Is it a speed trap or just law enforcement?
We're getting complaints about what is being called a speed trap at Douglas Road, south of Main Highway. Coconut Grove and Sunset Harbour residents are being affected.
There was a 20 miles per hour speed put limit right in the middle of the higher 30 mph limits, so in the area of South Douglas Road from where it splits from Ingrahm Highway to Edgewater Drive, is now 20 mph.
The speed limit on the side streets is 30 mph, which doesn't make sense, since the side streets should be lower in the speed limit, rather than the main road being higher.
Anyway, people claim that the new speed limit is not well marked and the only way you may find out is when you are are nabbed for a speeding ticket. I did see the 20 mph signs when I passed, but then again, after hearing complaints, I looked for them.
Reminds me of when they put up the stop sign at Aviation and Bird Avenue a few years back. Rather than have people get used to the concept, a cop sat there for weeks on end handing out tickets.
There was a 20 miles per hour speed put limit right in the middle of the higher 30 mph limits, so in the area of South Douglas Road from where it splits from Ingrahm Highway to Edgewater Drive, is now 20 mph.
The speed limit on the side streets is 30 mph, which doesn't make sense, since the side streets should be lower in the speed limit, rather than the main road being higher.
Anyway, people claim that the new speed limit is not well marked and the only way you may find out is when you are are nabbed for a speeding ticket. I did see the 20 mph signs when I passed, but then again, after hearing complaints, I looked for them.
Reminds me of when they put up the stop sign at Aviation and Bird Avenue a few years back. Rather than have people get used to the concept, a cop sat there for weeks on end handing out tickets.
posted by Tom Falco at 11:11 AM
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11 Comments:
I wonder why the lowered the limit to 20mph only in that segment. Granted, it's a residential area with many pedestrians, joggers and cyclists, but why not Main Highway too, then?
On the bright side, since we can go over 20mph on our road bikes, now we can easily take the whole road there, without drivers getting pissed, and help cars abide by the new speed limit! (btw, cyclists have the legal right to take an entire lane, especially when deemed necessary for security reasons)
Carlos I.
Why was it changed to 20 to begin with?
When I drive thru there following the speed limit I create a line of irate cars behind me, some who pass while beeping and giving me the one-finger salute. This being Miami I'm waiting for someone to open fire one day.
More often I travel at around 35 (aka with traffic) and risk a $200+ moving violation.
If I obey the law I create a dangerous situation for myself and other drivers.
If I follow traffic I risk a ticket and points.
Again, why was the speed limit changed to begin with?
I got a ticket there late at night when no one else on the road and I was driving 30 miles the police was hiding trying to catch offenders, had to go through the hole embarrassing walking the line routine for drunks. By the way that light on Ingrahm and Douglas is very dumb, it can be eliminated replaced with stop signs to prevent a traffic jam throughout the neighborhood.
The speedlimit has always been 20 mph in that area for as long as I can remember. In fact, if you use Google Streetview, just immediately south of the split, you can see a 20 MPH speed limit sign. The picture is dated April 2011. Enforcement of the speed limit may be new, but not the speed limit itself. Odds are that enough people who live in the area complained about drivers speeding through which prompted the police presence.
Ignorance of the law is never an excuse.
No, but questioning laws and selective enforcement when it appears unreasonable or frivolous has been a tradition in the USA for just over 200 years now.
I live off Douglas and have been surprised with a ticket from a hidden officer, and neighbors have seen several pulled over at once by aa motorcycle cop. Why don't the police enforce the speed limit on Main Highway during the morning start and afternoon dismissal from Ransom and Carrolton Schools. My car has been passed by speeders (often students). many times with no enforcement.
Actually, the 20 MPH speed limit starts when heading south at the intersection of Douglas and Poinciana
20 MPH for all of Main Highway would be a welcome relief... maybe people would lower their speed from 50 MPH to 40 MPH. It's ridiculous how fast people drive down that road and how dangerous that behavior is with all of the pedestrian traffic. The more speed traps the better.
Really?
Between 7am and 7pm it is physically impossible to go that fast on Main Highway/Old Cutler from the Taurus till almost Cartagena Circle because of traffic. The hours that pedestrian traffic is most congested are the same that vehicular traffic is.
I suspect the MPD is targeting late night drivers which, considering the amount of inebriated coming out of the Grove on any given day sounds like a good idea. However, I wonder if they are targeting reckless/drunk drivers or are they catching people who, thinking that the average speed on a suburban main artery would be 30-35 and end up with a ticket for 15-20mph over. I think at 20mph+ over they can arrest you and impound you vehicle.
$$cha-ching$$!
It honestly sounds like a money grab and not seriously trying to make anything safer.
@ Anonymous 2:37 Pm
"ignorance of the law is no excuse" Really? Are you telling me you know all city, county,state and federal law that applies to you? I hope that you never had oral sex with anyone including your spouce before 2003 because it was a felony. I hope you are not currently or have lived with someone that is not your spouce?:
798.02 Lewd and lascivious behavior.
If any man and woman, not being married to each other, lewdly and lasciviously associate and cohabit together, or if any man or woman, married or unmarried, engages in open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, they shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
There are many other such laws just at the state level? I bet you are guilty of at least one per week.
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