Ronald Leurquin wrote: > I need to vent a bit. Forgive me. As our fine city debates > cutting police, fire, etc. This very morning the worst crimes > in Northeast Mpls were people running the ramp meters. How > wonderful that I live in such a Utopia. If that's all the force > could find for that man to do why don't they put him on another > shift where he is needed more. Is it impossible to put these > officers to work on worse crimes than running ramp meters? > Maybe running red lights, even?
If there's one thing that really disturbs me about the Mpls Police Department it's the lack of traffic enforcement. Even in a situation when I think I'm pushing it by running the yellow, I look in my mirror and there's someone behind me running the red. Not to mention the stop sign in front of my house. I'd swear that I'm the only person who actually stops for it. This stop sign is infamous! It's been scientifically recorded that, as I remember, 10% of those running the stop do so that speeds over 30 MPH (this is a residential neighborhood with lots of small children). And, although I often see University police giving tickets (so much so that I slow down when driving thru), I almost never see MPP officers giving tickets anywhere in the city. Ok, to get to the point...Traffic enforcement is, or should be, a revenue producer. If I remember correctly, the fine for illegally using diamond lanes is BIG, something like $250 (and if it's not, it should be. Let them pay for their convenience). The concept is that revenue from traffic tickets would help to offset budget shortfalls and strict traffic enforcement would go a long way towards making Minneapolis a safer place to walk, bike, and drive. My proposal is this: Have the mayor declare a campaign to increase traffic safety though strict enforcement. For the first month have officers give warnings (so there isn't a citizen backlash), then begin collecting revenue. I'm almost positive that any preliminary study will should both quality of life benefits and increased revenue. Michael Atherton Prospect Park TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
