| Author | Message | ||
     jet Citizen Username: Jet Post Number: 583 Registered: 7-2001 |
The courts would like you to plead to the now $250.00 unsafe operation w/ no points . It use to be $125.00 but like everything with Trenton they stick it up your you know what . My brother leased a new car for 3 yrs last week , but you have to pre pay 4 yrs of reg. A speeding tkt in a 65 zone can now approach $500.00 for over 20 mph. | ||
| Jamaine Cripe Citizen Username: Jamaine Post Number: 18 Registered: 7-2003 |
The speed limit for all of Maplewood residential areas (except for parts of Valley Street) is 25. Its a wonder that anyone follows it since I've seen only three signs posted with this fact in the year I've lived here. We need more speed limit signs AND more enforcement. | ||
| sac Citizen Username: Sac Post Number: 1548 Registered: 5-2001 |
The 25 mile per hour speed limit in residential zones (unless otherwise marked) is a New Jersey state law. That's one of the few things I remember from studying for my New Jersey drivers license exam when I moved here from out of state. While more speed limit signs would help and more enforcement is certainly desirable, there is no excuse for a licensed NJ driver not to know about the 25-mph limit. | ||
| Jamaine Cripe Citizen Username: Jamaine Post Number: 19 Registered: 7-2003 |
That was my point, sac. Why all the fuss about speeding tickets for driving over 25 around town? You're still speeding, whether you like it or not. That is my concern. Why should people who don't live in MW/SO obey the speed limit if we ourselves don't? I do my best to drive the speed limit and I get honked at and given the finger pretty regularly. I don't care! Let them honk! Maybe if we get a reputation as slow drivers people from other cities will find new shortcuts and/or slow down as well. I spend most of my day being "that crazy lady that lives on Jacoby St." because I tell people who are driving too fast (and blasting their music) to cut it out. Did I mention that large work trucks from the warehouses on Rutgers and other cars trying to bypass the mess on Springfield drive 40+ MPH on the street where I, and many families with children, live? Everyone needs to slow the hell down. If we the folks who live in this town do it, then maybe, people will see this and go back to taking the highway. | ||
| xavier67 Citizen Username: Xavier67 Post Number: 416 Registered: 6-2002 |
I'm with you 100%, Jermaine. When I'm on Prospect St, I never exceed 25-30mph. More often than not, I attract a tailgater who's right on my •••. (My response is to go slower.) And most of the times, I can tell these tailgaters don't live in Maplewood (they go flying into South Orange after I make my turn onto Baldwin from Prospect). | ||
| Taylor M Citizen Username: Anotherusername Post Number: 59 Registered: 8-2004 |
Like I said 'I have NO PROBLEM with being given a speeding ticket. IF it had been for a little bit over 30. Like I was doing. I have a problem with the bs of writing tickets for 46 plus, NOT saying ANYTHING about radar being used (which I would have ASKED to see the print out) at the time the ticket is being written, until you get to Court. And then given you the option to 'plead down' when you get to Court, and are told radar was supposedly used. You're not allowed to view this print out if you plea, and you're made to feel you're taking your chances by not pleaing. So, despite knowing we were right, at least a dozen of us took the pleas. I along with several other people, asked if their tickets could be adapted to their actual speed, we were all told 'NO!' That's what I have a problem with... | ||
| Phil Citizen Username: Barleyrooty Post Number: 844 Registered: 5-2001  |
My friend in a nearby town just came up with this: http://www.keepkidsalivedrive25.org/products/yardsigns/KKA3004/ I'm planning to check with the town in the next day or two if there is any restriction on us using these in our yards. If we purchase a minimum of 20 signs, the volume discount price per sign is $12.75 which includes shipping. The non-volume price is $20.00 per sign including shipping. If you are interested in one, please privateline me by clicking on my name in blue on the left. Make sure you do not click the box to include your real email address. If I get the go-ahead from the town, I'll try and get together a volume order. Phil | ||
| Phil Citizen Username: Barleyrooty Post Number: 846 Registered: 5-2001 |
 See my post above | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2004 |
I too am fed up with the speeds that people drive on the streets of this town. My children go to Prospect Preschool and last year we-- myself and my three young children ages 5, 3 and 8 months at the time--we nearly killed trying to cross at the crosswalk in front of the school. Some a**h*le came screaming around the turn from Tuscan. He came so fast he was practically on top of us by the time I saw him, and he was just barely able to stop in time. Then he had the ba**s to start yelling at me, as if I had done something wrong by trying to cross in the crosswalk. The incident was witnessed by quite a few other mothers who where in the process of picking up or dropping off. Needless to say, I just about collapsed on the sidewalk when it was all over. Visions of what could have been haunted me for weeks. Coincidentally, just after this happened, as I was shaking and sobbing on the sidewalk, an unmarked police car pulled someone over in front of the school. I waited for the officer to finish his business and then asked him what I could do. I had the guy's plate number. The officer was very nice, but basically indicated there wasn't much that could be done. I could file a citizens complaint, or whatever. Ultimately, I decided it would take a lot of time and effort on my part that would probably