Posted on 02/19/2016 10:34:19 AM PST by FamiliarFace
My daughter will be driving to Gainesville from Jacksonville next week, and I'm wondering if anyone knows if the speed trap in Waldo is any better. It has been a number of years since I've made that drive myself. I know there was some talk about disbanding the police department a few years ago. Does anyone know if that has made a difference?
A few years ago the FDLE investigated and found most of the fines were being pocketed by,”officials”.there
Speed trap gone, police dept disbanded and the county sheriff is in charge
***Where they get you is that they speed limit slows quickly once your in town***
Thanks for the visuals. The part where they snag you is the part of the journey that she’ll be taking if she goes on 301. As I recall, there were a few twists and turns that she’ll need to make. Perhaps, we just turned off to grab a bite of food the last time I went.
Visuals are always best.
I drive through there at least once a year. Just tell her to do what they say and they will leave her be.
I couldn’t find them, so, they may be gone, but, AAA use to have signs on the highway that warned you when you got close, that it was a speed trap. Tell her to be aware of those too.
Many thanks!
I LOVED the trip going driving south on 301. I felt like a true cracker finally!! Then as you roll into horse country near Ocala, just beautiful. I had heard though about the history of speed traps. Drove accordingly, no ticket, no problem.
Not a big deal; it just seems a pretty minor thing for the premier conservative website in the nation to have as a topic!
Seems like a local traffic report!
I find the cell tower in the sinkhole fascinating for some reason. It’s in nice rolling terrain, but, they put it at the bottom of the hill in a hole.
Very odd.
It is a pretty stretch of highway all the same.
To get where I am going, I could go I-95 to I-4, but, 301 works well, and has a 65 mph speed limit in many parts.
I set the cruse and go.
I never got caught in any of those 301 speed traps, but I got so tired of the constant slowing down to 35 that now I just go down I-95, then west on I-4 when coming back home to St. Petersburg. Traffic on I-4 just flies, so I can make up any time I might have theoretically lost. And I worry much less about getting pulled over for speeding.
Yes!
Was trying to remember the name of that town..Starke also. Bad!
Lots of crossroads to slow down for also.
Go Interstate.
Here is a link for the compressed view from Lawty to Waldo, FL. Zoom-in and see what others are reporting. There may not be much reported when you look but it is another tool!
You know, I just might advise her to take the interstate. I’ve just always found the “back roads” to be charming in a way. While I suppose it’s my preference, it might be more of an annoyance to her.
That’s pretty cool.
I live west of Gainesville. The Waldo PD was disbanded due to corruption. Funny thing was the police officers were the ones that turned them in. It is still 35 MPH through town, but it is well marked. The is a large sign stating the speed limit is strictly enforced. No more police hiding behind things, but I wouldn’t recommend speeding through there.
Lawty almost lost thier town charter based on police corruption. They are on notice by the state. They were caught using movable signs.
Bottom line, just do the speed limit on 301 and you will be fine.
Ok, thank you.
Check with AAA. Every time I consider going up 301 they warn about excessive speed enforcement. I go out of my way to use I-75 and I-10. It adds a few minutes but avoids a ticket, especially in those areas where speed limits drop faster than you can reasonably break.
Thank you, Boomer. That is one of the suggestions I’m seeing over and over. It makes me wistful. I love driving off the beaten path, as my father before me did. I was hoping it had improved some. She’s an adult. I’ll only forewarn her about the possibilities. She’s old enough to make up her own mind. (She’ll always be my little girl, though!) As long as she arrives safe and sound, I’ll not complain.
Besides, if you don't want to get stopped for speeding, trying slowing down to the speed limit. How hard is that?
I live less that 15 miles south of Waldo.
Regardless, drive the speed limit whenever traveling through towns on a major highway....anywhere. Why is that so hard?
Good to hear about Waldo, but it wasn’t the only issue on 301.
If a town relies on traffic citations to pay it’s bills, it hasa problem.
I live on a farm directly on 301 north of Hawthorne. I have been traveling 301 for years between Ocala and I-10 west of Jacksonville and have never received a speeding ticket. If one doesn't understand to slow down to the speed limit going through those small towns, it is not the towns problem. It is the drivers who have the problem following the law.
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