Anyone ever get a speeding ticket on Disney property?

[Deep-Thots]

Just a couple of notes that may or may not interest folks.

1. Milltown, NJ borders East Brunswick, NJ. One of the ways into Milltown from EB is via a moderate (slightly less than 45 degree) hill on which the posted speed limit is 40. At the bottom of said hill (of course), one enters into Milltown, where the posted limit is 25. Milltown cops used to have a great time increasing revenue for the town by staying at the very bottom of that hill and writing tickets for those poor drivers who did not have the prescience to realize that the speed limit would change drastically in a couple hundred feet.

At least, they used to write tons of tickets until one motorist sued Milltown for entrapment. That motorist won his case, forcing Milltown (in cooperation with EB) to place many warning signs on the hill; in addition, Milltown police were, um, "strongly urged" not to issue citations to motorists for the first quarter-mile in from Milltown's border. (In fact, traffic judges continue to dismiss tickets that are issued in the "informal warning zone.")

Needless to say, Milltown's revenue from said area has all but dried up. So, it appears that motorists can successfully contest a speeding citation in instances where there did not appear to be adequate time to slow down.

2. Re: paying but not signing a ticket. Read the fine print. In most states, mere payment of the ticket is an admission of guilt. Signature, in other words, is not required. Whether the infraction is reported back to your stat'es authorities (and thus to your insurance company) depends on how proactive the issuing PD is. Small towns tend not to "reciprocate" as long as they get paid.

If you didn't find these notes to be of interest, please just kindly forget them. Thanks!

 

[HappyLawyer]

No, I'm not contradicting, disagreeing doesn't mean not obey.

I'm sorry for seeming harsh.

But too many life changing events occur due to driving issues.

Simple, drive with respect, leave early and don't be in a hurry, ask for directions, and NEVER drink and drive.

Seems easy but so many ignore.

Be Careful and Enjoy your Vacation!!

you are entitled to express yourself, do not apologize because someone interprets it as being harsh

 

[colleen costello]

Hey Tyler! We are heading down in late July and dear hubby tends to have a lead foot. He is extra careful on WDW property, though, because of all the craziness we see... People stopped dead in the road while they decide which ramp to take, tiny cars cutting off giant WDW buses, etc. Anyhow, can you recommend a safe speed limit? Is it 35 all over WDW property? Thanks! It would be a bummer to get a ticket!

 

[Ted and Holly]

Hey Tyler! We are heading down in late July and dear hubby tends to have a lead foot. He is extra careful on WDW property, though, because of all the craziness we see... People stopped dead in the road while they decide which ramp to take, tiny cars cutting off giant WDW buses, etc. Anyhow, can you recommend a safe speed limit? Is it 35 all over WDW property? Thanks! It would be a bummer to get a ticket!

I am not Tyler, but I can say that the only "safe" speed is the posted limit. Many authorities will give a small buffer, say 10MPH over, but they aren't bound to that.

Just be sure to pay attention to signs. People still speed on WDW property and will pass on the right or left. I have seen MANY near collisions due to someone speeding up on a car that does an erratic lane change or brake to read a sign. The speeder is wrong, of course, but not paying attention to the road puts a lot of people in danger on Central Florida roads.

Ted

 

[Disneyrsh]

if you want to be safe, i would call 911 and ask them what the speed limit is, this would be a last resort, but it will save stress and fees and premiums, now let's all play nice, everyone is entitled to post a question and not get jumped on about it, this is how we learn

Oh, so that was YOU tying up the emergency lines the night the drunk with a gun tried to kick in our front door? Thanks so much!

Idiot.

You call 911 for EMERGENCIES, not to reasurre your empty head that you're not tootling along too fast. Grrrrrrr!

Allowing my blood pressure to resume its normal happy levels, the last two times we were in Disney, in March and May, we noticed a ton of police patrolling all over the place.

Don't go fast, don't get stopped. It was that easy.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Is it 35 all over WDW property? Thanks! It would be a bummer to get a ticket!

World Drive and Epcot Center drive are the only two roads with a 50mph speed limit. As one approaches the MK toll plaza (just after the Mission Space sign) the limit drops to 35, and stays at 35 after that. That's a heavily patrolled zone change.

Osceola Parkway is only 45 on Disney property. It used to be 50.

Buena Vista Drive is 35 near DTD, then 45 all the way until Coronado Springs where it dips down to 40mph to the All-Stars.

 

[manning]

Just a couple of notes that may or may not interest folks.

