Waldo Speed Trap Busted
 

According to the Ocala Star Banner five police officers in Waldo alleged, in testimony to the city council, that the police chief and city manager implemented a ticket quota system, a violation of Florida law. The police chief was placed on administrative leave August 12th and FDLE is investigating. The officers, supposedly, were required to write 12 tickets per 12hr shift.
In 2012 this area, along 301, was rated the 3rd worst speed trap in the US and Canada.

Right or wrongly applied doesn't matter to me.

Waldo is a text book, sterling example of what happens when it becomes known to the public ........where the laws are strictly enforced.

Amazing how well behaved folks are behind the wheel where this is done.

We could use a lot of that kind of enforcement here in TV.

This is clearly an abuse of power and something we find in communist /police states. The whole thing was rigged to increase the towns revenue

LOE's rigged use of red light cameras are achieving the same result.

These abuses are going to come back and haunt police officials who are already under the gun because of issues such as Ferguson

Waldo
 

Wow, I totally agree with the other poster. It shouldn't matter if it's a camera or a speed trap or sobriety check (or whatever). If you violate the law(s) then you pay the consequences.
just my cent and a half opinion

Cameras, I don't mind.
:cryin2:

"Speed traps", I don't mind.
(not sure the definition of a speed trap....officer doing radar??)
:cryin2:

I don't like the idea of a quota if the officers are so concerned about making the quota that it hampers his other duties/roles/responsibilities.

Red light cameras, revenue up.......................crashes down. What is most important? They save lives!

IIRC, the problem there was the speed limits dropped precipitously within a few hundred feet from 55 to 45 to 35 to 25. The changes were so quick, and the enforcement so strict, that it was easy for even a conscientious driver to find themselves a few mph over if they weren't aware of this situation before entering the town. Plus, there was no reason from a traffic engineering standpoint for the limits to change so rapidly and so significantly. It was done purely and specifically for revenue.

I applaud the officers for coming forth. Situations like this can erode confidence in our law enforcement and should be brought to light.

What didn't you understand about it being illegal in Florida? :22yikes:

Where's Waldo?

https://maps.google.com/

It's pretty bad when even AAA on it's TripTiks called out Waldo as a speed trap. I believe in obeying the law, but going through that town with the suddenly changing speed limits was ridiculous!

Someone at one time (perhaps AAA) rented a billboard to warn drivers of the speed trap. Kudos to AAA.

The REAL Waldo.
http://www.frugalfrigate.com/wp-cont...eres-waldo.jpg

What took so long for the officers to blow the whistle on the Chief?

Sounds like Fruitland Park

Waldo and others on 301 such at Starke are the classical speed trap. You go from 55mph to 45 to 30 then back up to 45 thinking you are going out of that town but then suddenly back to 35 and that's where they catch you.
I hope those that think they are the almighty good drivers and wish upon everyone going 1/2 mile over the speed limit gets a ticket gets caught also.

NOTHING!

Too bad the point being made was missed!

I lived In Gainesville for years and years, 10 miles from Waldo. I learned it was a speed trap in the early 70s. And it never changed. Everybody who traveled 301 to Jacksonville more than once knew about it.

I was on my way to the Mayo but I had been told about it. that said, it did not prepare me for how quickly those speed limit signs change. Yikes. And there were the police just waiting as drivers attempt to adjust accordingly. I hit the brakes to lower my speed fast enough when I saw how fast the speed limit signs changed and I am lucky no one rear ended me. It is bad policing, as far as I am concerned.

Are you really kidding me? Where's Waldo? Thats a game I play with my grandkids!

Oh.

Attachment 44529

The speed changes in Waldo used to be much worse. Now you have a warning that the speed limit will change ahead so I don't have a problem with the speed limit changes. You just have to pay attention. It used to be that the speed limit would change suddenly from something like 60 to 35 and the cops would be sitting just past the lower speed limit sign. I heard that the state got involved and made them change to the current, marked, graduated changes.

:agree:
Nobody has accused these cops of issuing tickets that were not deserved. The reality is that they could do nothing at all but write speeding tickets 24/7 and still not touch but a minority of the offenders. So how is the quota system wrong?

I've been through Waldo 100's of times. There has always been plenty of warning and space to slow down. For the past 6 years or better the lower speed limit signs have had a bright yellow sign above the posted speed limit sign. Not hard to miss.

Driving at 35 for the approximately 4 or 5 miles it takes to get through Waldo takes about 45 seconds longer at 35 than at 40. I think they should have speeding cameras and catch everyone violating.

I also make many trips through Waldo to visit family in Jacksonville. All along 301, there are signs that warn you that the speed limit will change before it actually does. I have no problem slowing down in plenty of time to stay within the speed limit. But, I do think having a quota system is wrong and may tend to push law enforcement officers to be less than truthful about tickets they give out if not meeting the quota could cost them their livelihood. If I am speeding and get a ticket, then I deserve it. But if I am doing the speed limit and an officer says he's "clocked" me over the limit because he has to make quota, that's wrong and that's why the quota system has been made illegal in Florida.

We will be making the return trip through there in a few days. I dread the long slow travel down or up that part of 301. Speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down. It's the worse part of the travel. Writing tickets to
fill quotas is wrong and should be illegal. Writing tickets to guilty parties who speed, no problem.

When driving 301 North (Lawtey, Starke, and Waldo) we use our cruise control to ensure that we don't exceed the speed limit. Takes some of the stress away.

Waldo Police Department
14660 NE Waldo Rd, Waldo, FL 32694
(352) 468-1515

It's only a trap if you aren't paying attention. So what if the cops have a quota. As long as they are not ticketing drivers that obey the law then what's the problem? Just like any other business.

Says WHO!!!!!!

The historical stat's in my home town Says.

Driving through Waldo and the other speed trap towns on 301 is like driving in the old Soviet Union. You have to concentrate on your speed while looking around for the KGB. I know it's a cliche, but I find it all to be Un-American, and I was happy to see they got busted. Speed limits for safety are well and good, but speed limits simply for revenue collection are not. Lawtey and Starke are two other speed trap towns that should be ashamed of themselves.

IMHO we could use the Waldo philosophy here in The Villages then maybe we wouldn't have so many fender benders and concrete trucks rolling over. Slow down, obey the law, and live happily ever after.

Speed traps have nothing to do with "obeying the law." Towns that have the traps are just doing it to get money and the speed traps are not for safety reasons.

Read this from almost 6 mos ago CNN.

Speed trap is dirtiest little town in America - CNN.com

Hmmmm. Law enforcement officers were ordered to enforce the law. What a concept.

This article may be of interest ...

http://http://www.foxnews.com/politi...affic-cameras/

I am in favor of red light cameras - it frees up the police from taking on this task and will, ultimately, force drivers to slow down and obey the signals at intersections. The data "appears" to show an increase in accidents. Personally, I assume this is a result of a combination of speeding, tailgating and impatience. We were t-boned by a taxi running a red light so I do have a bias.

I thought we were talking about Waldo?

Easy enough to by-pass 301, take I-75, I-10. Why do something you dread?

You are right, speed traps have nothing to do with obeying the law but, if you obey the law then you won't get trapped. Does that make sense or am I missing something? :confused: