BEWARE! Western Way Speed Trap...

[colleen costello]

My parents, who have recently retired to central Florida, had a lovely Thansgiving dinner at BOMA. They visited many of the Disney hotels looking at the decorations. Then they tried to find the way home on the new "Western Way" which exits you off Disney property via the new toll road that connects to the Turnpike.

I warned them that people here have been mentioning SPEED TRAPS but they got caught nevertheless... Mom was looking up for signs, trying to find her way, so she naturally slowed down, but there is an area where you merge and the speed evidently goes from 55 to 35... Mom swears she never saw that sign. Despite the fact that they have Florida plates, and that they were literally the ONLY car on the road on what she said is essentially a 2-lane highway, the cop gave her a ticket. Mom said he was polite but the whole thing upset her greatly. They holler at you through a bullhorn and make you get out of the car... She said she cried the whole time.

BEWARE! This is not a "danger" issue but a SPEED TRAP. Don't let a wonderful day be ruined by an officer looking to make you part of his quota. My parents are out about $90 and my poor Mom has the first ticket of her life. Go 35 or under if you use this road!

My Dad had a few unprintable words for the local police and made me promise I would warn everyone here

 

[manning]

If this is on Disney property Disney has requested the sheriff to patrol and issue tickets due to a high rate of speeding.

At one time you couldn't find local police on property, just Disney security. Because of 9/11 you will now see them at park entrances.

 

[ducklite]

There are TWO well marked signs that warn of the new speed limit as you are on Western Way and the speed drops.

That road is not at all confusing, even if you've never been on it before. Getting to WDW you get off the 429 and drive until you hit the traffic light by CSR where teh road ends. Leaving you get on and drive until you get to the very well marked 429.

If they got a ticket it was because they weren't paying attention, period. The speed doesn't go up and down, and frankly I can't think of a single place with a "merge."

Why should the police give them any special treatment because they had never gotten a ticket or were from Florida? And they KNEW that there was a speed trap there but were speeding anyhow...

I've driven that road probably three dozen times at this point. I've seen FHP with radar every single time. I've yet to be stopped. And I drive a two-seater sports car that screams "pull me over!"

BTW--for those who think "Emergency Stopping Only" doesn't pertain to them as they approach the Disney arch on Western Way...it does, and FHP will ticket you for stopping to take a photo of that.

Anne

 

[disneyldwjr]

My parents, who have recently retired to central Florida, had a lovely Thansgiving dinner at BOMA. They visited many of the Disney hotels looking at the decorations. Then they tried to find the way home on the new "Western Way" which exits you off Disney property via the new toll road that connects to the Turnpike.

I warned them that people here have been mentioning SPEED TRAPS but they got caught nevertheless... Mom was looking up for signs, trying to find her way, so she naturally slowed down, but there is an area where you merge and the speed evidently goes from 55 to 35... Mom swears she never saw that sign. Despite the fact that they have Florida plates, and that they were literally the ONLY car on the road on what she said is essentially a 2-lane highway, the cop gave her a ticket. Mom said he was polite but the whole thing upset her greatly. They holler at you through a bullhorn and make you get out of the car... She said she cried the whole time.

BEWARE! This is not a "danger" issue but a SPEED TRAP. Don't let a wonderful day be ruined by an officer looking to make you part of his quota. My parents are out about $90 and my poor Mom has the first ticket of her life. Go 35 or under if you use this road!

My Dad had a few unprintable words for the local police and made me promise I would warn everyone here

The fact that they were the only car on the road should not mean anything.
She was not within the speed limit. To say that she was part of his quota is really not fair. Why would you Dad have unprintable words for someone doing his job properly?
If she takes this to court it will probably be nullied anyway, since it is her first.
Now, having said that, I do appreciate the warning. And, assuming I ever land on the Western way, (I have no clue where that is, LOL) I will definitely curb my speeding ways.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We've taken that route before and I can see why it's so easy to speed. You're the only car on the road and there's great visibility. I guess no matter where you drive, it's important to keep an eye on speed limit signs.
On the other hand, I think they should create a little "pull over" area near the WDW arch. It's sad to think you should have to chance paying a ticket to get a photo of something that people have saved/waited so long to see. This may be their 1st glimpse of WDW. Some people save all their lives just to get 1 chance to go. If that were my situation, I'd take the chance and pull over!

