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Originally posted by Vertnut
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That's a good one. Also famous is Milford, between Hillsboro and Waxahachie... -
Springtown has to be the worst I have ever seenComment
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360 North, around Euless has to be the worst I've seen. Not a day goes by that some cop isn't parked there shooting radar on a BS 60mph speed limited freeway. They should pave that stretch of highway gold with the amount of tickets they write.Comment
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Just keeping the roads safe.Originally posted by davbrucasComment
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One of the only times I wasn't given a warning was in that fucking place.Originally posted by Roscoe View Post
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Pantego Cops are some speed trapping fawkers.Comment
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What's the scoop on no private water supply and that making it a dry city?Originally posted by barronj View Post
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Originally posted by barronj View PostThere's a little town SE of Austin, just east of San Marcos, called Martindale. They patrol a stretch of 80 where the speed limit ranges from 50 to 65, at every 5mph increment up & down. I drive it about once a month, sometimes twice a month, but I've never been ticketed. They were notorious for their speed traps, and I suspect they ticketed the wrong someone.
2 years ago, someone got a burr in their saddle, and put Martindale under the microscope. Municipalities can only bring in 30% of their annual budget from traffic fines. State of Texas hit them with a $570,000 fine for taking in too much money from their speed traps.
MARTINDALE — This is the kind of small town you drive past on your way to somewhere bigger without realizing you had been there at all.
Unless you get a ticket.
On any given day, Martindale officials estimate that 16,000 to 19,000 motorists pass through the city on Texas 80 about six miles southeast of San Marcos. Martindale's population is far smaller than its traffic — signs outside the city count 953 residents, but 2008 census data puts it at about 1,150 people.
As with many towns its size near a highway, traffic tickets account for a significant portion of Martindale's annual revenue. However, state officials have determined that Martindale derives too much money from speeding fines, listing it with three other cities statewide in running afoul of speed trap rules.
A 1975 state law bans municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents from collecting more than 30 percent of annual revenue from traffic fines. If fines exceed that limit, the money goes to the Texas comptroller's office. Martindale gets more than half its annual revenue from such tickets and has since at least 2005.
The comptroller's office audited Martindale and sent it a bill for $573,000, said City Administrator Jeff Caldwell, who is also chief of the Martindale Police Department.
Martindale brings in $883,610 annually , according to the 2009 city budget. And Caldwell, who said city officials were unaware of the law before the state stepped in, claims owing the state such a large amount "threatens this city's future."
Under a payment agreement, the state keeps 75 percent of the city's sales tax revenue — about $25,000 a year — leaving Martindale with little money to spend on repairing roads, residential services and attracting new businesses to grow the tax base, he said.
"That's $25,000 a year we can't put into other measures to keep this town afloat," Caldwell said.
R.J. DeSilva , a spokesman for the Texas comptroller, said that the office received some complaints about Martindale's ticketing practices, which led to audits in 2005 and 2009. The city has $480,585.72 remaining on the $573,000 assessed.
DeSilva said three other cities are also making payments to the state under the law: Kendleton, on U.S. 59, about 49 miles southwest of Houston ; Patton Village, also on U.S. 59, about 41 miles northeast of Houston ; and Zavalla , off U.S. 69, 23 miles southeast of Lufkin near the Louisiana border. DeSilva said he had no information on economic similarities in the towns, only that their populations were less than 5,000 people.
Few sources of revenue
Martindale's problem with the comptroller reflects bigger economic challenges. In essence, it has few ways to collect revenue. The debt has hurt its ability to qualify for bonds and grants, too.
Driving through Martindale means passing a loose assemblage of small houses, gas stations, churches and farm plots. The Caldwell County town doesn't have much in the way of commercial and retail development. Most residents work and shop in San Marcos.
Main Street, where City Hall is located, is lined with empty, dilapidated red brick buildings, most of which have padlocks on their doors.
Around the time the town was incorporated in 1982, city officials decided not to purchase the local private water supply corporation, and they opted to remain a dry city. Alcohol still cannot be purchased in Martindale, unlike the rest of Caldwell County.
Although those seemed like good ideas at the time, they have since kept the city from collecting utility revenue and attracting restaurants and hotels that sell alcohol. Its proximity to San Marcos has probably kept some development away, as well.
"We have two drive-in (convenience stores), a very nice furniture store and a Dollar General," Mayor Loraine Harrison said . "A restaurant like Chili's is not going to come here."
The average property value in Martindale is about $57,400, city officials said, and it receives about $162,000 a year in ad valorem taxes. (By comparison, property taxes this budget year brought in $232.5 million for the City of Austin.) Martindale raised its property tax rate 53 percent, to 34.6 cents, in September, largely to cope with the bill from the state, officials said.
Still, Harrison calls Martindale a great community that is trying to revitalize itself. It recently created a garbage collection service and started single-stream recycling.
Wait a second :
A motorist who would get pulled over in Martindale's jurisdiction would likely have this defense, easily "overruled" by the courts as an invalid defense : I only make so much money a year, with a set amount each month. This fine levied against me will break the personal bank, and make it hard to afford vital needs and personal luxuries I am accustomed to. In addition, I was unaware of the fine and limits.
Martindale's defense is : I only make so much money a year, with a set amount budgeted each month. This fine levied against me will break the city bank, and make it hard to afford city projects that are both vital and those considered a luxury that we are accustomed to. In addition, we were unaware of the fine and limits.
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lawl - I was saying "are these fuckers serious?" in my head as I read their reasoning.Originally posted by 32vfromhell View PostWait a second :
A motorist who would get pulled over in Martindale's jurisdiction would likely have this defense, easily "overruled" by the courts as an invalid defense : I only make so much money a year, with a set amount each month. This fine levied against me will break the personal bank, and make it hard to afford vital needs and personal luxuries I am accustomed to. In addition, I was unaware of the fine and limits.
Martindale's defense is : I only make so much money a year, with a set amount budgeted each month. This fine levied against me will break the city bank, and make it hard to afford city projects that are both vital and those considered a luxury that we are accustomed to. In addition, we were unaware of the fine and limits.
US Politics in three words - Divide and ConquerComment
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Flower Mound is a speed trap. They troll the west side of Flower Mound on 1171.
I see them staked out at least 5 times a week, every week.
A 6 lane highway, with median, speed limit 50mph.Jay Johnson
Car hauler for hireComment
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Alba is also horrendous. They will light you up for 1mph over the posted speed limit.I wear a Fez. Fez-es are coolComment
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I live in flower mound and I don't think it is bad at all. Never see speed traps. Who are they pulling over.Comment
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Don't forget Oak Ridge, way out on 82 towards Gainesville.Comment
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