[The Shadow]

Originally Posted by rp001

It is obvious to this reader that Sumter's Finest are well represented here..I've seen this topic come up before and there are a few die hard supporters of looting the cash cow...Makes Police work and revenue collection very easy...Folks justify the police presence by the law being on their side, however the presence is just taking away from the real problems..If there had been Moving Patrols at 2 am maybe those youngsters would have been pulled over before the accident..It's much easier to ticket during the day from a stationary place those that miss the speed limit by 5 mph...Makes all the economic sense in the world..I guess I don't understand "priorities" very well..Common sense does not prevail..

Good point it’s the cops fault.

And we all know the posted speed limit is only a suggestion.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by rp001

It is obvious to this reader that Sumter's Finest are well represented here..I've seen this topic come up before and there are a few die hard supporters of looting the cash cow...Makes Police work and revenue collection very easy...Folks justify the police presence by the law being on their side, however the presence is just taking away from the real problems..If there had been Moving Patrols at 2 am maybe those youngsters would have been pulled over before the accident..It's much easier to ticket during the day from a stationary place those that miss the speed limit by 5 mph...Makes all the economic sense in the world..I guess I don't understand "priorities" very well..Common sense does not prevail..

\
Um....once a year or so ago we had our grandson visiting who had an Asthma attack in the middle of the night so we were out driving to The Villages hospital about two or three in the morning. We were the ONLY person on the roads.

Most of us retire early here and to say there isn't much traffic in the dead of night is an understatement.

It may be that " moving patrols" would have stopped and ticketed them...but I am sadly thinking it wouldn't have stopped the behavior that led to this tragic accident.

[gvsulakerfan]

you're right. if only they stopped catching the speeders we would be able to start 45 more threads on:

car vs cart accidents
car vs bike accidents
people driving through the vegetation on roundabouts
etc etc

[Here2Stay]

There is a reason why they call it "Speed Limit" Happy Spending for those who do not understand the concept!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by rp001

It is obvious to this reader that Sumter's Finest are well represented here..I've seen this topic come up before and there are a few die hard supporters of looting the cash cow...Makes Police work and revenue collection very easy...Folks justify the police presence by the law being on their side, however the presence is just taking away from the real problems..If there had been Moving Patrols at 2 am maybe those youngsters would have been pulled over before the accident..It's much easier to ticket during the day from a stationary place those that miss the speed limit by 5 mph...Makes all the economic sense in the world..I guess I don't understand "priorities" very well..Common sense does not prevail..

I think a majority believe the laws should be enforced.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by rp001

The comparison is valid...It shows the emphasis being placed on the innocent seniors instead of the wrongdoers..We are an easy taget..And remain the cash cows for Sumter county....

A quick review of county documents shows total revenues of over $158 million. Now how important do you really think the revenue from speeding tickets is to the county that they would emphasize traffic fines over other law enforcement functions? And no, I don't work for the sheriff, nor have ever been in law enforcement. But I will admit to being a commanding officer of several units in the Navy, so I have a very good sense of right and wrong. There are laws, rules, and regulations. Violate them at your own risk. Don't whine or blame the enforcer of those regulations when you get caught.

If you bring the attitude that all speed limits have a +5MPH leeway built in, the sheriff has a ticket with your name on it.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

I think a majority believe the laws should be enforced.

I hope so.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by rp001

It is obvious to this reader that Sumter's Finest are well represented here..

Sure, they protecting us from dangerous speeders!

Makes Police work and revenue collection very easy...

Better revenue from violators rather than raising taxes

Folks justify the police presence by the law being on their side

The law are on their side.....

however the presence is just taking away from the real problems.

Speeders are the real problem and law enforcement address the problem.

If there had been Moving Patrols at 2 am maybe those youngsters would have been pulled over

So, they do not stop youngsters speeding at 2 am?

It's much easier to ticket during the day from a stationary place those that miss the speed limit by 5 mph..

No one get a citation for 5 mph over (FL statutes), except in school zones.

I guess I don't understand "priorities" very well.

Yes.

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by rp001

I believe there is ample work in this area to keep our ministers of law and order busy..Look at the arrest records and there seems to be a large contingent of meth users and petty theives immediately surrounding our wonderful world, Wildwood and Fruitland Park and Belleview.

Perhaps the officers would be better suited tending to real crime prevention than ticketing little old ladies on Buena Vista en masse...I know we are looked upon by some of the locals in disdain and are perceived as rich..Look at the median income for the tri county area for a family of four..We are in effect the cash cows for Sumter, and Northern Lake county...

Under our current system of laws, there is very little "crime prevention" that law enforcement can accomplish without a cop on every street corner. Police catch criminals after the fact.

The very fact that police are very visible in catching speeders proves the theory that cops are not able to prevent crime. One would expect that the visible punishment would be a deterrent. Obviously, it is not.

[Biancarose]

Everyday on Rio Grande and Chula Vista Ave the police are giving tickets for speeding.

[gerryann]

Great! Wanna get those speeders off the road.

[nitehawk]

yes yes yes

[cquick]

those places you mentioned in your first post are where there are many speeders, all the time. I usually go right about 35 mph, and if someone is also going 35 mph in the other lane, the people behind are very frustrated!. I try to stay in the right hand lane, so they can all go around me. I have noticed how easy it is to have my speed creep up as I go up the long stretch from 466A to the first round about.

[cquick]

Originally Posted by NJblue

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.

I don't like the idea of raising the speed limit on the roads in TV...even the boulevards is because we are in a town, not out on a highway. There are many turns along all those roads to go into neighborhoods, golf clubs, rec centers. This is where we live. Morse and Buena Vista Blvds south of 466 are in a town, not in the countryside.

[billethkid]

first of all raising the speed limit will in no way solve the problem. It will accomplish raising the overall speed. It will not stop folks from going over the speed limit. A perfect example? In west TX on I-10 a few years back they raised the speed limit to 80!!!! The hope was to reduce the speed violations. Effect? Average speeds were approaching 90+......citations issued were going up compared to previous speed limits.

This is a retirement community. The existing speed limits are just fine.

The sheriff's office should have a squad that is dedicated to 100% traffic/safety/speed control. Their goal would be to enforce moving traffic safety laws. Their budget would be easy...it would be self funding.

I also think they should put an escalator on the fines....having them go up a minimum of 25% every time one is cited.

In addition I would personally love to see FL enact citizen's arrests....not really taking one into custody but being able to report a moving violation to the police.....the one reporting the violation would have to appear at the hearings for the violations just like police do today.
The problem that would be created is there are so many violators in TV the system would be overwhelmed.

I am all for what ever increased coverage and number of citations issed it takes to get the message across.

We all are familiar with those little towns across America that have reputations for speed traps and that "nasty cop" that will get you if you go one mile more.....that is the reputation we need TV to have.

Go get 'em Danno!!!

btk