 

[ducklite]

The problem with allowing people to pull over is that they get over excited and then just drive to go back to the roadway without looking and pull out in front of people.

As it is, idiots just stop in the middle fo the roadway--happened to me a few weeks ago when teh people in front of me came to a dead stop and the wife jumped out to take a picture. Wish FHP had seen that one.

Anne

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I would also warn people that FHP, DOT and Orange County Sheriff's police have been patrolling the 429 itself quite a bit, considering the lack of traffic on the road. It's quite easy to get up to 80 mph on 429 because it's so open.

And you'll see a lot more people pulled over on Disney property due to speeding. Patrols have definitely been increased.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Edd]

I have cruised 65 to 70 at least 20 times between Apopka, Disney World exit and 192 exit and have never got a highway patrol to turn around. There are quite a few troopers on the road watching traffic.

 

[ducklite]

I have cruised 65 to 70 at least 20 times between Apopka, Disney World exit and 192 exit and have never got a highway patrol to turn around. There are quite a few troopers on the road watching traffic.

Uh, it's a 65 mph speed zone, so I wouldn't think they would bat an eye.

Anne

 

[colleen costello]

KIngBob, it was you who kindly gave me directions to this road and you did warn me about speeding. I passed this along to my parents. Thank you again.

As far as "being from Florida," all I meant was that if the police were concerned about tourists who will fully disregard the laws, my Mom certainly does NOT fit that profile. She was guilty of nothing more than missing the sign. She always nags ME on WDW property to "be careful and watch the limits" and I think she was just so preoccupied with finding her way that she did not pay attention to posted signs.

I guess I am of the thinking that when the officer "checked her out" (He went back to his car with her info) and saw that she was a retired person who in 64 years never had so much as one ticket, and given that the speed dropped and she stated plainly that she was looking for her way back toward Ocala and did not see sign, NO, I do not think she needed to be lectured and given a ticket. Sometimes when an officer stops you they decide not to give a ticket, and on Thanksgiving night I think that would have been the nice thing to do. Of course the officer was legally within his right to give the ticket. But when you have a spot on a road where the speed drops suddenly and a lot of people miss that sign, and the cops sit right there, I think they are trying to "trap" people with expensive tickets. So everyone watch out!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Florida has really changed their reputation as far as speeding tollerance is conserned over the last five years or so. It used to be that you could float 80-85 down the bee-line coming out of MCO, and if you were in a rental car (easily identified by the large barcodes or Florida plates without the county) you wouldn't even get a glance by a FHP. Now, I've seen people on US-41 (Tamiami) between Sarastota and Ft Myers, go from five over the posted speed to ten under the posted speed at the sight of an FHP or Sheriff! Pretty soon they will have a reputation like Ohio (you buckeye's know what i mean )

 

[ducklite]

KIngBob, it was you who kindly gave me directions to this road and you did warn me about speeding. I passed this along to my parents. Thank you again.

As far as "being from Florida," all I meant was that if the police were concerned about tourists who will fully disregard the laws, my Mom certainly does NOT fit that profile. She was guilty of nothing more than missing the sign. She always nags ME on WDW property to "be careful and watch the limits" and I think she was just so preoccupied with finding her way that she did not pay attention to posted signs.

I guess I am of the thinking that when the officer "checked her out" (He went back to his car with her info) and saw that she was a retired person who in 64 years never had so much as one ticket, and given that the speed dropped and she stated plainly that she was looking for her way back toward Ocala and did not see sign, NO, I do not think she needed to be lectured and given a ticket. Sometimes when an officer stops you they decide not to give a ticket, and on Thanksgiving night I think that would have been the nice thing to do. Of course the officer was legally within his right to give the ticket. But when you have a spot on a road where the speed drops suddenly and a lot of people miss that sign, and the cops sit right there, I think they are trying to "trap" people with expensive tickets. So everyone watch out!

Have you ever been on the road?

The speed doesn't "drop suddenly." There are two speed limit signs posted everytime the speed limit changes. If I am recalling correctly, the speed limit only changes once during the entire road, and it's a five mph change.

Unless I've been driving too slow all along, between WDW and the 429 the limit is NEVER 55 mph. If she was going that fast she's lucky her ticket was only $90!

