I’m glad that you recognize Americans still have a constitutional right to express ourselves gracefully rather than making pretend everything is perfect and pretty and have no room to voice ourselves. Believe me, I support the police when I believe their actions are correct. I just don’t think its right to especially give new residents petty tickets at 11 pm like going through a stop sign at less than a half of one mile per hour when no one is around. It just painted a picture real quick about the local police department, when after realizing that we were new to the area to give us a ticket anyway instead of a first time warning. I’m sorry. I just think police need to exercise judgement and discretion at times. Okay, I may be wrong about the quota thing, but it is true that the police get their monies from giving such citations, and being that their are other people on the website her talking about the police sitting by the stop sign it really paints a picture. I have lived in different areas where there was bigger things for the police to investigate, other than minor traffic violations. I guess this part of living in a small town.
It seems that you are stating he rolled the stop sign, that’s illegal, even at 1/2 mile an hour, I’m sorry, but it is. He didn’t give your husband a warning, that would have been his perogative, but again, we’re only hearing your side of the story, and second hand at that since this was your husband’s ticket.
Police sitting by the stop sign paints a picture of keeping our town safe to me. If you don’t hear the complaints about traffic, running stop signs, cutting intersection corners, speeding, etc., let me assure you, these have been ongoing complaints for some time now. Those complaints have made it a focus for SPD to get tough on traffic violations, and I personally think SPD has been doing a great job with that.
The police need to focus on true criminals. Okay for the child that is being disruptive in society but a poor little guy trying to be outdoors and skate? Come on. The local PD have to have a better cause. As for the stop sign thing, my husband got a ticket a couple weeks ago. We after just moving to Stewartstown have quickly changed our minds about donating to local causes. Is this our welcoming committee? Tell me it is not. Tell me the local police have better things to do than to give the local residents stop sign violations when no traffic is around in the middle of the night, to give kids that skateboard citations? Tell me why I’m wrong moderator, or anyone else. Why is this uncivil? I am civil and I would venture that many of the folks that are expressing themselves about this topic are to. Because they have children and we don’t live in Russia, nor don’t want to live in Russia. Amen.
KATY@SCARBOROUGHFARE - 14 April 2008 04:14 PM
One other thing: the ticket my husband got was the first one in 20 years since his early twenties! Hmmm...maybe the local police can give new residents a friendly first time warning? It may promote current and future residents involvement with the community more. I guess its all about money and quotas since there must not be a high crime rate in Stewartstown? Tell me why I’m wrong.
Sooooo, he should be given a warning because you are new to the area and because it was the middle of the night? How new were you to the area when this happened? What if one of the kids was out at night skateboarding and was hit because someone ran a stop sign....then what??? Your husband broke the law and got what he deserved. And by your screen name, it looks like you live in the Station, which is NOT SPD jurisdication, therefore you are NOT a new resident of their jurisdication. Oh and you are wrong, because contrary to popular belief, PDs DO NOT have a quota system, the are highly illegal.
We are d***ed if we do and d***ed if we don’t! And for the record: I do NOT work for SPD, but I would be proud to work for Chief Cunningham.
Sorry MODS, but it really peeves me when folks spout off about us doing our jobs!
And now lets get back to the great discussion of getting a nice place to skate in town!!!
Chris,
If you are not writing tickets and enforcing the law people think you are just sucking down donuts and drinking coffee! Keep doing your job the way you know how most of us are in full support of our law enforcement officers and fire police.
BTW, I would go skating, but I would look like a tick on wheels
All are welcome here.........all are not welcome to violate local traffic laws though
Again, if you disagree with your husbands citation I would urge you to come to a Borough meeting to discuss that, so far we’ve only heard your side, I believe it would be valuable, and only fair, to hear both sides?
Honestly though, if you’re arguing the ticket on the premise of “there was no one in sight” or “it was late” that is strange to me, as obviously there was someone in sight, namely a police officer.
My response:
That is okay. Thank you for the invite to the borough meeting but I already called Stewartstown Police to discuss the citation and no return call. I take that they weren’t interested in addressing the issue, or that the secretary did not appropriately leave a message. Either way I got the message. Yes, the police officer was the only human being around that night. I was wrong. But not about the part of having nothing better to do than issue local residents stop sign violations. I have nothing more to say about this issue anymore since I think I got my point across. It will not do any justice if I attend the meeting anyway because apparently this is what the local police does. Give citations for traffic violations. Sorry that these officers don’t take the time to get to know members of the community by returning calls, or perhaps giving them a first time friendly warning. I’ve had one ticket in my life and my husband hasn’t had one in just about 20 years. That doesn’t make us better than anyone else, but it does show you about our history as law abiding citizens. It also shows you what the focus is from our local police department.
I think if everyone got outside today and rode their skateboard that we would all feel better! Let’s blow the dust off of ourselves and enjoy a cruise with the board beneath our feet. Be safe, wear a helmet, and GO OUTSIDE!!!!!!! Happy Tuesday!
Honestly though, if you’re arguing the ticket on the premise of “there was no one in sight” or “it was late” that is strange to me, as obviously there was someone in sight, namely a police officer.
