As I've said all along, I'm not wild about the speed cameras, but I don't think they're horrible either.
What I find extremely comical is the number of people writing letters to the editor explaining how they got a speeding ticket or a red light ticket, and how they're going to do this or that, or boycott Davenport, etc.
They use words like "fleecing motorists" and other things to make it sound like Davenport has issued a toll on Kimberly Road. Yet strangely enough, out of myself, my family, and close friends, none of us have gotten a ticket.
I wonder why this is? Oh yeah... we must not be BREAKING THE LAW.
There's room for debate over whether the cameras are the right or wrong thing for Davenport, but I just don't understand how someone can complain that they were caught doing something that is illegal. Laws aren't written with a clause that says police have to be sporting about catching people.
There's an exceedingly simple way to avoid speeding tickets in Davenport, without boycotting anything. Don't speed.
10 comments:
"MORE CAMERAS PLEASE"
Amen QCI, the cameras don't bother anyone I know, or myself. Some people just like to bitch. That's the way they were raised and that's the way they will always be. I got a kick out of the jerk that wrote the QC Times a while back. He complained of the speed trap on Kimberly. He received a ticket for going 47mph in a 35mph zone. He said that when you are traveling East on Kimberly they drop the speed limit to 35mph just before North Park just to catch the speeders. I checked out his story and it just didn't fit. The dumb ass has been speeding all his life on West Kimberly and didn't even know it. On Kimberly East bound the speed limit changes from 45mph to 35mph just West of Pine St. and doesn’t go back to 45mph until just past Brady St. That doesn’t sound like much of a speed trap to me.
"KEEP THE CAMERAS COMMING!"
I did notice the other day that there's a 35mph sign about 30 feet from Brady on west-bound Kimberly. Maybe that's what he meant to say.
Nope, the dope was heading East on Kimberly thinking it was 45mph from Division St. to Brady.
That is strange... in front of the mall is one place where it actually makes sense to have a 35mph limit on Kimberly.
Put in place all the redlight and speed cameras you wish in your city. The Quad Cities affords plenty of freedom to drive many streets. I appreciate Bettendorf, Moline and Rock Island for the friendly use of digital speed monitors to remind me when I am going 39 mph in a 30 mph.
I understand 35mph in front of Northpark, but westbound that zone should start posting at least at Runge's.
Living on River Drive near the stupid gas station, I applaud the speed cameras! There is not one week that goes by that there is not an accident either in front of my house or near Mississippi. If a truck from River Gulf Grain or Builders makes the light at Mound going west-get out your rosary if the the light at Oneida turns red. The reverse is true going east! While the cameras may catch me sometime on Kimberly-I'll pay my fine happily in return for the camera on River Drive. Next issue for me is jake brakes! I hate them-the only reason trucks use them on River Drive is when those trucks are speeding excessively.
Jake brakes should be illegal in town. Not the DPD would enforce it since it's "just" a noise issue.
OK! FINE! Put a camera on every corner in the city. Then eliminate one cop job for each camera installed. Get enuf cameras and even the Top Cop's job can be eliminated, let the camera-contractor be in charge of all Davenport's law enforcement. Cameras are cheaper than the cost of cops and their bennies. Besides, cameras make money for we-the-city. Now if we could only find a camera to do the job of aldermen.
Apparently Davenport wants citizens to follow the law, but the City of Davenport doesn't have to. Namely this law found at www.iowa.gov in the administrative code: 761-143.4(364) Required synchronization. 143.4(1) Unless a traffic engineering study documents that it is not practical, traffic signals within one-half mile of each other along an arterial street or in a network of intersecting arterial streets shall be operated in coordination; preferably in a computerized, interconnected master-controlled, time-based coordinated, or traffic responsive system. If the city feels that they are compliant with this law thay are ignorant and Gary Statz should be sent packing along with whomever is responsible for him. In fact, if you accelerate to between 53 and 57 miles an hour on westbound Kimberly Rd. from Elmore, you will not hit a red light until Brady. If the city was following the law, this would not occur and you would hit green lights at the posted 45mph limit. The city should study how many people run red lights, simply because if you really do obey the speed limit, you stop for every single one of them. So in summary, complaining about a speeding ticket wouldn't need to happen if traffic truly flowed properly at the posted limit. If Davenport is too ignorant to figure out the existing technology that is mandated by law, why are we adding different technology to modify behavior that the city causes? We need to demand a higher standard from our traffic engineering. The traffic issues in Davenport are handled poor at best.
Tell me what you hate more; Oh yes-get ready, Speeders and Red-Light Runners, or DRUNK DRIVERS. I applaud the city for wanting to reduce the wrecks and fatalities, but remember what the chief said,” I understand that people are upset about the ‘Big Brother,’ but they really need to consider the little sister that’s strapped in the back seat." Please lets take a moment to think about her, and her little brother, and any loved one who has been killed or totally destroyed by a drunk driver doing the regular speed limit. Since the city is going to put up camera after camera, why not make the car dealerships install Breathalyzer starters. When a drunk driver wants to drive while under suspension, to work or the tavern, they have to get Breathalyzer starters installed. Most drunks in this case usually take one of their children along so they can blow start the car for drunk old dad and mom! At least the drunks who don't have anyone in their lives, probably because of the drunkenness, hopefully they won't find someone stupid enough to blow start their car! But this will never happen! For the simple fact that, everyone who works in our fair cities establishments that serve alcoholic beverages can testify for, the people making and enforcing the laws get totally smashed and drive home drunk, and if by any chance their driving might get them pulled over, their buddy in the patrol car will notice the plate and let them slide!
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