I'll be on the road again alter this week and will report back.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Florida has really changed their reputation as far as speeding tollerance is conserned over the last five years or so.

They got tired of using tax dollars to scrape tourists off of the highways. Almost every major fatal wreck around here involves tourists (people who do not live within a 75 miles radius) and speed. We had a four fatality wreck in Clermont a couple weeks ago--four guys from Tallahassee driving WAY too fast down a county road plowed headfirst into a dumptruck. At least the innocent dumptruck driver will be OK.

Anne

 

[disneyldwjr]

They got tired of using tax dollars to scrape tourists off of the highways. Almost every major fatal wreck around here involves tourists (people who do not live within a 75 miles radius) and speed. We had a four fatality wreck in Clermont a couple weeks ago--four guys from Tallahassee driving WAY too fast down a county road plowed headfirst into a dumptruck. At least the innocent dumptruck driver will be OK.

Anne

Perhaps where you live, that is a fact, and I will not dispute it, BUT, I can tell you that every single morning I drive I-4 to work and there are some major NUTs out there. I would find it difficult to believe that they are all from out of the area. It has been a learning experience driving on these roads here. I thought Hartford was bad.......wow, was I ever wrong.

 

[disneyldwjr]

KIngBob, it was you who kindly gave me directions to this road and you did warn me about speeding. I passed this along to my parents. Thank you again.

As far as "being from Florida," all I meant was that if the police were concerned about tourists who will fully disregard the laws, my Mom certainly does NOT fit that profile. She was guilty of nothing more than missing the sign. She always nags ME on WDW property to "be careful and watch the limits" and I think she was just so preoccupied with finding her way that she did not pay attention to posted signs.

I guess I am of the thinking that when the officer "checked her out" (He went back to his car with her info) and saw that she was a retired person who in 64 years never had so much as one ticket, and given that the speed dropped and she stated plainly that she was looking for her way back toward Ocala and did not see sign, NO, I do not think she needed to be lectured and given a ticket. Sometimes when an officer stops you they decide not to give a ticket, and on Thanksgiving night I think that would have been the nice thing to do. Of course the officer was legally within his right to give the ticket. But when you have a spot on a road where the speed drops suddenly and a lot of people miss that sign, and the cops sit right there, I think they are trying to "trap" people with expensive tickets. So everyone watch out!

I see your point. And, yes, sometimes they do just give warnings, but, unfortunately not in this case. Lecture, no, I am sure that was not needed.
Like I said, she can probably get it nollied.

 

[Edd]

There is more to this story. I have traveled up and down that road to know the speed doesn't change unless you go off onto an exit. I usually put the cruise on just south of Apopka and take it off as I am entering the Disney or 192 exit. I do have an e-pass so don't go down the exits to pay.

 

[ducklite]

There is more to this story. I have traveled up and down that road to know the speed doesn't change unless you go off onto an exit. I usually put the cruise on just south of Apopka and take it off as I am entering the Disney or 192 exit. I do have an e-pass so don't go down the exits to pay.

They aren't talking about the 429, the ticket was issued on Western Way. But you are correct, the speed on the 429 is 65 the entire way.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Perhaps where you live, that is a fact, and I will not dispute it, BUT, I can tell you that every single morning I drive I-4 to work and there are some major NUTs out there. I would find it difficult to believe that they are all from out of the area. It has been a learning experience driving on these roads here. I thought Hartford was bad.......wow, was I ever wrong.

I'd never argue that traffic around here is nightmarish, but I'm specifically refering to serious/fatal accidents. They almost always involve tourists and speed/careless driving (ie not paying attention to road signs), as opposed to general fender benders which involve locals.

Anne

 

[kaytieeldr]

As far as "being from Florida," all I meant was that if the police were concerned about tourists who will fully disregard the laws, my Mom certainly does NOT fit that profile.

Ah, but the police are actually simply concerned with DRIVERS drastically exceeding the speed limit.

 

[manning]

There was a stretch here in Illinois where the speed limit was 55 and a vast majority were going over 80. The state flooded that area and wrote ticket only for those going over 80. The number of tickets went down. Then they started to write tickets for over 75, then 70, then 65, then 60. The majority got the message.