Traffic Enforcement: It’s a good thing.

[dbb]

Maybe we could advocate for a mentoring opportunity for these organizations to show other police forces how to enforce speeding lwas. That would allow them to provide safer crosswalks and cycle routes, particularly on roadways in and through parks and recreational areas.

[Dirt]

I’m not at all under the impression that they don’t know HOW to enforce it. I think it is more that they don’t always have the resources to do so. My guess is that it may be a command decision too. There are TONS of reasons why traffic laws do not get enforced. Some are quite valid! The stand-off with an armed suspect that has been going on in Falls Church is a great example. I think if Falls Church had a task force out pulling speeders over during that incident, that there would be something wrong.

I’m just saying that it is really nice to see a little traffic enforcement now and then.

[Guus]

I agree, it is nice to see traffic enforcement in action

Last week on my way home from work I saw an Arlington police car pulling over a car on the crossing of Wilson Blvd and Barton. The car had made a right-turn on red without stopping or signaling and was duly pulled over.

[KLizotte]

Unfortunately I suspect most of these “pulled over” drivers will simply continue their behaviour but will be more on the lookout for cops; that’s human nature.

[rcannon100]

We always cheer Arlington police enforcing HOV on 66 and we know they are not there just to fulfill quotas.

[dbb]

I’d settle for moving the speed camera up from the GWMP near Gravelly Point to somewhere near the crosswalks south of the Memorial Bridge. Alas, it appears that the speed camera in question may merely be decorative. If it were operational, it might prove to be a grand moneymaker.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/northern-virginia/705462-photo-camera-gw-parkway.html

[Dirt]

Woohoo! Arlington County doing red light enforcement at Glebe Road and Fairfax Drive tonight. Kinda sucked that Officer Popo was sitting in the bike lane, but at least he was nabbing perpetrators.

[mstone]

@Dirt 24469 wrote:

Woohoo! Arlington County doing red light enforcement at Glebe Road and Fairfax Drive tonight. Kinda sucked that Officer Popo was sitting in the bike lane, but at least he was nabbing perpetrators.

Was that before or after the accident with the airbag deploy and medical response? (A bit before 6pm.) Maybe while they were all there waiting for the ambulance & tow truck they noticed how many cars don’t stop or stop in the crosswalk EVEN WHILE THERE ARE 5 COPS STANDING THERE.

[Dirt]

@mstone 24471 wrote:

Was that before or after the accident with the airbag deploy and medical response? (A bit before 6pm.) Maybe while they were all there waiting for the ambulance & tow truck they noticed how many cars don’t stop or stop in the crosswalk EVEN WHILE THERE ARE 5 COPS STANDING THERE.

Before. I rolled through about 1700. To DC area drivers, stop lights are suggestions for tourists. Traffic laws in general don’t apply to locals…. This is partially due to almost complete lack of enforcement, though this thread has been used to document when I’ve seen enforcement done. 3 days this year, if I recall correctly. That’s a big improvement. At this rate they might enforce the law 6 days this year! WOOHOO!

(I’m really joking. I know that some form of traffic enforcement happens most days in the Washington, DC area. Just no-where near enough in my book.)

[KLizotte]

I think part of the problem is that people feel so safe in their vehicles nowadays given all the safety improvements.

At a minimum, I imagine people would be driving a lot more cautiously if insurance did not pay for any property damages irrespective of who is at fault; that is, all car repairs are on your dime.

[Author]

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