Speed Trap Locations-- They give tickets!
 

If you speed in Sumter County, Lady Lake, Fruitland Park, or Marion County you will pay. I have been told the fines are around $200.00. I don't know anyone who has gotten a warning ticket or a verbal warning. So when you see someone stopped bingo $200.00. I warn all of our guests before they come here not to speed.

Below are the places that I have seen them stopping people. I am sure that there are many more places so let us know where you have seen them on a regular basis.

1. Newest one is the bridge on Morse Blvd just South of 466. This speed limit has been reduced to 25 mph. I have seen a motorcycle cop parked on the island where the plants are just off the South end of the bridge. He isn't there long he spends more time doing tickets. Don't ask me why they reduced the speed there to 25 mph wait and ask the officer when you are signing the ticket and let us know. So you birds beware of this change when you return.

2. South bound traffic just past Arnold Palmer's on Buena Vista. They stand in the left turn lane at the entrance to The Village of Bridgeport at Lake Sumter. When they are there they have 3 to 4 cars pulled over.

3. South bound traffic on Buena Vista they stand in the entrance to Lake Miona Regional Recration Center. It has been a while since I have seen them there.

4. East & West bound traffic on 466A just East of Buena Vista in the vacant area on the North side of 466A just East of Turtle Mound Golf Course.

5. Fruitland Park Police have been stopping people on the stretch of 466A just East of where the 4 lanes become 2. That is the start of Fruitland Park city limits.

6. North bound Buena Vista just North of the Polo Field.

7. Lady Lake has just installed lights over the stop lights at many cross streets. They are blue and the officer dosen't have to be in view of the stop light to see if you run the light. These lights are blue take a look at them and you will see how they work. They are paying for them as you are reading this.

I am sure that there are more than this but these are the ones that I see often. I also see them more in the AM than the PM. If it is raining they aren't there they are at Dunkin Donuts.

Remember I don't know of anyone who has gotten a warning ticket or that has just gotten a verbal warning. They will write you a ticket. Bingo $200.00

Let us know where you see them.

Are they speed "TRAPS" or are people actually speeding in those enforcement locations. It has been my observation that tickets need to be handed out.

They also like to hide in the clump of trees at the north east corner of the entrance to the Villages Woodshop and Harvest Gardens on Rolling Acres Road.

I have seen The Fruitland Park PD giving tickets on 466a between 27/441 and Mcdonalds. Speed drops from 45 to 35 as you get closer to 27/441.

My sister in law got a 60/45 ticket in a rental car on 466a (I warned her but.........)and a ticket for a uninsured vehicle when all she could produce was the rental contract. Speeder was $270, unisured Vehicle was $150 (which the court dismissed after she got documentation from Alamo).

Please define a speed trap for us. Or at least what you think one is. If I remember correctly you have stated in the past that you have been a police officer correct me if I am wrong. If I am correct then that would be what most police officers would state as long as they are not getting the ticket. I think the average person would think when they see many tickets being written in the same place that they would call it a trap. I do agree if you are speeding and you get a ticket it is your fault.

To many of us who have never written a ticket we perhaps would call them a trap. I would think that if they are in the same spot frequently then that is a trap.

If I were a trapper I would put my traps where I would think the animals would frequent. To me they are going to a good traping area or they wouldn't frequent that area. I know that these places are not the only places people speed.

My reason for letting people know is to let them know that if they speed that there is a good chance that they will get caught. Not that the police are wrong to give tickets. That is why I try to drive the speed limit. I assure you that more people pass me that I pass.

They just want some of that disposable income that us rich villagers are suppose to have.

One other thing with all the cops it just isnt safe around here anymore

I remember hearing last year, that there is a tricky difference in the school zone speed limits somewhere around the charter school. I haven't been that way since school started. Anyone enlighten me on this before I start out that way?

Becky

If the objective is to reduce people speeding why not just have the cruiser visible. Seeing a cruiser always causes people to slow down.

If the objective is to generate revenue, then hide for the sole purpose of issuing tickets. A TRAP is a revenue generation devise. As are Redlight Cameras which purpose is to generate revenue.

