One of America's most notorious speed trap cities disbands police force

[Haltech]

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

In 2003, AAA took the unprecedented step of erecting billboards to warn motorists of speed traps ahead

Most people have never heard of Waldo, Florida, a tiny town of about 1,000 residents that lies along Route 310 between Gainesville and Jacksonville. But motorists who have driven through the tiny community may know it all too well. For decades, Waldo has operated one of the most notorious speed traps in America.

The speed trap has been considered such a blatant money-grab that AAA, one of the nation's leading advocates for traffic safety, has rebuked the town's enforcement practices. In 2003, the organization took the unprecedented step of erecting billboards along Route 310 that warn motorists of the speed traps ahead.

But now, the traffic situation in Waldo may be changing. Last week, the city council voted to disband the town's police force. The vote came on the heels of the resignation of the interim Cpl. Kenneth Smith, the interim chief. Five of the department's officers had told the city council that Smith had imposed a "strict ticket quota," according to The Associated Press.

Smith had been the interim chief since August, when Chief Mike Szabo was suspended pending a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation.Continue reading One of America's most notorious speed trap cities disbands police force

One of America's most notorious speed trap cities disbands police force originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Oct 2014 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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