Posted on 11/12/2008 8:18:26 AM PST by BGHater
NEWCASTLE, Wash. – Residents in Newcastle who complain that drivers are speeding through their neighborhoods will now be able to prove it. Newcastle police are arming residents with radar guns.
"We all have little kids and they're riding their bikes in the street and running around and we all get in a big hurry to get out kids here and there and not be late for appointments or whatever,” said Cheryl Coupens, one of the first people to sign up for the program.
When civilians clock someone speeding, they jot down the vehicle information and pass it along to authorities. There is no fine because the radar is not being operated by commissioned officers, but owners of the speeding vehicles do get a warning letter.
The first person to check out one of those radar guns used it in a residential neighborhood near Newcastle Elementary School. Over the course of three days she caught 72 people who were speeding. Of those, about a quarter was going more than 10 miles faster than the posted speed limit.
Newcastle’s police force has just seven officers, including the chief. She says loaning out the radar gun will free up her patrol units for more pressing matters and will help them focus their limited resources in spots where speeders are a concern.
"We can see what the patterns are for the times when they're speeding, and then if there's a real problem in that neighborhood, we go back, go out there with a marked unit and run radar ourselves and then that's when the tickets may follow,” said Chief Melinda Irvine.
Coupens says it’s volunteering with a twist.
"I thought it was a really good idea because I think we all need reminders to slow down,” said Coupens.
The City of Newcastle did purchase a new radar gun for the program for $700, but believes it will more than pay for itself.
I'm sure it could be good or bad. Depending on your take.
'When civilians clock someone speeding, they jot down the vehicle information and pass it along to authorities. There is no fine because the radar is not being operated by commissioned officers, but owners of the speeding vehicles do get a warning letter.'
Most likely a california replant. They are typically noisy and want to control everyone around. Many are determined to turn Washingon into exactly what they ran away from.
I like this idea. People fly by my house at 15 to 20 miles an hour over the limit. People who speed on local roads are selfish, self-centered creeps who are only thinking of themselves.
Wonder when the first person will file with the state for getting cancer from the radar gun. There are cops who’ve gotten testicular cancel leaving their radar guns on and pointed at the crotch while holding it in their lap.
Agreed.
Nevertheless, I predict violence in this scenario.
Police departments aren’t so pleased when people send in videotapes of police “not on call” running red lights and speeding.
The local Fox affiliate here has presented such footage to the department numerous times.
You are exactly right. Next thing you know - they will be scheduling weekly “cell” meetings just like the ones the Soviet Union was famous for.
Faster than anyone realizes, especially with the Obama regime..
This will dovetail nicely with the civilian security force.
Yep. Point the guns at the police cars and detective’s cars speeding and report them. The plan will probably end quickly.
Haven’t you heard?
Laws don’t apply to cops.
Badges? WE don’t need no steeenking badges!
What is to stop someone for just writing the warning? The radar gun is pointless.
I THINK the driver was speeding...
I KNOW that kid races at least 205 miles per hour in the neighborhood.
FAKE but accurate reporting redux...
its for your own good.
Did they link the radar gun output to the donut shop?
I think they're one of the few great ideas from the transportation dept, as long as they don't start putting cameras in 'em. It's a courtesy reminder, which is all most of us need, and they sure are better than speed traps.
They're also handy for speed runs, so you don't have to look down at your speedo when you're wheeling along way past the century mark...;~) j/k
People fly by my house at 15 to 20 miles an hour over the limit. People who speed on local roads are selfish, self-centered creeps who are only thinking of themselves.
Speed laws don’t exist to give you peace and quiet. They exist to reflect a prevailing speed.
If everyone speeds, then your limits are set too low.
My previous comment is based on personal experience with former California natives that have moved north to escape the hellhole they helped create, only to demand that Washington destroy themselves as California has done, both politically and culturally. A large part of this effort is based on making demands that those that they have invaded conform to the demands of the invaders. In this cultural fight I consider myself part of the resistance.
That's foolish. I live on a winding road with limited sight distances on a downhill slope. If someone had to stop in an emergency they could not.
They do not exist to reflect a prevailing speed. They exist to reflect the speed to navigate the road safely.
Do you really think that drivers should be allowed to set their own speed limits?
Do you really think that drivers should be allowed to set their own speed limits?
There are rare instances when drivers might not perceive hazards and conditions that suggest a lower speed than on might naturally drive, but these are best addressed by yellow advisory signs (like on twisty mountain roads) not statutorial limits.
Of course, the liberals and nannies have pandered to the ignorant and selfish, and we have safety-worsening low limits for NIMBYs to whine about being violated.
That presupposes that people will drive with care and safely. They don't. It's obvious.
There are rare instances when drivers might not perceive hazards and conditions that suggest a lower speed than on might naturally drive, but these are best addressed by yellow advisory signs (like on twisty mountain roads) not statutorial limits.
On state roads. This is a local road and there would be yellow signs every 200 feet.
Of course, the liberals and nannies have pandered to the ignorant and selfish, and we have safety-worsening low limits for NIMBYs to whine about being violated.
No real need to insult me, is there?
No real need to insult me, is there?
That’s exactly how speed limits were set for years before letting politics interfere. Most drivers are not suicidal and don’t even look at their speedometer. They drive at a speed they find reasonable for the terrain and traffic conditions.
Standard engineering practice takes a large sample of actual speeds and sets the limit at the 85th percentile, to next 5 mph increment. That means only 15% of traffic exceeds it.
