'Uncle Sam' Tickets Hundreds Of Speeding Central Floridian Drivers

Local 6
Jul. 04, 2007

Hundreds of Central Florida motorists were ticketed Monday by a costumed Uncle Sam officer in a weeklong operation targeting speeding holiday drivers.

About 20 sheriff's deputies on motorcycles pulled over speeding motorists after they were detected by Uncle Sam's laser speed-detection gun.

During the four-hour traffic operation, 275 citations were issued, according to sheriff's deputies.

"Unless Uncle Sam hops in your car and puts his foot on your gas pedal and makes you speed, we are not entrapping anybody," Orange County traffic division Officer Ken Wynne said.

Speeding tickets handed out by Uncle Sam start at $80 and increase with each mile per hour over the speed limit, Orange County sheriff's deputies said.

Local 6 News did not reveal Uncle Sam's whereabouts, urging motorists to drive carefully wherever they are.

Later during the week of Fourth of July, Uncle Sam will be on the lookout for red-light runners and aggressive drivers in Orange County.

In the past, deputies have dressed up as elves near Christmas, the Grinch at New Year's and a leprechaun around St. Patrick's Day.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.