Tim Bonham wrote:

> If 95% of the drivers are not stopping, and yet not getting into an 
> accident, there must be darn little cross traffic at this 
> intersection.  So why is there a stop sign there at all?
> 
> Talk to the City Traffic department, and get them to replace 
> this Stop sign with the Yield sign that is clearly what ought 
> to be at that location.
> 
> Then you won't get all stressed out by this, and your health 
> will be much better for it, Chris.

It appears that some people may not see the big picture
when it comes to traffic enforcement.  Traffic violations
are not always victimless crimes.  Those of you worried
about causalities in Iraq should not forget that 18,000
Americans died in alcohol related traffic accidents in
the U.S. last year.

Traffic enforcement also reduces other types of crime.
Don't forget that the Oklahoma City bomber was appended
because of a traffic violation.  Traffic enforcement be 
also be used to reduce nuisance crimes such as drug dealing 
and prostitution.  Also consider that while traffic
enforcement is a revenue producer, drugs and
prostitution enforcement are more often than not are 
expenditure black holes.

As to Mr. Bonham's question as to why there should be
a Stop sign rather than a Yield sign, I would suggest that
you consider that the Stop sign may have been placed there
for pedestrians rather than vehicle traffic.  I have a
similarly ineffective Stop sign close to my house and
I worry that someday someone who is paying more attention
to their cell phone will run down one of the many small
children who cross at the intersection.

I think that the City should set up a report your
favorite most frequent traffic violation location.
That way we could tap into additional revenue sources
without raising taxes, but we may need to find more
officers who are willing to get out of their patrol cars
and face the public.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park

TEMPORARY REMINDER:
1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject 
(Mpls-specific, of course.)

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