she was at 85 when I passed her. 105 mph. Deserved a ticket
probably, but also did not deserve a 55 daytime, 50 night time limit either
in a divided limited access highway.

wrote:
On Fri, 03 Oct 2014 13:52:42 -0500, Califbill
wrote:


Same as Arizona in the 1960's.
The only ticket I ever got in Arizona was a 70 in a 55 and it was $5
no points
That would be more effective. Easy money in small increments that
wouldn't be a burden on anyone financially.

On 10/3/2014 12:53 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 03 Oct 2014 06:56:13 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

WALDO, Fla. -- The City Council of a tiny north Florida town known as
one of the nation's worst speed traps has voted to disband its small
police force.

I have been through Waldo many times. It is the way to get from I-75
to I-95 without going through Orlando and Jacksonville.
I understand why people got tickets, you are rolling along doing 65 in
a 55, then you suddenly come into a little town, The speed drops in 10
mph increments until you get to 35 over about 2 miles.
That is common with a dozen little towns on that 301 and A1A stretch.
The only difference was that Waldo was aggressive in enforcing the
35MPH (writing at anything over 45) where you could cruise through
the other towns at 50 or more most of the time.

I never got a ticket there. I knew better.

How fast can you go in down town Huntingtown? Are they aggressive in
enforcing that? I know the whole state of Maryland was a speed trap
when I lived there. The MSP would set up a RADAR on the beltway, have
a couple dozen cops running out in the road stopping all the cars and
write tickets 30-40 at a time. "Following the flow of traffic" was no
defense. Everyone got a ticket.
I got a ticket for 40 in a 35 in Clinton once, at midnight. That was
ridiculous.

Why does law ENFORCEMENT stick in your craw? Do you have a problem
reading and understanding signage?

Harrold wrote:
On 10/3/2014 12:53 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 03 Oct 2014 06:56:13 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

WALDO, Fla. -- The City Council of a tiny north Florida town known as
one of the nation's worst speed traps has voted to disband its small
police force.

I have been through Waldo many times. It is the way to get from I-75
to I-95 without going through Orlando and Jacksonville.
I understand why people got tickets, you are rolling along doing 65 in
a 55, then you suddenly come into a little town, The speed drops in 10
mph increments until you get to 35 over about 2 miles.
That is common with a dozen little towns on that 301 and A1A stretch.
The only difference was that Waldo was aggressive in enforcing the
35MPH (writing at anything over 45) where you could cruise through
the other towns at 50 or more most of the time.

I never got a ticket there. I knew better.

How fast can you go in down town Huntingtown? Are they aggressive in
enforcing that? I know the whole state of Maryland was a speed trap
when I lived there. The MSP would set up a RADAR on the beltway, have
a couple dozen cops running out in the road stopping all the cars and
write tickets 30-40 at a time. "Following the flow of traffic" was no
defense. Everyone got a ticket.
I got a ticket for 40 in a 35 in Clinton once, at midnight. That was
ridiculous.

Why does law ENFORCEMENT stick in your craw? Do you have a problem
reading and understanding signage?

Depends on what the law actually is. In California, unless the sign says
"maximum" the speed limit is Prima faci and is really what is safe,
reasonable and proper and less than 65 mph. Midnight and 5 over is no
unsafe, 99,9999% of the time.

On Friday, October 3, 2014 2:21:26 PM UTC-4, Califbill wrote:

Depends on what the law actually is. In California, unless the sign says
"maximum" the speed limit is Prima faci and is really what is safe,
reasonable and proper and less than 65 mph. Midnight and 5 over is no
unsafe, 99,9999% of the time.

Does California still not allow RADAR to be used on the interstates? Nearly 20 years ago, when I was out there doing some work for CHP, that seemed to be the case.

I went for a ride-along with a CHP officer one afternoon. He used RADAR on a secondary road to clock and pull over a girl in a car and a male truck driver. But out on the I-5 he paced a car and pulled it. Turned out to be a girlfriend of his wife's. The truck driver got a ticket. Both the girls got verbal warnings. Heh.