My observation is that the speed limits are ridiculously low given the roadways. For example, Buena Vista, a 4-lane divided highway with a speed limit of 35 is way too low. It could be at least 45 without being unsafe. Of course, the limits around the circles should be much lower. Same thing with 25 MPH on Morse on the bridge.

These unusually low speed limits given the nature of the roadways constitute a speed trap by my definition.

To my way of thinking, a speed trap is, in fact, an ongoing, revenue producing, assembly line of handing out tickets to anybody for anything.

However, when chronic speeding is out of control and officers work a specific area, the intent is to save lives. Drivers have criticized speed limits since the beginning of driving. I have never heard of a police officer giving a ticket to somebody who is within the limit. President Ulysses S. Grant was stopped for driving his horse team too fast in Washington. When the cop saw who it was, he said, "I'm sorry Mr. President." Grant said to the officer, "Do your duty man."

In so far as revenue generation goes, traffic citation income is actually a line item in post municipal budgets. The amount is based on an average of revenue from years past. In all the years I have been around police, government, and media, I have never once heard an official say, "get out there and hand out tickets to generate revenue."

What are quotas? Each officer is expected to preform as least as others on the department. Like any business. In manufacturing, if most workers produce 60 widgets a day, but two guys only produce 45, they are goofing off, or incompetent. If 55 sheriff's deputies each hand out an average of 60 tickets a month, but two only hand out 40, they are goofing off or incompetent.

Ya'll are retired.... what's your hurry?

I'm not... but I'm cheaper then Jack Benny and a 200 dollar ticket would really PMO!

Therefore, I check the speed limit, hit the cruise control, crank up 640 am and get there when I do....

the Lake Sumter bridge is tricky... when you go 25 mph into LSL from 466 the golf carts in the cart lane are keeping up with you and the people behind you are typically having a fit.

This must be generating a bunch of revenue... I wonder if they have quotas.... or even contests.... who collected the most speeding fines this week?

Speeding
 

Fruitland Park has had a reputation for many years regarding writing citations for speed. I would be willing to bet that Fruitland Park has one of the lowest injury accident rates per capita in the State. We are retired what is the need to speed?

One of the unfortunate truths about retired people is that they are closer to the end of their life than those too young to retire. Perhaps we retired folks are trying to fit more into our remaining time, therefore, getting somewhere a litte quicker means we can do more of whatever it is we are going there to do - assuming, of course, that we get there at all and don't crash because we are going too fast.

Do remember the cost of the summons is merely the ante...first question for policy renewal -- "Have you received a ticket in the last...?"

Which is why I really don't like the unrealistically low speed limits and the strict enforcement of them. It stacks the deck against people around here in terms of the potential for increased insurance costs. After over 40 years of driving, one gets to intuitively know what the speed limit of a road should be by its layout. When the limit is artificially reduced it makes it very difficult to drive within the law.

Besides, slower is not necessarily safer. When a speed limit is much lower than the conditions would normally call for, it creates a situation where you have two different types of drivers - those who go the speed limit and those who drive based on the condition of the road. It is the resulting inequity in speed that produces an unsafe condition.

However, if safety were the real issue, the cops would be far better off camping themselves at a traffic circle and ticketing those who insist on using the outside lanes no matter where they want to end up. These are the people who are the cause for most of the close calls that I have had while being here. I have never seen a near accident caused by someone going 45 on Buena Vista.

As a retired police officer I can tell you by law and definition "speed traps" are illegal. What you really should be saying is that the local police officers are taking up positions along roadways where people are known to speed. I personally see nothing wrong with ticketing people who speed, never in my career did I give a tciket that wasn't deserved. I also love this other load of crap that police officers are out there writing tickets for revenue generation. Not once in my entire career did anyone from the city or police administration tell us to go write tickets so we could generate more revenue. Perhaps if you just slowed down you wouldn't have to worry about the "speed traps."

:agree:

:agree:

\\

Well said!

There are no "speed traps" in The Villages. Speed limits are are clearly posted. They are there for a purpose. Exceed them and pay the price. If I see you getting a ticket I will applaud the officer for doing his/her duty.

Having said that, I don't see a lot of speeding by automobiles. I do see a lot of speeding by golf carts. I think they are more of a danger to themselves than to others. A lot of their accidents seem to be single vehicle.