Would definitely lose on that, NOWHERE in the Vehicle Code does it say a vehicle may go through a stop sign, light, or stop line if no one is around.
Chris_McGraw - 15 April 2008 08:20 AM
It seems that you are stating he rolled the stop sign, that’s illegal, even at 1/2 mile an hour, I’m sorry, but it is. He didn’t give your husband a warning, that would have been his perogative, but again, we’re only hearing your side of the story, and second hand at that since this was your husband’s ticket.
Police sitting by the stop sign paints a picture of keeping our town safe to me. If you don’t hear the complaints about traffic, running stop signs, cutting intersection corners, speeding, etc., let me assure you, these have been ongoing complaints for some time now. Those complaints have made it a focus for SPD to get tough on traffic violations, and I personally think SPD has been doing a great job with that.
Thats correct: even at 1/2 mile per hour you are still breaking the law. ALL four wheel MUST come to a complete stop. Running a stop sign is still BREAKING THE LAW folks
Thats correct: even at 1/2 mile per hour you are still breaking the law. ALL four wheel MUST come to a complete stop. Running a stop sign is still BREAKING THE LAW folks
Yes we know.
So is going 66 when 65 MPH is the limit. How many tickets have you given for a 66 MPH Chris?
All are welcome here.........all are not welcome to violate local traffic laws though
Again, if you disagree with your husbands citation I would urge you to come to a Borough meeting to discuss that, so far we’ve only heard your side, I believe it would be valuable, and only fair, to hear both sides?
Honestly though, if you’re arguing the ticket on the premise of “there was no one in sight” or “it was late” that is strange to me, as obviously there was someone in sight, namely a police officer.
My response:
That is okay. Thank you for the invite to the borough meeting but I already called Stewartstown Police to discuss the citation and no return call. I take that they weren’t interested in addressing the issue, or that the secretary did not appropriately leave a message. Either way I got the message. Yes, the police officer was the only human being around that night. I was wrong. But not about the part of having nothing better to do than issue local residents stop sign violations. I have nothing more to say about this issue anymore since I think I got my point across. It will not do any justice if I attend the meeting anyway because apparently this is what the local police does. Give citations for traffic violations. Sorry that these officers don’t take the time to get to know members of the community by returning calls, or perhaps giving them a first time friendly warning. I’ve had one ticket in my life and my husband hasn’t had one in just about 20 years. That doesn’t make us better than anyone else, but it does show you about our history as law abiding citizens. It also shows you what the focus is from our local police department.
You are welcome for the invite, I tried, I feel addressing comments and concerns head on, in person, so they can be discussed and aired and all sides can speak is the best approach. You seem to feel it won’t change anything and won’t help coming to the meeting, I’m sorry that’s the way you feel, because a visit to the 1st Monday’s Council meeting would at the very least give you a little more insight into just what our SPD does as the police report is read. It’s alot more than than “petty” offenses like stop sign violations.
Thats correct: even at 1/2 mile per hour you are still breaking the law.
Hmmm, odd....
Technically breaking the law you may be, but when we complained about the dragstrip that is College Avenue many years ago, we were told that tickets weren’t issued until the violator reached 10 mph over the speed limit. Which means that up to 55 mph is allowed through the community and bus stops, and frankly, they go much faster than that. It had something to do with an allowance for operator error using vascar and nothing within 10mph would hold up in court, blah blah blah.
They have though, over the years, combatted the issue and chased plenty of people down the way. Because really, I don’t think anybody flying down College Ave is doing less than 60 anyway.
So while 1/2 mph might actually be breaking the law, don’t expect them to ticket for that!
I think if everyone got outside today and rode their skateboard that we would all feel better! Let’s blow the dust off of ourselves and enjoy a cruise with the board beneath our feet. Be safe, wear a helmet, and GO OUTSIDE!!!!!!! Happy Tuesday!
Thats correct: even at 1/2 mile per hour you are still breaking the law. ALL four wheel MUST come to a complete stop. Running a stop sign is still BREAKING THE LAW folks
Yes we know.
So is going 66 when 65 MPH is the limit. How many tickets have you given for a 66 MPH Chris?
I am not talking about speed zones, I was referring to rolling through a stop sign at 1/2 mph (which is what I think Chris meant as well)
Bobby102 - 15 April 2008 09:39 AM
chrisjames_71 - 15 April 2008 08:59 AM
Thats correct: even at 1/2 mile per hour you are still breaking the law.
Hmmm, odd....
Technically breaking the law you may be, but when we complained about the dragstrip that is College Avenue many years ago, we were told that tickets weren’t issued until the violator reached 10 mph over the speed limit. Which means that up to 55 mph is allowed through the community and bus stops, and frankly, they go much faster than that. It had something to do with an allowance for operator error using vascar and nothing within 10mph would hold up in court, blah blah blah.
They have though, over the years, combatted the issue and chased plenty of people down the way. Because really, I don’t think anybody flying down College Ave is doing less than 60 anyway.
So while 1/2 mph might actually be breaking the law, don’t expect them to ticket for that!