not result in anything, except frustration for me. I had no way of proving how fast the guy was going (left my radar gun at home that day). And would all those who witnessed the event really take time to say so if it became necessary? Needless to say I NEVER cross in that crosswalk anymore. I will park blocks away and walk, rather than risk my life again. People still cross there though, and it completely freaks me out. Rare is the driver who actually stops for the pedestrian in the crosswalk which, I believe, is also law in NJ. I stood in the middle of that crosswalk on another previous ocassion, in the pouring rain with an infant in my arms the cars just went flying by. Also, I live very near the Tuscan school and every morning people go screaming up my street because they're late dropping thier kids at school. Well, what about my kids? They live on this street. I don't see why it would be such a big deal to post an officer on a side street to catch these people. I guarantee they'd get a good half dozen every morning. And one more pet peeve of mine on this topic: why is it that the golfers at Maplewood country club, fully capable adults in silly little carts, get speed humps (on Pierson), and little kids going to grade school don't? | ||
| Taylor M Citizen Username: Anotherusername Post Number: 254 Registered: 8-2004 |
The golfers in the silly little golfcarts aren't the reason those speed bumps are there. They're thre because of the speeders that use the street as a cut through to avoid going down Baker. | ||
| birdbrain Citizen Username: Birdbrain Post Number: 57 Registered: 2-2003  |
Just tossing in my 2 cents. I live on Maplewood Avenue near the intersection with Jefferson, the Town's Most Dangerous Intersection, IMHO. It's stunning how often I hear cars go by in front of my house, toward the stop sign, _accelerating_. And the maroon's who don't want to wait in line at the sign, and think there is a second lane near the curb that they can sneak by on. -David "Looking both ways" Wren-Hardin Show Them The Door. | ||
| Ukealalio Citizen Username: Ukealalio Post Number: 1671 Registered: 6-2003 |
I live by the same intersection birdbrain. Occasionally I will see a police car park on Jefferson just below Maplewood Ave. (towards Valley) and pick off violaters. Unfortunately, they don't do this enough. I'm always tempted to ask the ticketing officer if they need a witness. I just don't want any of these slimeballs getting off. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 5127 Registered: 1-2003  |
These complaints are legitimate. They concern me greatly. What can we do, other than vent here? If we talk to the chief of police, will he do anything? The township government makes a point about being accessible. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1057 Registered: 9-2003  |
I'd recommend talking to Fred Profeta for advice on how best to approach. He has been very helpful to me on the crosswalk issue in the other thread, and he is definitely open to hearing about safety issues regarding kids, and recommending ways to approach efficiently. | ||
| Chris Prenovost Citizen Username: Chris_prenovost Post Number: 250 Registered: 7-2003 |
I live on Jefferson avenue, just below Ridgewood. I hereby volunteer to stand in front of my Home with a radar gun and fine/ticket every speeder that goes by (at least 75% of all traffic, going 35+ in a 25 zone). And I will cover the township's budget deficit in a week. | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 3225 Registered: 5-2001  |
Chris- I love that idea! | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 5132 Registered: 1-2003 |
If only that idea were truly available! | ||
| sullymw Citizen Username: Sullymw Post Number: 454 Registered: 5-2001 |
BTW, the speed bumps ARE for the golfers. As soon as the cars turn right onto Burnet St, it's off to the races toward Baker....playing children be damned. People are so selfish | ||
| doublea Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 837 Registered: 3-2003 |
Re citizens being able to use radar guns, I think it is permitted in N.J. (proper training and certification would no doubt be required). It's currently being discussed in the S.O. Specific thread. Also, I heard on the news last night something about a law coming out of Trenton currently being discussed which would require speed bumps within 500 ft. of a school where the speed limit is 25ph. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 4718 Registered: 5-2001 |
Meandtheboys: The intersection you mention is extremely dangerious. Three crossing guards (students at Tuscan School) won national awards from the AAA for heroism they showed while trying to save younger children from being hit by motor vehicles as the younger children were crossing the street in that intersection. One day I was walking home from school and saw a young boy who lived two doors down from me on the ground. He had just been hit by a car while his sister (the student crossing guard assigned to that intersection) looked on in horror. I'm not sure what the town can do to make this intersection safer. The island helps to control the movement of pedestrians into the intersection and to slow traffic making a right hand turn from Tuscan onto Prospect. Police cars are frequently stationed at the top of the Crescent to catch these speeders and they pull speeders over on a regular basis. The crossing guards assigned to the intersection are highly experienced. Having the push buttons on the traffic lights in working order might help; so might an education program aimed at encouraging people to drive more safely (and slowly) and with more consideration for pedestrians (many of whom are young children) who are crossing at this intersection. Educating the children in safe street-crossing practices would also be a plus. |
