US 301 from Baldwin to Hawthorne Florida

Lawtey, Florida•Mar 11, 2010•8 Comments

I routinely travel US Route 301 between Callahan, FL to just north of Ocala, FL Fl State Route 326. I have been driving this road for the past 15 years 4 times a year. I was warned of the LAWTEY and STARKE speed trap by a travel club the first year I planned a trip to FL. This part of 301 is almost as fast as I-75 which is a few miles to the west but has far less traffic and is mostly undeveloped. With the exceptions of driving through 6 small towns (Baldwin, Lawtey, Starke, Waldo, Citra, and Hawthorne) the speed limit is 65 MPH. However you have to be very careful to obey the speed limits around LAWTEY and STARKE. They drop with very little notice within a quarter of a mile the speed limit changes from 65 to 55 to 45 to 30. In fact you can see the 45 sign as you approach the 55 sign. Then as you leave these holes-in-the-wall the speed limits go up in similar increments. With the exception of Starke a speed limit of 45 mph would be very safe for the other 5 towns along this part of 301. There are many places within Florida which have a far higher population density then any of these towns which have a 50 or 55 mile speed limit.

It is obvious the low 30 mph speed limits especially through Starke and Lawtey are revenue enhancement speed traps and have nothing to do with safety as the crooks who run these towns would have you believe. Someone has erected several large professionally done billboards which warn that especially LAWTEY is a speed trap. The crooks which run the government in Lawtey have erected a billboard which denies they are a speed trap. I would think that if the real issue is one of safety those who run the Lawtey town would welcome the billboard warning of the SPEED TRAP since those who saw it would most likely slow down.

As part of my don’t get mad-get even philosophy I make it a point to never, ever buy anything in any of these towns. We don’t stop for gas, we don’t eat in any of their restaurants, we don’t stop to buy fruit or juice, etc.

I have noticed that one of the towns in recent years are increased the speed limit to 45 MPH but Lawtey is still being stupid.

Vote for this Speedtrap below:
Yes! This is a speed trap. (325 votes)
No, this is definitely NOT a speed trap. (43 votes)
Comments:
I am NOT a law officer.. I have lived in Lawtey and surrounding areas for most of my life. The lowest speed limit thru Lawtey on 301 is 45 mph, between the 55 mph sign and the 45 mph sign is close to 1/2 mile. And you cannot see the 45 mph from the 55mph especially going south, because you have to navigate a curve in the road the same thing going north. There is an Elementary School not 30 yards off the side of 301,thus the 45 mph speed limit. There is also a school on the side of 301 in Starke with a limit of 30 mph. Safety for our children.... safety for our children. How can it be considered a "speed trap " when it is a posted permanent sign posting the speed LIMIT.?? they have been in the same place for numerous years.And the speed limits have not changed. It is a speed limit sign, not a " please drive close to this " sign. I am not one for driving the speed limit either, but thru small towns along 301, and other places, I do drive the limit. Also probably over 50% of the time the law enforcement vehicles you see sitting in Lawtey have no one in them....! they are there to remind you to slow down. So how can it be a speed trap..? If you want to speed so much... or are in that big of a hurry.....use the interstate....that way you don't have to worry about hitting someone walking across the road, or along side the road in our small towns along 301. a life long small town Florida resident
#1•Mar 30, 2010•Report Abuse
Yes. This is a speed trap. I used to travel thru here to see family at holidays. They're waiting like coyotes. The crook in the hwy patrol sunglasses who ticketed me and my wife on Christmas morning laughed at my five mile over infraction. The judge who gave me $18 off my $100+ ticket said he was "doin'" me a favor.
#2•Apr 12, 2010•Report Abuse
Lawtey has been a speed trap at least back to the 60's as I grrew up near there . There was warnings about them in each yearly AAA book on Florida. The police there could be the grandchildren of the police back then. It has been a town with a bad reputation for a long time. I would never stop there for gas or food either.
#3•Oct 07, 2010•Report Abuse
I love it when people complain about police officers doing their job. The speed limit is posted, and has been posted for years. If you get caught for speeding, pay the fine. As for all the people saying they would never stop and spend any money in these small towns, so what. The people of these small towns are probably better off not having to deal with priviledges jerks like you. I don't live in either of these places, but do travel through them often. I have never been stopped in either. Do you want to know why? I obey the speed limit. It is that simple. I have been ticketed numerous times in my life, and have never argued about it, or posted that they were a speed trap, because when I was stopped I was speeding. It is called accepting responsibility for my actions. Stop your whining and obey the law.
#4•Nov 04, 2010•Report Abuse
I got caught in a speed trap in Lawtey Fl. Nothing you can do but pay the fine. But I will not travle 301 anymore. They will not get a second chance nor will any of the stores get any of my money.
#5•Nov 04, 2010•Report Abuse
I bet the Lawtey Police force would not make it a day working in a real city, like Los Angeles or New York. I obey the limits too so fools like this don't get a penny off of me. Small town police departments are nothing but over glorified security guards. Officers working in high profile places are the ones worth paying my respects too, not officers in these podunk towns.
#6•Sep 26, 2011•Report Abuse
"I got caught in a speed trap in Lawtey Fl. Nothing you can do but pay the fine. But I will not travle 301 anymore. They will not get a second chance nor will any of the stores get any of my money." This. I've never had a ticket, but I've been forced to drive through there to head north. I make sure I have a full gas tank and I never, ever stop. Normally I like to stop in small towns, but I figure they've generated enough revenue, they don't need my dollars.
#7•Nov 09, 2013•Report Abuse
2/6/2021. Just drove through Lawtey and police were waiting. Speed limit is 45 mph through town.
#8•Feb 06, 2021•Report Abuse

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