Has this even happened for you?
 

I had an experience that I'm curious if anyone else has had and wonder what you did about it?

I was pulled over by a traffic cop in Fruitland Park on 441, just after pulling off of 466a. The speed limit was 35mph and I was going 38, according to the cop.
It was also near a school zone, but there were no children, cars, buses or other signs of life near the school at the time I went through there (I remember it was after 3pm). There was a sign that said slow to 20mph when flashing, which it was NOT doing when I went by.
The ticket to pay it off would have been just over $400, plus "points.".

Because I was going to be out-of-the-country at the time of the hearing, I hired a rep from "Ticket Clinic" to protest for me, which they did for $99.

Imagine my surprise when shortly after the court date, I got the letter saying the attorney was able to get a "withheld adjudication" but now I owe almost $300 for "court costs!" Yep, the same courts that get our tax dollars every year!

This is in contrast to my partner's ticket this summer while we were in MD for a few months. He was driving when a speed cam caught him doing 15 mph over the limit. His ticket price.... $40, all via the mail.
There was just no fairness to this & I was stunned by it all!

Something is very weird about this inequity. It seems to me that Lake County, FL is running a real "racket!" Be forewarned when you are near that area.....

Sounds like a total racket. 38 in a 35? Wow, call the media - what a non-issue.

I think giving you a ticket was outrageous and the fine was beyond absurd. That situation is not right.

I know in many places (not sure about FL), the police don't issue speeding tickets unless it's over 10 miles over the limit.

$300 plus $99 attorney fees for going 3 mph over the speed limit?

I think the court and your attorney are the only ones that came out ahead on this!

It happened while you were a school zone? Regardless of children being present I believe you have to slow down to 20 mph.

From OP: There was a sign that said slow to 20mph when flashing, which it was NOT doing when I went by.

What, exactly, did the citation say? What was the ticketed offense?

I would probably have a kind conversation with the chain of command with the ticketing department like his chief. You’re paying his salary so he should be open to conversation about this while coming to some understanding. Being the process is over you will not get your money back but at least you can let them know about how obserd this seems in light of the negative conversation about some of these agencies now days.

According to this website, the fine for going 15 mph to 19 mph over the limit is $300.

It sounds like the judge thought you were in a school zone with the light flashing!

Did you talk to your attorney?

Speeding in a Florida School Zone - Gans Law

I was warned about Fruitland Park "The Friendly City" traffic enforcement in 2008 when we first moved into The Villages. A friend described a similar incident. Due to that I am always very diligent going thru 466A. It seems that I heard that they had a cleansing 10-15 years ago, but I still am cautious.

However, I would say that throughout Florida there is nowhere I that I would challenge the speed limit in a school zone. Even though the flashing light was not active, the speed limit is 35 and not 38. The fact that you did not notice the Officer or even if you did notice and still exceeded the limit you were inviting a visit. Perhaps in a more rural area or highway you might get some compassion.

The situation you describe is not uncommon in several parts of the country. It's just business.

The goal for the driver is to avoid points on your license which can result in years of increased insurance cost. Traffic courts understand that and set fines accordingly.

It's also possible to mitigate points via Driver Improvement School.

Driver Improvement Schools - Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

"I fight authority, authority always wins".
 

So how much was the original ticket & why didn't you just suck it up and pay it? John Cougar Mellencamp sang "I fight authority, authority always wins". Anyone who reaches a certain age should know the truth in that!

Nice try there has to be more to the story. After turning onto 466a you must go up a hill through a traffic light then approach school on left ??? Sometimes it comes down with attitude towards the traffic officer.

Very strange

Very strange. Hard to believe ticket for 38 in 35 zone

Yes, because we all know that law enforcement officers embrace the phrase "I pay your salary" with open arms :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl: