[Eg_cruz]

Originally Posted by mazbarth

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.....

Some info is missing here because in the state a FL for a ticket to be that high you would have had to be in an active school zone or going more then 30 mph over. The highest ticket is $369 for going over 30 mph. Again something is off and I would reread your ticket guarantee you were in the school zone during active school hours and that’s why you got a ticket for going three over, which in case you’d be going 18 over. Sound like your ticket was double because going 10 over is $200 in a school zone $400. Check out the school zone active times and the time of your ticket bet you were in a school zone

[Ignatz]

I think I would have asked for a deferral until I got back to the country rather than have some random ticket fixing lawyer represent my case, especially when there seems to be circumstances that we’re not really sure of.

[Topgun 1776]

Originally Posted by mazbarth

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.....

I believe we are just getting your side of the story. Something tells me the police have a different view of what actually happened. The morale of your story...don't speed...even 3 mph over.

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by MightyDog

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.

Thats at the cops disgression. He can write for less and its legal. Speed limit doesn’t say “ 35 miles per hour but you can go 45”.

[john352]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

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.

FYI,
The person who got the ticket was driving east on 466A, not west.

[Nell57]

My 2021 Mazda has a setting where it chimes three times if I am 5 miles over the speed limit.
Everyone else who drives my car hates it…but I love it.
Insurance companies are looking for reasons to jack up our rates. I don’t want to give them a reason to do so.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by john352

FYI,
The person who got the ticket was driving east on 466A, not west.

FYI, here's what the OP stated:

"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."

This, of course, makes no sense since the school zone is on 466A, about 1/4 mile west of Dixie Ave. Assuming it was posted backward, meaning pulled over on 466A after turning from 441, then the OP was traveling WEST.

[Teemotay]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

FYI, here's what the OP stated:

"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."

This, of course, makes no sense since the school zone is on 466A, about 1/4 mile west of Dixie Ave. Assuming it was posted backward, meaning pulled over on 466A after turning from 441, then the OP was traveling WEST.

It actually makes perfect sense. The driver went through the school zone on 466A and continued east to 441, where after turning onto it, they were pulled over. It may have taken the officer a while to get to the OP due to other traffic, running the plate before actually pulling them over, etc.

The speed limit on 466A in that area is 35 mph while the speed limit on 441 in that area is 50, I believe.
There may be some other peculiarities with the story but the direction of travel is not in question.

[ThirdOfFive]

From the movie Stir Crazy:

Skip and Harry had just landed in jail. Harry is approached by a rather large sinister-looking man.

Large Man: "What's your charge?"

Harry (choking back a sob): "Innocent!"

Large Man: "Ain't we all?"

[justjim]

Just read the OP’s post again. I never heard of “ticket clinic” but when you hire an attorney for $99 you get what you pay for. Innocent are guilty regarding the incident that was a big mistake getting an attorney to represent you for $99 - are you kidding me?

[Grinchie]

Definitely an attitude ticket.
Also, the attorney should have warned you of all probable outcomes when you hired them. Sounds as though it was a $99. charging mill if no advice re traffic school & 0 due/no points & potential options.
Those attys/paralegals know exactly what will happen in court & should have advised of $300 court costs @ that court.

[Margefrog]

Even in non-school hours there are many after school activities such as athletics, detention, etc. Slow to 20 even after school.
If you speed in a school zone, you could face penalties such as fines, probation, or even a suspended driver's license. The amount of the fine depends on how much over the speed limit you were driving. For example, in Orange County, the fine for going 1–9 miles per hour over the limit is $154, while going 30 miles per hour or more over the limit is court mandatory.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by mazbarth

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.....

I have "Cruise Control" on my car. Maybe you have it, too. (I'm being facetious here. Don't go crazy on me.) And I USE IT! Whether the speed limit is 25 or 70 when I hit it I activate it. I never have to worry about speeding. I don't have to monitor my speedometer. And if people want to pass me doing 55 instead of 35 on Buena Vista...Vaya con dios, Amigo. But don't complain when you get stopped by the cops!

[JRcorvette]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

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.

Unless you had a Digital speedometer I doubt that you could tell the difference between 35 & 38 MPH. I do agree when in a school zone you need to be extra careful. They are cracking down on speeders there.

[Sandabern]

I had a friend of mine try that 35 years ago in Ohio. It didn’t go well… LEOs love it when ppl talk down to them..

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Well said.