Putting Things Into Perspective: The Woodworth Speed Trap
Yesterday, the Town Talk ran an interesting front page article on the number of tickets issued in Rapides Parish. I thought the article did a good job balancing the arguments, but those guys in Woodworth aren’t fooling anyone with their comments on following the law. “We follow the law here in Woodworth,” Gonzales said. “I’d like to think we maintain a certain way of life here. It’s a place you can feel safe in raising your family, and that includes walking or riding down the street. If that means pulling someone over, whether it’s a mile or five miles over the limit, that’s what we’re going to do. Not everyone does it that way. It’s the way we do it.”
A mile over the speed limit? What is the margin of error for those radar guns?
The article says that Woodworth doled out over 1,500 tickets last year.
According to the City of Woodworth’s website, Woodworth has a population of 1,500. That’s a ticket for every man, woman, and child in Woodworth.
The article also states that the Rapides Parish Sherriff’s Department issued 960 tickets last year. How could the entire Sherriff’s Department issue less tickets than Woodworth?
Regardless of their philosophy of law, it’s obvious they’re infatuated with their radar guns.
CenLamar 
it would be interesting to know the numbers of tickets written to woodworth residents compared to those written to passersby.
its probably pretty safe to say that woodworth’s number 1 if not its only industry is writing traffic tickets.
There is no doubt that they target out-of-towners. A friend of mine’s brother-in-law, who is of Middle Eastern descent, has been pulled over three times for going four miles over the limit.
They must be bored out there in Woodworth.
Who are we kidding here? Woodworth, Ball, and their ilk will always be speedtraps. They’ve got nothing else to do but trap those ‘OH SO DANGEROUS’ speeders. They don’t have much “real crime” there so they have to make do with what they have. Money talks, bs walks.
Hey Guys, speed limits are established for the safe operation of motor vehicles and the protection of EVERYONE on the highway. I know for a fact that if you are driving up to the speed limit, you will not be ticketed. I was a long haul trucker and would pull my 80,000lbs at 100mph (peterbilt w/400 CAT) over long stretches of America but that doesn’t make it smart. The small towns you mention have a bona fide interest in the safety of their citizens and as a law abiding, respectful driver, one obeys the speed limit. No speeding – no problem.
but but but….2 mph over the limit gets you a ticket??? Come on!
First off, the sheriffs department here RARELY works ANY traffic details. I have lived in Rapides parish for 45 years, I have NEVER seen or heard of a Sheriff’s deputy writing a traffic violation. Now more about Woodworth, tickets on the main highway (50-55mph)~*start*~ at TEN miles/hr over the speed limit. The side roads (25mph) start out at THIRTEEN mph over the speed limit. Sorry, if someone can’t abide by those margins, then they are too stupid to be driving in the first place,,, they deserve a ticket.
Lamar, post the ticket number or docket number of your “friends brother-in-law” if he got a simple ticket for speeding FOUR miles/per hour over the posted speed limit, I will post my real name and email address so you contact me, I will PERSONALLY reimburse you for that ticket. I’m willing to bet your “friends brother-in-law” is grotesquely exagerating!
The legislative auditors report for 2005 reports $787,166 collected for fines in Woodworth. If you consider an average of $150.00 per ticket that is 5,250 tickets per year or roughly 3.5 tickets for every man, woman, and child that reside in ww.
A friend of mine who is a painter was ticketed twice on the same day. Once for 2 miles over limit and once for 5 miles over limit of 15 mph. Most peoples vehicles idle higher than 15 mph. It is a disgrace that people have to ride around in fear of accidentally going a mile or two over limit. And for you people associated with the town and police department, get off that crap about “you’re just trying to protect the public.” You want their money and that’s all there is to it! You should be ashamed of yourselves but your conscience has long since been seared.
According to ” We Saw That” FEMA is watching little old Woodworth. Things that make you say Hmmmm.
Well Mr. Anonymous. Your painter friend is a liar. There are zero streets in woodworth where the speed limit is 15. Maybe before he lies he should get facts correct.
Don’t speed and you won’t get a ticket.
Yes Speedy we hear you loud and clear! You follow the law there in Woodworth, even if it means writing a ticket for one mile over. Question, who said painter friend was ticketed on a street? Another question are posts seven and nine lies as well?
The latest legislative auditors report shows an increase of almost two hundred thousand dollars for 2006. Total court revenue for 2005 $786,166.00. TOTAL FOR 2006 $971,529.00. If you assume an average of $150.00 per fine that equals around 6476 fines or 4.3 tickets for every man, woman, and child residing in Woodworth.