The more cops, in more places, giving more tickets...
 

if only they would keep it up day after day. Maybe, MAYBE then those who are in such a hurry to go no place and do nothing will eventually get the message.

I just wish citizen's arrest was legal in FL.

btk

No Camaras
 

Before we moved here from MD we had to pass through 3 speed cameras going to work and 3 coming home. They were revenue machines. One of the benifits of moving to the villages was no more cameras.

speed trap
 

I only worked in CA for 32 years so can only explain a speed trap according to their laws of fruits and nuts.
According to the CA. Vehicle Code section 40802
A "speed trap" is either of the following:
(a) A particular section of a highway measured as to distance and with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle to travel the known distance.

Section 40802(b):
defines where "radar or other electronic devices" can be used to determine speed -- in essence, either on "local streets and roads" or on highways where a traffic survey has been conducted within the last five years.

So unless the officers are using a known length of roadway that they have actually marked off and are willing to state that in court, they are not using a "speed trap". Lots of people consider a location repeatedly used for speed enforcement a speed trap. Cops refer to them as duck ponds and judges refer to them as complain generators. Speeders refer to them as "not again, lord", locations.
Speed surveys are used to determine speed limits based on the numbers of vehicles that pass a given location at the median and average speeds for specific given times and days of the week. Traffic engineers take weeks to analysis the speed given the sight distance, number of vehicles, width of the road, shoulder size, configuration, angle of the sun, street lights at night, and a few others I can't remember.
Bottom lines is, like I saw in Alaska "Pick your speed --$50 dollars for anything over 45 MPH...$25 dollars for every 10 MPH over that".
The spot to stop in CAli is Star Bucks, not Dunkkin Donuts, way nicer veiws in SB's

The od thing is I have never seen a police car pulled over for speeding. However I have been passed many many times by police cars with their families in the car as I was driving 5 mph over the posted speed limit. They have gone by me like I was sitting still.

Many police officers work under the tought that laws and rules are for other people and not them. I know officers that work under this way of life. This does not lend respect to them from many other people

I started this thread to let people know where they were very highly possible to get a ticket. But since it has gone this way I will glive my personal opinion.

Boy did it go a ways from that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I fail to see why wanting to go 45 MPH on a 4-lane divided highway constitutes being "in a hurry". How was this speed picked? Find me one other 4-lane, limited access road in the state with such a low speed limit. Would those who are "not in a hurry" be OK with it being lowered to 25?

Jeez, if I had a dime for everytime I heard someone whining about police officers do this and police officers do that and I can't do it, I would not just be buying a house in The Villages, I would own The Villages. You wanna know what else police officers get to do that you don't? They get to have their asses kicked by meth users, they get to sleep all Christmas Day because they are pulling a 12 hour midnight shift while you enjoy your family, they get to retire with a litany of injuries because they have given a huge part of their lives to protect the whiners and complainers of this world. Get over it.

Did you take the police job voluntarily?

speed limit on Buena Vista
 

People live on Buena Vista. Would you like someone driving 45 mph past your house? Just because we have nice straight streets doesn't mean you have the right to go speeding past someone's house. Think about it.

People live backed up to 466A also and its speed limit is 45 (or more). Should we reduce speed limits around the country because people chose to live near a major road?

I certainly hope you are not condoning police officers breaking the law with impunity just because they have a tough job. Lots of people have tough jobs (even more so than police officers). Does that mean that they also should be allowed to break traffic laws?

In 62 years, I can't recall ever seeing a police patrol car with "their families" inside. When I was a deputy sheriff, I had my mother and father in the patrol car one time. I drove them from a parking lot into the Ohio State fair grounds as a courtesy, after getting permission from the Sheriff.

Oh, and how do you know these were family members of the cop? Is it possible that all of these officers you've seen were rushing families to a hospital to be with a dying family member. Many times, I was dispatched to pick up a family and take them to an emergency room where a close relative was dying from an accident or shooting or whatever. One night I drove an entire family (mother father and two little children) home after their car hit and killed an elderly couple walking across the Ohio turnpike at night.

Even so, if it what you say is true, does it justify your speeding? Nice try.

Did you ever "flash you tin" to get out of a ticket? Be honest

Speeding...what speeding???
 

