Dear Editor:
I have been a resident of Park Avenue and 11th Street for 10 years, and never before have I witnessed such a gross disregard for traffic laws by drivers or their lack of enforcement. Cars don’t stop at stop signs and bus stops are being used as parking lots. I thought Stop means Stop, neither go, nor slow down proceed with Caution. I thought No Parking between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. means no stopping, standing or parking, not even if you know the restaurant owner across the street from the bus stop .The specific locations for stop sign violations are along 11th Street between Washington and Willow. It occurs all hours of the day every day of the week. Bus stops between 9th and 13th along Washington are always filled with cars, particularly the stop at 11th Street. Buses are required to pick up and discharge passengers between cars that occupy the stops, morning and night it makes no difference. I’ve seen EMS units sit in traffic with sirens blowing because the bus is tying up the lane. Cars are illegally parked in the bus stop on one side of the street and doubled parked on the other side of the street. Does traffic patrol and enforcement stop at 7th Street?
I am not qualified to explain why people fail to follow simple ordinances other than they have no regard for anyone but themselves and that may be questionable. What I do know is the absence of patrol and enforcement is compounding the problem. Enforcement as a result of patrolling would result first and foremost in public safety; it is a ticking bomb until someone is seriously injured. Material fines, points on a license, increased insurance premiums, expensive towing and knowing area’s are patrolled may be a deterrent. Sounds like the type of penalties you receive when you go through a stop sign or park illegally.
I have made numerous telephone calls to the police and specifically the traffic division over the years voicing my concerns. Some of the responses I’ve received are “I will tell the day supervisor, parking is limited we try to be lenient, we are busy tonight I will try to get a patrolmen up there when I can.” What will it take a pedestrian being hit by a driver ignoring a stop sign or someone in need of an ambulance that’s tied up in traffic action to be taken? Come on get with it! If these two reasons are not compelling enough for those able to affect change then how about all the revenue that would be derived from the fines issued or cars towed. The latter would add to someone’s political campaign platform. Now maybe something will be done!
John F. Silane