ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Drivers say a brand new road that has been open less than a month is already a speed trap. They say troopers hang out on Innovation Way and pull people over left and right. Troopers told WFTV they have good reason to patrol there, because plenty of people speed down that new road.
Innovation Way connects Alafaya Trail to the Beachline near Avalon Park (see map).
Some people think the speed limit is too low there. One driver told WFTV it feels like they are crawling along on the wide-open road, where the speed limit is 45 mph. But, if they try to speed, it seems troopers are always watching.
Innovation Way, the time saver people in Avalon Park had been waiting years for, is now open.
"It's a very nice road, very smooth," driver Katie Hamilton said.
But just a month in, some drivers say there are a few things about it that aren't so nice.
"The speed traps, that's unfortunate," driver John Sudic said.
Sudic calls them speed traps, state troopers set up in teams along the new road pulling cars over left and right. Wednesday, WFTV saw two cars pulled over in a four-minute span.
Drivers say more outrageous is the nearby two-lane Alafaya Trail, with businesses around, that is 55 mph.
"Forty-five is too slow," Sudic said. "I was like, 'What the heck? Do I have to slam my brakes all the time?'"
It is six miles without traffic lights, homes or businesses. The roads are designed for certain speeds and traffic volumes. Based on traffic engineers' recommendations, the speeds are approved by county commissioners.
The Florida Highway Patrol admits it's done a lot of speed enforcement there since the road opened last month because of dangerous high-speed driving. Troopers ticketed one driver on Wednesday going 78 mph.
Still, some drivers see it as a problem and are already arming their cars with new radar detectors, hoping they don't get caught.
"I always like to drive 50, 55," Hamilton said.
FHP couldn't tell WFTV how many tickets it has issued in the last month there, but do know the money doesn't just go directly to the Highway Patrol. It's divided statewide to the Clerk of Courts.
Alafaya Trail is a state road, but on county roads like Innovation Way the roads are designed for certain speeds and traffic volumes. Once built, traffic engineers study the road and make recommendations. Eventually, the speeds are approved by county commissioners.
In fact, once it is developed, WFTV was told it's possible the speed limit could be set even lower.
WFTV
