Walden, New York Speed Traps

School here in Orange County, New York begins in September. On the morning of August 7, 2008 at 10:40 a.m., I drove through the Village of Walden on State Route 208. At that point, I had been on Route 208 for a couple of blocks, since turning from a small side street to avoid congestion downtown. Looking straight at the traffic ahead, I didn’t notice my car beginning to speed up. The signs posted in the village are 30 m.p.h. and 25 m.p.h. near the school. Just as you leave the village, down from the school, the speed sign says 45 m.p.h. Noticing that my car was beginning to roll a little before the 45 m.p.h. sign, I applied the breaks on a downhill where there was other traffic. That was not good enough for the police officer who stopped me right past the 45 m.p.h. sign. He said the speed is 30 mp.h. going out of the village. The car I was driving needs 30 m.p.h. just to get up the hill going up to the school. Naturally, you will roll down on the other side of the grade. Then, there’s the cop. He gave me a ticket for 43 m.p.h. in a downhill 30 m.p.h. zone. I never get tickets. People flash me and pass me, because now I drive precisely at the speed limit posted by signs. Following arbitrary speed signs converts decent motorists into into insecure and dangerous drivers. Between "gas prices" and vacation when so many people are away, there are fewer motorists. So, police pick from what’s there to get rid of their tickets. Under these conditions, Mother Theresa would get a ticket.

Intersection of Galloway Lane and South Montgomery Street has small hammer head parking area that Village Police park off road. Motorists coming into the Village of Walden on River Road are easily picked up. Opposite direction leaving village also is an easy target as the speed limit is 25mph which is ridiculous given the extensive sight distance this road has here.

Upon entering Walden, northbound on 208, you cross a small bridge w/ a railroad trestle below. Officer sits waiting in parking lot just on opposite side of bridge (north side of bridge). If leaving village going in opposite direction (south bound), officer sits in parking lot on south side of bridge.

Usually see a village cop parked along side the Ice cream parlor going East on Route 52 out of Walden. You won’t notice him or her until it’s too late. Speed limit is 30. If you are going West on Route 52 into Walden cop will setup in the same parking lot but only this time will be parked along side of the bushes. Also be careful coming into the village of Walden North on Route 208. As soon as you cross the overpass into Walden, a village cop will be immediately parked on the right hand side behind tall bushes. Also seen Town of Montgomery cops parked along cemetery on Route 52 going East towards Newburgh.

Local Walden police hide behind the ice cream stand (Big cone on the roof)allowing them to shoot radar at both East and Westbound traffic on Rt 52. Located on the East side of the village, 200 yards East of Duncan Donuts.