Sbenois Says: Sentence All Left Turn ...

Log Out | Lost Password? | Topics | Search Contact | Register | My Profile | SO home | MOL home

Thread Originator Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post   Closed: New threads not accepted on this page

Author Message   sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 10189 Registered: 10-2001 Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 2:26 am:        Sbenois, Maplewood's Leading Authority on Parking in Maplewood Village, has finally had enough of the morons who can't seem to notice the 21,285 signs on the right side of Maplewood Avenue that forbid making a left hand turn into a parking spot. I personally saw six offenders today and each time the event was enough to cause a mini traffic jam as the law abiding drivers waited for these idiots to straighten their cars out. It's bad enough that parking is so scarce that people need to circle around to find a spot. But it's ridiculous that the situation is compounded by these lawless, reading challenged criminals. It's time for the Town to get serious with every offender. There should be no leniency at all. The signs are highly visible and appear every 4.3 inches. The police should be ticketing every offender and the town judge should be forcing them to take a drivers ed course right after a remedial reading class. ---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <----   duncanrogers Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 695 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 12:06 pm:        AGREED MONUMENTAL EGOISM AT WORK IN THOSE CARS. THOSE FOLKS ARE THE ONES WHO MAKE ME WANT TO MOVE TO VERMONT }some folks out here would be quick to say that is where I belong   Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1898 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 12:27 pm:        The rule is clearly not enforced and it should be. During the height of the primary campaign this Spring I saw the driver of an SUV (what else?) make such an illegal turn in front of the entire TC and a gaggle of police officers (campaigning for better working conditions) and none of these spectators did anything about the infraction. The driver must have been from Maplewood because he/she took one look at who was assembled on either side of Maplewood Avenue looking at him/her and quickly pulled back out of the spot and drove on.   anon Citizen Username: Anon Post Number: 765 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 5:55 pm:        Joan: Perhaps he was not ticketed because he did move on, or maybe none of the officers campaigning were on duty at the time. Also, what does driving an SUV have to do with it. I've seen the drivers of other types of vehicles do the same thing. I've seen people ticketed for this violation. Also, Joan, Sbenois, Duncan, et al, nothing prevents any citizen from writing down the license plate number and signing a formal complaint at the Municipal Court. I suggest you do so next time you see such an infraction. You might also want to lobby the TC to increase the penalties fro this infraction.   duncanrogers Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 697 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 8:05 pm:        anon..its just easier to puncture their tires.   sullymw Citizen Username: Sullymw Post Number: 172 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 10:23 pm:        my sister-in-law got a ticket for doing that.   Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1667 Registered: 9-2001 Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 11:14 pm:        In this case, I agree with Sbenois, Duncan, and Joan, that the no left turn into the southbound angled parking law should be enforced, because such turns are dangerous, especially with school starting again. Appears to be an example of the many unenforced laws in Maplewood, of which we could probably fill a thread. Ed May   sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 10192 Registered: 10-2001 Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 2:48 am:        Dearest Anon, Wouldn't you agree that while private citizens have the right to file a complaint, that it is more appropriate for our Police officers to take action? I do want to draw an important distinction here: I am not suggesting that our police are not performing their duty by purposely not ticketing the offenders. I am simply of the belief that the problem has gotten perceptibly worse over the last 6-9 months and we should be trying to understand from the perps (I love that word) why they do it so it can be prevented. I can't imagine that it's because Maplewood is suddenly being targeted by a rogue band of left hand turn menaces hell bent on crushing our collective will. I have a strong suspicion that the issue stems from the fact that most of the signs are quite faded and need to be replaced. They are very difficult to read. ---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <----   sac Citizen Username: Sac Post Number: 671 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 10:36 am:        Furthermore, both sections of angled parking are more or less parallel with parking lots (on either side of the Post Office), through which cars can proceed ... sometimes even finding a space ... before turning left on Maplewood Avenue in order to approach the desired parking space legally. We may not have enough parking spaces, but we do have fairly well laid-out access to the ones we have so there is really no excuse for violating this rule.   duncanrogers Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 700 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 1:50 pm:        I have a strong suspicion that the issue stems from the fact that most of the signs are quite faded and need to be replaced. They are very difficult to read. I disagree Sbenois. I have a strong suspicion that the issue stems from some people's unbearable sense of entitlement. Just like the lady who willingly pushed her car through a stream of crossing middle school kids one day so she could get to the diner in time for lunch. TRUE STORY. Adults in the cross walk watching over kids headed to the library about 11AM and this women inched her car forward enough to force her way into the crossing children and then on into town. I saw her park and walk into the Mapleleaf. Thats the kind of person making the left turns. Rude, boorish, selfish jerks. Mostly   duncanrogers Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 701 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 1:55 pm:        I have a strong suspicion that the issue stems from the fact that most of the signs are quite faded and need to be replaced. They are very difficult to read. I disagree Sbenois. I have a strong suspicion that the issue stems from some people's unbearable sense of entitlement. Just like the lady who willingly pushed her car through a stream of crossing middle school kids one day so she could get to the diner in time for lunch. TRUE STORY. Adults in the cross walk watching over kids headed to the library about 11AM and this women inched her car forward enough to force her way into the crossing children and then on into town. I saw her park and walk into the Mapleleaf. Thats the kind of person making the left turns. Rude, boorish, selfish jerks. Mostly   anon Citizen Username: Anon Post Number: 767 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 10:58 pm:        My Dear Sbenois: It is of course more appropriate for a Police Officer to take action, but he or she can not do so unless he or she personally witnesses the event. So a citizen who is really miffed by such conduct must take the initiative. And simply reporting an incident to the Police will probably not suffice. The Police are reluctant to issue a traffic summons based on a citizen's complaint because there is little assurance that the citizen who witnessed the infraction will be willing to go to Court to testify. So, my friend, next time you encounter the offending behavior, take the bull by the horns!   ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 1390 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 9:10 am:        I haven't seen any horns, but I have spoken with many an infracteur. (Is that a word?) They usually feign innocence and so "oh, thanks." A few times, I've been driving down the street when I see somenone about to illegally turn left. I pull up and block the open space and roll down my window to inform them of the law and the reason for it. They move on disgruntled.   Hank Zona Citizen Username: Hankzona Post Number: 732 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 9:42 am:        Good for you ffof...we're all responsible for maintaining quality of life in town. Im a firm believer that when you can, you approach people and tell them what they did or are about to do is against the law. Most people who park illegally arent menacing or dangerous..they are however selfish and lazy and as Duncan said, feel a sense of entitlement. It has nothing to do with how legible the street signs are. If noone says a thing, even if the offenders know its illegal (and most any licensed driver knows making such left turns into spots and parking in crosswalks is illegal), they figure its no big deal. And yes, there are some rare exceptions (someone dropping off someone handicapped, or injured, or elderly for example), but it especially puts pedestrians at risk. If you are in a position to say something and dont, you are helping to perpetuate the problem.   OK, it's Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 432 Registered: 1-2003 Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 5:58 pm:        I think we'd be better off having streets that didn't require drivers to read signs. The sad fact is that drivers don't read signs in general. I can't suggest a serious remedy, though. I have noticed many situations to prove how people don't read signs. In particular, when lanes end on highways, there are usually many warnings, yet the lane-end takes people by surprise, and they merge dangerously. I chalk it up to not reading signs, not malice. Not that it's excusable. It's not that they're trying to do the wrong thing, but they are not trying hard enough to do the right thing. What can we do to correct this attitude? Tom Reingold   sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 10195 Registered: 10-2001 Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 6:14 pm:        There are three signs on Maplewood Avenue showing symbolically that a left turn is illegal. All three have stickers on them to obscure part of the sign. Sure each sign has a verbal warning sign above it, but a little touching up is in order. ---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <----   OK, it's Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 434 Registered: 1-2003 Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 6:18 pm:        Are you saying the content or "presentation" of a sign makes people read it? If so, I'd like to know why. Tom Reingold   sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 10196 Registered: 10-2001 Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 6:27 pm:        I'm saying that the symbolic signs need to be replaced because they're faded paint-wise and they've got stickers covering parts of them. ---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <----   Dave Ross Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 5077 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 6:30 pm:        The content and presentation of an ad can make more people read it, so of course signs can be better designed.   FreeTibet Citizen Username: Freetibet Post Number: 25 Registered: 8-2003 Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 9:46 pm:        i went to one of concerts advertised that covers part of one sign. it stank. i also chose not to attend the gay liberation meeting posted on another. i am planning on sticking a Bush/Cheney 2004 sticker on all child crossing signs in the next month (being the cold-hearted conservative that i am). Vote for Bush 2004 'cause all the others stink - FreeTibet bumper sticker   duncanrogers Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 712 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 9:51 am:        Tom..no offense but this is just ignorant.. In particular, when lanes end on highways, there are usually many warnings, yet the lane-end takes people by surprise, and they merge dangerously. I chalk it up to not reading signs, not malice. The people have seen the sign, trust me. They know there is a lane drop and they are racing to get as far ahead as the next guy. ON PURPOSE. Look at what happens trying to come out of the tolls at the Lincoln Tunnel and into the tubes. Same thing. Its about being first. Not about not reading the signs.   OK, it's Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 436 Registered: 1-2003 Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 10:22 am:        Duncan, I chose a bad example. You're right that being first is paramount to many drivers. I hope I can think of better examples to show that drivers don't read signs. People don't read signs of all kinds in all places. That's why I don't think better signs will get people to behave better on Maplewood Ave. This weekend, someone ran the stop sign on my corner at Summit and Plymouth Ave. She hit my neighbor and spun her car around. I heard FOUR impacts. One was of the woman running the stop sign, at least one was the neighbor's car hitting the telephone pole, and the other two were some combination of those. No one was seriously injured, but it was pretty scary for everyone. What's hard about a stop sign to understand? Tom Reingold   1-2many Citizen Username: Wbg69 Post Number: 291 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 10:41 am:        people run those stop signs all over the place. big dumb arrogant jerks. reading road signs is not a voluntary, as you like it activity. it is mandatory for safe driving. we're living in a society here. illegal left-turners down town should definitely be ticketed. perhaps we can raise revenues for our little town this way, rather than by increasing property taxes.   ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 1395 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 10:51 am:        Not to mention, who needs to really read those "No left turn" signs anyway. It's just stupid to take a left in the middle of the street that is in essence doing a u-turn knowing that the street space provided is not nearly big enough to do that u-turn properly. These people are impatient and only think of themselves most of the time, apparently.