Traffic Enforcement
- Sacrelicio
- Union Depot
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Traffic Enforcement
I've tried to get more traffic enforcement in my neighborhood and my councilperson (Elizabeth Glidden) and the crime specialist (Sue Roethele) informed me that the MPD doesn't do traffic enforcement. Is this normal for a city our size? How can we lobby to get this changed? Minneapolis is essentially lawless as far as driving goes.
- FISHMANPET
- IDS Center
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Re: Police traffic enforcement
Traffic control is part of a different department. They do everything but moving violations, which presumably the police still do. There may be a confusion of terms, because if you talk to your councilperson about "traffic enforcement" specifically they're probably going to jump right to thinking about the traffic control department. Unles you asked about speeding or other moving violations specifically and was told MPD doesn't care about those, in which case I have no idea.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/regserv ... /index.htm
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/regserv ... /index.htm
- Sacrelicio
- Union Depot
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Re: Police traffic enforcement
I've specifically complained about speed and red light running.Traffic control is part of a different department. They do everything but moving violations, which presumably the police still do. There may be a confusion of terms, because if you talk to your councilperson about "traffic enforcement" specifically they're probably going to jump right to thinking about the traffic control department. Unles you asked about speeding or other moving violations specifically and was told MPD doesn't care about those, in which case I have no idea.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/regserv ... /index.htm
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- Capella Tower
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
MPD's first reaction to a tweet I tagged them in re: enforcing moving violations on Hennepin bus/bike lanes downtown was to refer me to Traffic Control. When I expressed confusion as to whether MPD squads pull people over, they responded with a yes. I get the impression (and I don't mean this in a super-whiny-car-hatey sort of way) that MPD squads will enforce traffic violations only when they're blatant or perceived to be very dangerous. We could probably debate how their time is best spent in terms of social outcomes, but that's just my perception. I also get the feeling, mostly based on anecdotes and personal experience, that not every officer is 100% knowledgeable of rules of the roads as they apply to pedestrians and cyclists.
Re: Traffic Enforcement
Let me know what you find out. I'd love to encourage more enforcement in Elliot Park. On the eastern edge of downtown, people tend to speed up to freeway speeds, and go 50+ mph for 2 or 3 blocks before they get to their on ramps. I'd definitely consider this to be blatant and/or dangerous.
- Sacrelicio
- Union Depot
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
This was the gist of what I got from Sue Roethele. They don't really do "passive" enforcement. I'll try to find her exact words in my email. I understand that they have a lot of work to do, but it's not right that people can drive the way they do in this city.MPD's first reaction to a tweet I tagged them in re: enforcing moving violations on Hennepin bus/bike lanes downtown was to refer me to Traffic Control. When I expressed confusion as to whether MPD squads pull people over, they responded with a yes. I get the impression (and I don't mean this in a super-whiny-car-hatey sort of way) that MPD squads will enforce traffic violations only when they're blatant or perceived to be very dangerous. We could probably debate how their time is best spent in terms of social outcomes, but that's just my perception. I also get the feeling, mostly based on anecdotes and personal experience, that not every officer is 100% knowledgeable of rules of the roads as they apply to pedestrians and cyclists.
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- Moderator
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
Back when I lived on LaSalle Ave just south of 94, people would speed pretty dangerously. I asked for some police enforcement and was told all that could be done was to put up a speed wagon for a week or so.
- Sacrelicio
- Union Depot
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
I was almost run over walking to the bus today as a work van rounded a corner. Fist is still sore from pounding his window and side panel.
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- IDS Center
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
I have a hunch North Minneapolis sees a bit more traffic enforcement than other parts of the city, but that's my inner cynic.
- Sacrelicio
- Union Depot
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/07/31/killebrewI have a hunch North Minneapolis sees a bit more traffic enforcement than other parts of the city, but that's my inner cynic.
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- Stone Arch Bridge
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
This topic should be a streets post. It's been immensely frustrating as a Minneapolis resident who sometimes gets around by notdriving.
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- IDS Center
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
The Lakes and Uptown of Minneapolis could use a few more officer Killebrews?
- Sacrelicio
- Union Depot
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
Agreed! I emailed streets.mn via the "Contact Us" form. Hopefully we see something!This topic should be a streets post. It's been immensely frustrating as a Minneapolis resident who sometimes gets around by notdriving.
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- Stone Arch Bridge
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
Maybe you want to write it!
- Sacrelicio
- Union Depot
- Posts: 364
- Joined: November 11th, 2015, 6:38 pm
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
Maybe you want to write it!
Re: Traffic Enforcement
This is my number one problem with the city of Minneapolis right now. They could easily pay for a few officers' salaries just by hanging out on first ave ne during rush hour. The same goes for lake Street pretty much anywhere in town. And every downtown intersection. And the list goes on and on and on.
Re: Traffic Enforcement
I don't know what that image means (I'm old and the internet scares me), but your email may eventually get distributed to the writers email list and one of them may or may not decide to write something about it. Or the board/editor people may make the same suggestion as Matt.Maybe you want to write it!
Meanwhile, you've already done some legwork on the topic that would be a great place to start for a post. I have no doubt we can get it posted.
Re: Traffic Enforcement
I was wondering about that myself (living probably where you lived, or across the street).Back when I lived on LaSalle Ave just south of 94, people would speed pretty dangerously. I asked for some police enforcement and was told all that could be done was to put up a speed wagon for a week or so.
There've been at least three serious accidents at Lasalle & Groveland in the last few months. You'd think that alone would be enough to get some enforcement...
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- Wells Fargo Center
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Re: Traffic Enforcement
I'm just going to go out on a limb and say that I don't think the City has many "idle" police officers to patrol the streets for traffic violators. The mayor's budget already includes a large pool of new police officers to handle the ones retiring and max out the squad - at a time when violent crime is at a 10-year high. It's not ideal, but frankly I can understand why MPD focuses attention on other, larger issues in the city.This is my number one problem with the city of Minneapolis right now. They could easily pay for a few officers' salaries just by hanging out on first ave ne during rush hour. The same goes for lake Street pretty much anywhere in town. And every downtown intersection. And the list goes on and on and on.
I agree, trust me, I see things all the time that make me smh. But I'd prefer that MPD focus on community engagement and violent crime reduction first. Otherwise the trend of urbanizing our city will be for naught.
- Sacrelicio
- Union Depot
- Posts: 364
- Joined: November 11th, 2015, 6:38 pm
- Location: Field
Re: Traffic Enforcement
I understand that they prioritize other things over traffic enforcement, but I don't think this is something we should let slide. I don't want to get hit by a car any more than I want to be maimed or killed by criminals. I don't want my property damaged by flying cars (it's happened several times on 46th street) any more than I want to be robbed on the street.I'm just going to go out on a limb and say that I don't think the City has many "idle" police officers to patrol the streets for traffic violators. The mayor's budget already includes a large pool of new police officers to handle the ones retiring and max out the squad - at a time when violent crime is at a 10-year high. It's not ideal, but frankly I can understand why MPD focuses attention on other, larger issues in the city.This is my number one problem with the city of Minneapolis right now. They could easily pay for a few officers' salaries just by hanging out on first ave ne during rush hour. The same goes for lake Street pretty much anywhere in town. And every downtown intersection. And the list goes on and on and on.
I agree, trust me, I see things all the time that make me smh. But I'd prefer that MPD focus on community engagement and violent crime reduction first. Otherwise the trend of urbanizing our city will be for naught.
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