I'm still a wannabe; couple years away, but I had to weigh in on this discussion. I do acquire my share of speeding tickets, in the US. I have been living in Germany for the last 6 months and driving the infamous autobahn....ie NO SPEED LIMIT! It's amazing how well we can all get along at 120MPH and it's rare that I see an accident. Some things are strictly illegal here though, like passing on the right. For that offense, you will get a hefty fine. Consequently, most drivers stay in the right lane, unless they are passing another vehicle. I have a 320 diesel BMW that will cruise at 125 to 130MPH all day long and get still get 30+ miles per gallon. Not sure why we can't build 'em that way in the US ???? Driving at 80MPH nets over 40MPG. By the way, at 125 MPH, I spend most of my time in the right lane!

Although the autobahn is speed limit free, all other roads have speed limits. In cities, the predominant speed limit is 50KM/h (31mph) and construction and school zones are 30km/h (18mph)...no exceptions. The interesting thing is they seldom stop a car...rather, they take your picture and mail you a ticket. Pretty efficient...the picture show you behind the wheel and your license plate, along with the speed you are driving. Tough to argue...

I know many of you will not share my fondness of a wide open autobahn, but I suspect there are few of you that would just like get out there and let 'er rip!

Next time I'm in the Villages, I guess I better watch my speed!

Enjoy.....

No, I never had to "flash my BADGE" because I was never in that situation.

speed limit on Buena Vista
 

The speed limit on Buena Vista was 35 mph when the people purchased a house there so raising the speed limit past their house is not fair to them and the great investment they have made. If you raise the speed limit to 45mph people will drive 55mph. Most drivers drive over the speed limit but try to stay within 10mph of it because they assume the police will give them that much. They next time you drive down your street push up the speed 20mph and see if you would like cars passing your house at that speed. That's 10mph that you want to make legal and the extra 10 mph that most people will drive. People on 466A bought (I assume) their homes there with that speed limit and knew what they were buying.

Speeding is speeding no matter what the posted limit.

What I want to know is were are the police when some idiot cuts me (or other drivers)
off in the roundabouts? And I am told to epect worse when the snowbirds arrive

Good grief

For those recommending the speed limit be raised on Buena Vista have you considered that this is a golf cart community which entitles "street legal LSVs" to travel with traffic on 35mph roads? I am surprised that the LSV crowd has not jumped all over this thread. As far as the speeding ticket argument is concerned, part of the driver's responsibility is to be aware of the speed limits on the roads that he travels and to obey the posted speed limits. For whatever reason, it is the driver's responsibility to comply with the law. Why do posters love to recommend disobeying the law? If you get tickets, you are not obeying the law, you are endangering your life and the lives of your passengers, and, most importantly, you are endangering me. I would love to see a police officer sit outside your house and ticket you the moment you depart your residence. He may save a life each and every time he/she gave you a ticket. Hopefully for you, you will get some sense in your head before you run out of your money budgeted for the courts. Advising motorists of where police are checking speeds is not doing anyone a favor. Let the speeders get the tickets. Consider yourself lucky if you are driving the speed limit and see the offender sitting on the side of the road getting written-up.

Speed limits are exactly what they say they are.......limits. Not going over the limit = no ticket for speeding. No brainer, IMHO. Leave earlier or just be late. As Kathy on here says, "I consider on time to be when I get there." Oops, sorry....that's Kathi.

You have missed my point - which is that driving 45 on 4-lane divided highways is still a very safe speed. Just because some arbitrary decision was made to post the speed limit at 35 does not mean that the road is unsafe to be driven at any higher speed. Following your logic, all of the other 4-lane divided highways around the country where people are driving the speed limit are all driving unsafely since the speed limits are above 35.

Higher speeds are not by themselves unsafe. What is unsafe is driving above the speed that is warranted for the road and the conditions. In the case of Morse and Buena Vista south of 466, they can easily accomodate safe driving at 45 MPH.

Lest you misunderstand me even more, I am not advocating breaking the law - just questioning the rationale of the law.

It is what it is.

If people navigated the round-a-bouts in the correct lanes, there would be no "cutting off". I suspect if you were cut off, you were in the wrong lane!