You are also correct, MOST departments will not ticket for under 10mph and then many will. It all depends on the department and the officer. I have been cited in the past for going 5 mph over in a residential area of Lancaster. Paid the fine and went on (got another one a month later..oops).
Anyways..enough thread hijacking by me. Time to go back to the original intend of this thread.
I think if everyone got outside today and rode their skateboard that we would all feel better! Let’s blow the dust off of ourselves and enjoy a cruise with the board beneath our feet. Be safe, wear a helmet, and GO OUTSIDE!!!!!!! Happy Tuesday!
You couldn’t have said it better. I guess we have to find out where we can skate in our neighborhood. Let me check that out first before I do it!! We wouldn’t want that instead, let our kids stay inside and learn to be dysfunctional by playing video games all the time. NOT! LOL.
He said, “What is wrong with me riding my skateboard? Should I stay inside and drink instead?” That was a powerful statement to me! So, Mr. Police Officer, perhaps you can stick to pulling over the cars that run the stop sign at that corner, which you are VERY good at doing, and I REALLY DO appreciate, but please, don’t pull over a minor on a skateboard.
This whole thread is so ridiculous as to be beyond belief. So we are supposed to think the only choices for young people are skateboarding or drinking? What kind of parents and home life do these children have if these are the only things for teenagers to do? I won’t venture a guess. I’ll let you fill in the blanks. TS suggests that police are very good at pulling over motorists who run stop signs. I don’t know where she’s been, but, in my opinion, they don’t do very well at all. Running stop signs around here is a local pastime. I have asked on this board in the past when the last time local police gave a ticket for running a stop sign. I never got a response.
It is pretty obvious from reading this thread that skateboarders, their parents, and others who think that skateboarding is cool don’t have a clue what the law is, why the laws are in place, or why they should be. Any sidewalk in town except those immediately adjacent to busy state highways and Ballast Ln. are legal for skateboarding. Yet they complain that there is no place to skateboard. One skateboarder writes here about the horror of not being able to skate down Hill Street to the skateboard shop. Excuse me but this is a rather long hill on a narrow street with barely enough space for cars to pass and a blind spot just behind the Post Office. Picture a skateboarder heading down to the shop from Main Street. Imagine a car coming up Hill Street and just as the road bends to the right behind the Post Office he meets the skateboarder, swerves to avoid him, and collides with another car coming down Hill Street. I think there are very good reasons why skateboards are illegal on roadways. Is this such an unlikely occurrence that those of you on here who promote this activity can’t figure it out for yourselves?
I also agree with the writer who does not want to pay for a skateboard park. Has anyone thought about the possibility of allowing skateboarding on I-83?
I grew up in the country......field on 3 sides, woods on one. Much of my youth was spent riding my bike, fishing, climbing trees, playing in the creek, playing in the woods, playing outside period. When I got old enough and bought my first skateboard, I absolutely drove my parents nuts cause I had nowhere to skate. None of my friends did. So you know what we did...........we built half-pipes. One over near Prettyboy Elementary at a friends house, and two in Parkton at two other friends houses. We found the wood and supplies, bought others, and built them ourselves with plans from Thrasher. About a year later, I had my father help me build a combo slant/quarter pipe, again from plans out of Thrasher. And you know what, my parents still wouldn’t let me put it on the road we lived on so I could skate it, I had to find a spot off the side of the road to use it.......even with little to no traffic........in the middle of nowhere!!!! I guess even in the country they didn’t want me playing in the road.......probably a good idea, I was a daredevil and probably would have gotten myself run over.
I have to tell you though, alot of this confuses me. If I had a child of skating age and they were THIS interested in the sport, I’d enlist some friends help and build a mini-pipe in my backyard at the drop of a hat, it would take probably betweeen $500-$700 and a Saturday, but would mean they could skate in their own backyard, when they want, how they want, on their own terms, under the lights, I could watch them and their friends, I could set the rules, they could have skating b-day parties, and so on. A mini-pipe allows you to practice and hone most if not all of the stuff you take to the street anyway. So I guess it just confuses me, as I would go the above route before heading down the long road of trying to change local laws regarding skateboarding, which likely won’t happen, as they are laws that are not uncommon in most small municipalities in this area, and generally based on safety.
So that’s my story, about a country skater boy and his friends, surrounded by Holsteins, soybeans and corn, who all had crush and run for driveways and nowhere to skate, but still made it work.
Moooooo........
[ Edited: 16 April 2008 02:27 PM by Chris_McGraw ]
who all had crush and run for driveways and nowhere to skate, but still made it work.
Moooooo........
Man I would’ve given anything for a cruch and run driveway back when I was a kid. I had a really steep (at least felt that way back then) gravel driveway that was always washing away on us!!! My road was even dirt/gravel as well. Still remember days of loading a huge barrel of oil onto a cart and pulling it behind the mower, dumping oil on the roadway to keep the dust down. Yeah try that one nowadays!!!!
When I was a kid we didn’t have skateboards. They hadn’t been invented yet. We had crappy metal skates that attached to the bottom of your shoes. And they’d often come disconnected in the front or the back and we’d fall down and skin our knees!