If you set it lower than this, you can actually raise the accident rate because most people still drive at a speed they find reasonable, while some drive at an artificially lower speed. This increases the range of speed of the traffic which is the real indicator of accident rates,
Here’s an extreme example to illustrate the principle. Where would you see more accidents, where everyone is driving between 60 mph and 65 mph, or where 99 % of traffic is driving 50 mph and the 1 % is driving 15 mph.
That's crap. 65 MPH is about half the safe speed modern cars can navigate an interstate. Most town road speed limits are set ridiculously low and accidents are as much caused by boreedom induced inattentiveness as they are excessive speed.
Do you really think that drivers should be allowed to set their own speed limits?
It works very well on the Autobahn, where the accident rate is substantially lower than here in the USSA.
Childish...
Good Lord, are you comparing US roads to the Autobahn? That's just patently absurd. The A-bahn has limited access and it designed for speed. American roads have too many on/off ramps.
Most town road speed limits are set ridiculously low and accidents are as much caused by boreedom induced inattentiveness as they are excessive speed.
Please, that's just another supposition based on no facts.
No, there are limited access highways in the USA comparable to the autobahn where the speed limit is 65 mph, and the accident rates are higher than the autobahn. Sorry, you’re wrong on that one.
On my second point, there may not be any published evidence to prove my point, but it is a correct point nonetheless. 100% money-back guarantees. Sorry, but you are wrong again.
And clearly, it does.
>>It works very well on the Autobahn, where the accident rate is substantially lower than here in the USSA.
Good Lord, are you comparing US roads to the Autobahn? That’s just patently absurd. The A-bahn has limited access and it designed for speed. American roads have too many on/off ramps.
>>Most town road speed limits are set ridiculously low and accidents are as much caused by boredom induced inattentiveness as they are excessive speed.
Please, that’s just another supposition based on no facts.
You evidently have never driven on the autobahn. I have. You can hardly tell the difference from US freeways, except for the moronically low limits that cause dangerous traffic patterns in the US, and the righteous codgers (probably the same one who complain about “obvious speeding” in their neighborhood) who dangerously clog the left lane.
And many local limits are set too low, with politicians responding to NIMBYs, and abandoning decades of proven engineering fact.
Show me where the conservative platform says "Speed limits are for liberals"?
You evidently have never driven on the autobahn. I have. You can hardly tell the difference from US freeways, except for the moronically low limits that cause dangerous traffic patterns in the US, and the righteous codgers (probably the same one who complain about “obvious speeding” in their neighborhood) who dangerously clog the left lane.
The Autobahn does not pass through cities and have complicated interchanges like our highways.
Are you really suggesting that people simply be allowed to drive as fast as they want along I95. There would be deaths everyday.
Should we ban the "codgers" from the highway or should there be a reasonable speed limit so that EVERYONE could drive the highways?
I guess you don't have children. I see cars zoom past my driveway at 40 and 50 mph coming around a curve that's only 200 feet away.
Do also believe that drivers shouldn't be forced to stop for school buses because that might slow you down?
I guess Obama gets arrogance lessons from you.
No, but he must get dumb lessons from you, based what I’ve read here that you have posted.
>>Show me where the conservative platform says “Speed limits are for liberals”?
Needless and counterproductive government regulation is for liberals.
>>The Autobahn does not pass through cities and have complicated interchanges like our highways.
Visit Germany. You might be surprised. (And I’m not saying that there should be no limits on congested inner city highways. Note that on those tight interchanges, the limits are much higher than the safe speed for the curve - think about that for a moment or two.)
>>Are you really suggesting that people simply be allowed to drive as fast as they want along I95. There would be deaths everyday.
First, I’m not, and no, there wouldn’t. There would be fewer. I’m suggesting that if the limit were set at the 85th percentile natural speed (as engineering have shown for generations to be the safest) the roads would be safer. the limit might be 75 o 80, or even a little more in the open country, but people wouldn’t actually drive much faster than they do now. Triple-digit teens racing each other would still be illegal, and the cops would be free from harassing safe motorists and be able to catch them.
>>Should we ban the “codgers” from the highway or should there be a reasonable speed limit so that EVERYONE could drive the highways?
No, the codgers should follow the law (unenforced due to lack of profitability) and keep right except to pass.
>>I guess you don’t have children. I see cars zoom past my driveway at 40 and 50 mph coming around a curve that’s only 200 feet away.
People who buy homes on busy streets should not expect to slow traffic as an alternative to teaching their kids to stay our of busy roads. Speed limits do not serve to protect bad kids, or your peace and quiet, or your blood pressure, or your property values. And kids get squashed by cars going 30 mph too.
>>Do also believe that drivers shouldn’t be forced to stop for school buses because that might slow you down?
No, and your lame rhetoric demonstrates the bankruptcy of your position.
I don't expect to slow traffic just have them follow the law. The speed limit is 25 for a reason regardless of what you think.
Oh, and you must be right. I never thought of teaching my children to stay out of the road.
Good day.
>>I don’t expect to slow traffic just have them follow the law.
Mere obedience is a virtue only in dogs and children.
>> The speed limit is 25 for a reason regardless of what you think.
I guess you missed my posts in which I explained how engineers say speed limits should be set, and how nanny-politicians responding to Nimby neighbors go contrary to that. You won the fight for irrationally low limits. Don’t be surprised that people ignore them.
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