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Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 64
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 9:17 am: | 
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Put a stop sign or two up and traffic will slow considerably. |
growler
Citizen
Username: Growler
Post Number: 383
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 10:41 am: |
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In New Zealand they have speed cameras that have radar mounted to utility poles. If you are caught going over the speed limit, it takes a picture of not only the driver but the license plate as well. The driver then gets a mailed ticket to them with the speed that they were driving at and copy of both pictures. I personally have loved this idea for all major speeding roads in these towns however it does require inital up front investment and maintnance. On the flip side is that the town would not have to hire any additional police force to patrol these roads. |
kevin
Supporter
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 410
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 10:47 am: |
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doublea
After attending municipal court a couple of times, I have heard cases where people were challenging speeding tickets given by patrol officers who used radar. The judge questioned whether the patrolman had training to use the radar gun and then asked if they had training on the use of tuning forks for calibration of the radar gun.
I would suspect that it might be difficult for a citizen to prove speeding via radar in court if that citizen did not have training for the unit.
I guess that it could act as a deterrent to just bring the speeders to court.
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doublea
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 830
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 11:09 am: |
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kevin - I'm not sure what's involved and I'm not even positive that it's allowed. My recollection is that is allowed. My neighbors the next street over at the shore have a terrible speeding problem and several years ago, one female when she heard it was allowed said "give me a radar gun, I'll sit in my front yard." (she has three children). Just something to think about and check out.
I don't know whether we have any spare police cruisers around, but Maplewood has an unoccupied cruiser parked on one of the streets off Wyoming, and it seems to work. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1635
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 11:17 am: |
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Kevin: Anyone including a police office must be trained to use the radar and to calibrate and even then sometimes it is thrown out. I would bet that a judge would not accept a non-trained citizen using radar.
Growler: Cameras can be effective but as you point out there is an upfront investment as well as maintenance costs.
One thing some towns found out is that they have to put the cameras up on several roads otherwise some speeders just start using the roads without cameras. There is an ongoing costs because the cameras have to be maintained or replaced as well as the radar equipment tied in to the camera. When I saw a cost estimate per camera at that time, I knew it would be a while before we made the investment. I will ask the police director what he thinks regarding the situation.
Hoops: Some towns have put stop signs on every corner which has proven to be the most effective although hugely unpopular (by local residents). However, I think in the long run, more stop signs will be the most cost effective way to slow down cars.
Of course another solution is to put a Wal-Mart in the area causing so much congestion nobody could speed - j.k.
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Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7211
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 11:47 am: |
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I read an article recently about using cameras at intersections to catch people running red lights. The cameras were supplied by a private company who got a percentage of the take. The cameras did cut down on the number of intersection collisions, but this was offset by an increase in teh number of rear end collisions because people made emergency stops to avoid running lights. 
A few years ago similar setups were done for speeding with automated radar guns and cameras. Some states outlawed this. It also led to a number of divorces when the picture was mailed home and the Missus best friend was seen in the car with Hubby.  |
musicme
Citizen
Username: Musicme
Post Number: 924
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 8:51 am: |
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Thanks to the town for setting up the "speed trailer" across the street from the house that was hit. What is strange though is that it is on the inside of the curve as the road straightens out. After a driver passes the trailer they can accelerate onto the straight-a-way. Drivers coming the opposite direction (from Our Lady of Sorrows) have a long stretch of straight road to barrel along to until they come to the curve. They get no warning of their speed by the trailer because it's facing the wrong way.
I know, I know. We get the thing installed and all I'm doing is yapping, but it does seem strange. |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 615
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 11:29 am: |
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Meanwhile, while we're busy blaming the BOT and lack of oversight by police officers, let's also give at least one (small) plug to personal responsibility.
I drive that stretch of road all the time, and I hardly ever end up plowing my car into a house.
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doublea
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 838
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 11:54 am: |
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In the "Mostly Maplewood" section, our neighbors to the south are having similar speeding problems, particularly on Prospect. Maybe this is something the two towns can work on together. |
Jerry Tuttle
Citizen
Username: Jerrytuttle
Post Number: 12
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 1:36 pm: |
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Driving on Prospect from Maplewood towards South Orange and turning left onto Third Street, I find to be more difficult than it ought to be. I think there is something difficult about the lighting at night, plus a car on Third Street waiting to turn either direction onto Prospect has to ease out a little too far into the intersection in order to see, and so it is hard for the Prospect car to turn and avoid that car. |
dgm
Citizen
Username: Dgm
Post Number: 208
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 2:57 pm: |
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personal responsibility is lacking on Prospect, spend 15 minutes on the street observing.
P.S. The driver was not cited in this incident, which involved passing a turning car, jumping the curb, and completely demolishing a sturdy 25 foot porch with stone footings. |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 213
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 3:50 pm: |
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It is worth reiterating dgm's point: NO CITATION WAS ISSUED.
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joso
Citizen
Username: Joso
Post Number: 275
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 6:13 pm: |
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Put up signs:
KEEP OUR KIDS ALIVE
DRIVE TWENTY FIVE |
Angus MacGuyver
Citizen
Username: Macgyver
Post Number: 19
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 6:17 pm: |
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Holy Cow!!! thats amazing.
It rhymes, it makes sense and it fits the law...
pure genius.
I guess my idea of an oil slick is not going to work.
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sullymw
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 466
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 9:04 am: |
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man, you should see how fast people speed thru the golf island. and there is a middle school and library here. I've seen cars going at least 50 mph....and this is a local street. no police presence at all though....except when I forget to bring my car in off the street at night. |
musicme
Citizen
Username: Musicme
Post Number: 930
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 9:54 am: |
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The school bus going to Seth Boyden stops in front of my house on Prospect to pick up the kids, and almost every morning, some idiot tries to pass the parked bus-lights flashing because they just can't wait the minute. Frequently the parents enter the roadway on foot to block the cars.
It really is no joke. |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 1705
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 10:28 am: |
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I think the parents and bus driver should get the plate #'s and report the offenders immediately. This is no joke and I hope that the maniacs get jail time not just a summons.
I would also love to know why no citation was issued. Can anyone answer this question ?. |
just me fromsouthorange
Supporter
Username: Jmfromsorange
Post Number: 1026
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 2:12 pm: |
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wnb and uke-
me too. i'm interested why the idiot who hit the house wasn't given a ticket. i mean really, how else do you hit a house? according to musicme the car went airborne. this means it must have been going pretty fast. was there mechanical failure with the car? did the driver get sick and hit the gas instead of the break? or was the driver speeding and lost control? anyone know? |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 63
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 10:29 am: |
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See "Speeders on our roads, sidewalk repair and quality of life issue" thread in "Mostly Maplewood" for exact same conversation. What can we do?
Not a good situation for anyone, especially our children! |
dgm
Citizen
Username: Dgm
Post Number: 210
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 12:27 pm: |
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I think I saw one of our BOT members speeding on Prospect St. this morning.... Guess which one? |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 1745
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 3:02 pm: |
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OUT THEM. |
Taylor M
Citizen
Username: Anotherusername
Post Number: 277
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 3:51 pm: |
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Yeah dgm who was it? |
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