Waldo Fl. speed trap update

This tread isn't about fretting over what others do, it's about breaking the Thin Blue Line and doing what's right. It's about citizens being protected and not exploited.

CHP in California calls the guy changing lanes and passing every one a volunteer, they volunteer to get a ticket.

Most mechanical speedometers have 10% error, the electronic units are a bit more accurate, and that is dependent on what method of pic up they use, so most Police Departments will give the driver at least that margin.

We used to calibrate the police vehicles speedometers with a dynamometer every 6 months so that the officer had an accurate speed curve to work with, to many ticketed clients wanted to challenge the tickets by wanting to know when the vehicles where calibrated.

Same for the radar guns and motorcycles, and then there is the bright guy that wants to know if the officer is qualified to operate the radar gun.

navegator

As a police officer, I can state that in my experience 10 to 15 mph over is generally accepted by most reasonable officers.

#1 EVERYONE speeds. Why do I want to waste my time on the guy doing 67 in a 55 and keeping up with traffic when I can wait a minute and get the guy doing 85 in a 55 and causing a larger hazard?

#2 Liberal judges. Technically 56 mph in a 55 mph zone is speeding. Judges would lose their minds if I "wasted" their time writing tickets for 5 or 7 mph over

#3 Speedometers on most civilian cars aren't 100% accurate. I am a reasonable person, I realize that speedometers can be off a little bit.

I don't understand why everyone on here gets so bent out of shape by what OTHER people do. If one guy wants to drive 55 in the 65... that is his right. I would hope he stays to the right so as to not disrupt traffic though. If someone wants to drive 85 in a 65... that is his choice. If a cop pulls him over and writes him up, then he lost the gamble. If he can avoid a citation and get to his destination safely, then he won the gamble.

Why do some people get so worked up about things that they have no control over...?

noplace2 wrote:

down home wrote:
Ten to fifteen over is allowable, in most places now.

Would you, or someone, explain why this is?

There are two reasons for it.

First: Most police officers (At least the good ones) know that the speed your speedometer shows may not be your actual speed. I have compared my dash to my GPS many times and observed differences (Depending on the ride) of several MPH.

So they give you a bit of "Breathing space".

Second.. Why bother the guy doing 70 in the 65 when you can write the idiot doing 90.. The following is a TRUE story.

Michigan State Police put a "Bear in the air over a hunk of the interstate 696 international speedway.. Along with some marked units on the ground of course, In just about an hours time they wrote 85 tickets, Minimum speed to get a cite was 85MPH (not sure what the speed limit was then so can not say how far over) And the top prize winner, was tooling down the road at 105.

I forget if it was 2 or 3 days later they put the other type of aircraft (Fixed wing (Plane) or rotary wing (Helicopter_ They used one one time and the other the second)

Same exact stats.. And why do I think the same idiot at 105 too?


I liked my job as a dispatcher listening to those folks.

mileshuff wrote:

noplace2 wrote:
Indeed it does. That 2.5 hours subtracts from the roughly 657,000 hours you might have on the planet to 656997.5 at age 75.

I choose to slow down and enjoy the journey. Your results may vary.

It doesn't reduce the time on the planet. It changes where I spend that time. I prefer to spend more at my destination than on the road. That said, I generally tow at 65mph if highway and traffic conditions permit it. California law is 55mph when towing, my home state is 75mph regardless of towing or not.

Do you also tow at 75? If so what brand/type of tires are you using?

noplace2 wrote:
The roadways in these United States are in major decay, exemplified by the interstate system, which gets worse and less repaired by the year.

Theres a lot of truth to that but it varies widely by state. I find California highways to be horrible no matter where you travel. Arizona most of the highways are in far better shape with the exception of parts of I-40 which are currently being repaved.

noplace2 wrote:
Indeed it does. That 2.5 hours subtracts from the roughly 657,000 hours you might have on the planet to 656997.5 at age 75.

I choose to slow down and enjoy the journey. Your results may vary.

It doesn't reduce the time on the planet. It changes where I spend that time. I prefer to spend more at my destination than on the road. That said, I generally tow at 65mph if highway and traffic conditions permit it. California law is 55mph when towing, my home state is 75mph regardless of towing or not.

spoon059 wrote:

Big Katuna wrote:
And there will be the usual know-nothing's that post "Oh, you shouldn't speed".

How is it a "know nothing" post to say that if you don't speed your chances of getting a speeding ticket are greatly reduced?

More importantly, if I am a "know nothing" yet have managed to never get a ticket driving through Waldo... how stupid must you be if you have either gotten a ticket or allowed yourself to get all worked up about a posted speed limit?

One more thing... regardless of whether or not those officers from that department are enforcing the speed limit, the speed limit itself doesn't appear to have changed. What is stopping the Florida Highway Patrol from stepping in and enforcing the speed limit?

I think you should save your gratitude until the SPEED LIMIT is changed... not the officers enforcing the speed limit.

I don't really understand your anger with a speed limit change that requires that you apply for brakes. Heck, turning onto another street usually requires I hit the brakes... red lights require that I eventually hit my brakes... stop signs require I hit my brakes... roadwork requires that I hit my brakes... I think we should get rid of all those too!!!

Then again... what do I know... I'm just a "know nothing"

that tries not to speed and accepts the consequences if I do.

No - "IMO, or IMHO".

......several paragraphs to get down to the punch line.

However, (IMO) - credit is due.......

for two cents (or more) worth - of "know something" !!..:W

~

down home wrote:
Roads and road conditions have improved

You can't be serious. Either you aren't serious or you don't travel much. The roadways in these United States are in major decay, exemplified by the interstate system, which gets worse and less repaired by the year.

noplace2 wrote:

down home wrote:
Ten to fifteen over is allowable, in most places now.

Would you, or someone, explain why this is? And further, why it is acceptable in some areas more than others, if indeed that is the case? Why bother with speed limits at all if what you describe is true? 70 in a 55? 85 in a 70? Well sure, go for it. I'd love to hear from a LEO about your statement.

Further, if you drive 70 in a 55 zone, over my hour you will get to your destination 15 minutes ahead of me. 15 MINUTES! Was it worth the cost in terms of always having to look over your shoulder for LE and the increased wear and tear on your vehicles (presumably since you are posting in a general RV issues forum you utilize one)?

Just on a practical note, given that 15 mph differential between 55 and 70 with a few exceptions (don't go there and miss the point) most vehicles will experience a significant increase in fuel mileage at the lower speed to the benefit of everyone.

Roads and road conditions have improved along with tires and cars. Everyone travels at a higher speed, almost. In these congested areas, providing the supporting road network will handle it, higher Interstate speeds enable the Interstate as well as other roads to carry more safely higher number of vehicles. The wrench in all this is Semis who play games in traffic backing up traffic for miles and so on and causing numerous accident and near accidents.