1. Milltown, NJ borders East Brunswick, NJ. One of the ways into Milltown from EB is via a moderate (slightly less than 45 degree) hill on which the posted speed limit is 40. At the bottom of said hill (of course), one enters into Milltown, where the posted limit is 25. Milltown cops used to have a great time increasing revenue for the town by staying at the very bottom of that hill and writing tickets for those poor drivers who did not have the prescience to realize that the speed limit would change drastically in a couple hundred feet.

At least, they used to write tons of tickets until one motorist sued Milltown for entrapment. That motorist won his case, forcing Milltown (in cooperation with EB) to place many warning signs on the hill; in addition, Milltown police were, um, "strongly urged" not to issue citations to motorists for the first quarter-mile in from Milltown's border. (In fact, traffic judges continue to dismiss tickets that are issued in the "informal warning zone.")

Needless to say, Milltown's revenue from said area has all but dried up. So, it appears that motorists can successfully contest a speeding citation in instances where there did not appear to be adequate time to slow down.

2. Re: paying but not signing a ticket. Read the fine print. In most states, mere payment of the ticket is an admission of guilt. Signature, in other words, is not required. Whether the infraction is reported back to your stat'es authorities (and thus to your insurance company) depends on how proactive the issuing PD is. Small towns tend not to "reciprocate" as long as they get paid.

If you didn't find these notes to be of interest, please just kindly forget them. Thanks!

Here's a better one! There was a town in Missouri where two thirds of their revenue was from traffic tickets. Well, one day the police gave a ticket to a state legislator and gave him a hard time. He got a law passed allowing only a small percentage of the fine could be used to run city government. A few years later the town had to unincorporate.

Talk about getting even!!!

In regards to the post about not signing a ticket. I asked my aunt (a retired magistrate in Michigan) about that and she said that signing a ticket doesn't have anything to do with acknowledging guilt. It is only to acknowledge you have been issued a citation and your rights have been explained to you. I live in Illinois and got a ticket once. Right above the signature line it explained by signing the citation you are not acknowledging guilt.

if you try to argue you weren't there to get a ticket because you didn't sign, who do you think the judge is inclined to believe? you or the officer. It's your word against his. and who holds the odds?? Remember, he has taken down all the info from.......your driver license.

Here is speed trap tipoff. If you are traveling the speed limit and see a reduce speed sign and you take your foot off the gas when you are even with the sign you will coast down to the new speed limit without touching or gently touching the brakes. If you have to brake hard to get down to the new speed limit from the reduce speed sign it more than likely has been set up as a speed trap.

And if an officer asks you if you knew you were going over the limit, DON'T say yes. You just testified against yourself.

 

[puffkin]

Carrieberry-

Thanks for posting your situation. It was a tough break for you, and hopefully others will remember your story and not have to go through the same thing.

Wow, I thought the transportation board had a nice crowd, but boy did this post open my eyes! I don't think the OP needed a lecture on safe driving, obeying speed limits etc. Jeesh!

I have never driven on Disney property, but I know how easy it is to go with the flow of traffic and not notice a speed limit change or something else. Maybe some of you won't admit it, but I am sure that has happened to 99% of the people on this board. That has happened to me around my hometown, so I can imagine how easy it can happen in WDW when driving on unfamiliar roads (sometimes in an unfamiliar rental car) trying to follow road signs and stay in the flow of traffic.

I know others may think otherwise, but in a tourist area such as WDW, I think the powers that be should be extra diligent in posting road signs and speed limits. You can never have too many signs, especially on heavily travelled tourist roads/interstates.

Finally, had to chime in on the 911 (lol). I guess it is ok to call 911 to ask a speed limit while driving on unfamiliar roads and using cell phone.......that sure is safe. Sorry, couldn't resist. 911 should be for emergencies only!

 

[paulh]

wait untill you get the automatic speed camaras fitted like over here in the uk on some roads they are every 500 yards each time you are flashed you get an atomatic fine and 3 points on licence if you get 12 points you lose your licence for at least a year.People over here think they are cash generaters some camaras rake in £1 million ($1.8million)a year
Paulh

 

[localdriver]

The answer is.....slow down. ... The unproud owner of one ticket in 35 years of driving. Signs are clearly marked in Disney, if you miss them you are going too fast.

 

[JimMIA]

Signing the ticket has nothing to do with it appearing on your record. It is just that the computer systems between the states don't always talk to each other. When you pay, you are admitting guilt.

In addition to not having anything to do with your driving record, refusal to sign some citations used to be an arrestable offense in Florida. I'm not sure if it still is, but I think I'd try to find another method of impressing the deputy!

[EDIT: Carol, I actually was responding to the same person you were responding to, who thought they'd beaten the system by not signing a ticket. When I re-read my post, I realized it sounded like it was directed at you -- it wasn't. Sorry.]