Posted on 08/14/2003 11:06:03 AM PDT by bedolido
WALDO, Fla. - Much like U.S. 301 splits this north Florida town down the middle, a billboard warning that the town is a speed trap has residents divided.
In the latest salvo of an 8-year-old war with police Chief A. W. Smith, AAA has erected a black and yellow billboard on the highway between Waldo and Starke, northeast of Gainesville.
"Speed Trap," the sign says in black block lettering inside a bright yellow diamond. Beside it, yellow on black, is the word "Waldo." Under that: "6 miles ahead."
A similar billboard warns motorists about Lawtey, about 20 miles north of Waldo. They are the only two towns in the United States specifically designated by AAA as "traffic traps."
Randy Bly, community relations director for AAA, said the billboards are a first for the auto club, which has carried warnings on the Internet and in material it supplies to motorists.
"We want to get out the message for people to slow down," Bly said.
Smith, who has been fighting with AAA since 1995 over his ticketing practices, assessed the billboard bluntly: "It's stupid."
He pointed out that AAA didn't even put its name on the sign.
Smith insists Waldo is not a speed trap, adding that the town issues only 17 citations a day.
Jim and Dena Rice, who run Waldo Hardware, have argued for years that strict traffic enforcement hurts business in the town of 7,400.
"AAA didn't single Waldo out," Jim Rice said. "Waldo singled itself out."
Roscoe Arbogast, owner of Arbogast Piano Co., thinks the Waldo sign is appropriate.
"I think the police are a little too aggressive. I think they stop a lot of people for nothing," he said. "It's not good for business."
Tom and Mary Ramsey, who own Tom's Cypress, a wood shop along U.S. 301, believe AAA should stay out of the town's business.
"AAA is way out of line," Tom Ramsey said. "It (the billboard) is a lie. It's not true."
Speed limits through Waldo range from 55 to 35 mph, except for school zone, which is the state minimum of 15 mph.
The issue, Smith said, is not revenue for the city coffers from speeding citations, but safety. In the past nine years, despite its heavy traffic, there have been only two fatal accidents in Waldo.
But Bly said both Waldo and Lawtey derive a good portion of their town budgets from tickets.
In 2002, Waldo issued 6,539 tickets. For fiscal year 2001-02, traffic fines were 38.7 percent of the town budget and 105 percent of the police budget, according to AAA.
Lawtey issued 5,257 tickets in 2002. Traffic fines accounted for 34 percent of the town budget and 98 percent of the police budget, AAA said.
Facts are facts. The tickets are the backbone profit center for the town and the police force. CONCLUSION: Waldo and Lawtey are speed traps. Congrats to AAA.
Lawtey issued 5,257 tickets in 2002. Traffic fines accounted for 34 percent of the town budget and 98 percent of the police budget, AAA said.
If the shoe fits....
I don't live in Battle Creek, but quite close. I think this idea is outrageous. Let me add, I have not had a ticket since the mid-70's, but the thought of these people running around like Barney Fife yelling "citizens arrest, citizen's arrest" ticks me off.
Police feel need for speed patrol
Citizen's Traffic Watch created
By Trace Christenson
The Enquirer
In yellow shirts and black and white cars, Battle Creek residents are fighting traffic violators.
A new program, the Citizen's Traffic Watch, began Wednesday night and will use volunteers to monitor traffic problems and notify drivers of violations.
Seventeen people, all graduates from the Battle Creek Police Department's Citizen Police Academy, have been trained to use radar and laser, police radios and in-car video recorders, according to Lt. James Saylor.
Beginning this week they will be sent out in teams of two to monitor traffic, both to collect information for city traffic engineers and to notify drivers of infractions.
Saylor said the teams will respond to traffic complaints from residents without assigning a uniformed officer.
"What it will do is get some things off their backs so they can concentrate on other problems," Saylor said.
Chief David Headings welcomed 13 of the volunteers Wednesday explaining that similar programs have been used successfully in eastern Michigan.
"I am not above stealing a good idea," he said. "I think it will be a success."
He said the program will allow officers to concentrate on other work and is especially important during this tight budget time.
The citizens will help determine if complaints about traffic violations are valid and if there is a need to send out an officer to begin writing tickets or to contact the city to consider a change in design of the intersection or street, said Max Phares, the city's traffic engineer.
He said people monitoring possible traffic problems will provide more information than counters, which can determine only the number of vehicles and their speed.
"To have eyes and ears makes it more personal," he said. "These people will be very important to me on the street. I will have a lot more information to base our decisions on."
Saylor said members of the team will be dressed in bright yellow shirts so they are not confused with police officers.
They will stay in their car, a black and white patrol car with special markings, recording information and not attempting to contact suspected violators.
Saylor said violators will have license plate numbers recorded, the time, date and location and type of violation and a description of the driver.
The registered owner of the vehicle then could be contacted by letter about the violation.
Saylor said in many cases notification that drivers have been spotted violating traffic laws could solve the problem. But officers could be used to write tickets if problems persist.
The new citizens' team also will be in charge of the SMART cart, which is a device to record and display speeds of approaching cars. It is moved about the city to allow motorists and neighborhood residents to see the speed of traffic.
Randy Potts, 32, and his wife, Marnie, 29, recently moved to Battle Creek from Utah and decided to help with the traffic unit after attending the Citizen Police Academy.
"Anytime I can support our community that is what I chose," Randy Potts said.
They expect to volunteer at least four to five hours a month.
Marnie Potts said several of their friends have asked about the program and after they hear the description, she said she always surprises them by saying: "You better watch out for us."
Trace Christenson covers crime and courts. He can be reached at 966-0685 or tchrist@battlecr.gannett.com
Originally published Thursday, August 14, 2003
Just damn.
If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
Then Smith should be happy. No doubt everybody is driving the speed limit now, or even better, staying out of his town completely. Less cars, less accidents.
Lest someone think that this is only been an issue for 8 years, the AAA and Waldo have been at it for years longer. I still vividly remember my speeding ticket in Waldo dating back to the 1980s. Highway 301 is 4 lane divided at 60 mph and goes around a sharp curve into Waldo at 35 mph where a radar car sits collecting green stamps. For non-Floridians, 301 is the main way that people above Tampa on the Gulf Coast get over to Jacksonville and points north. A real revenue stream for Waldo and Lawtey.
After paying the ticket and returning home I learned about AAA's battle and have been a member ever since!
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