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<br />E~ <br />River <br /> <br />Police Department <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />Mayor and City Council <br />Jeffrey A. Beahen, Chief of Police <br />October 5, 2005 <br />County Road 33 <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />DA TE: <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />F or years, the pre,rious Chief and I have been getting calls and correspondence from <br />residents along County Road 33, east of High\vay 169, concerning the frequency of <br />accidents, increased truck traffic and the general o.verall safety of the roadway. <br /> <br />One of the most frequent complaints is the manner in \vhich the sharp curve is negotiated <br />by a large majority of the drivers. One resident has taken the time to document the frequent <br />abuse of the double yello\v centerline by ,rerucles passing by, \vith a large majority of those <br />violators being commercial trucks. Via a series of photographs, this resident has been able to <br />document hundreds of ,rehicles short cutting the s11arp curve by driving \vay across the <br />centerline. In some cases, the vehicles are actually driving on the opposite side of the <br />road\vay. In one case, the photo illustrates this taking place \vhile another vehicle is <br />approaching from the opposing direction. Our department compiled a number of these <br />photos in a book, ,-vhich has been introduced in court as critical piece of evidence in <br />convincing the area judges that "\rery strict enforcement is needed in this area. As such., the <br />judges have given us their support and levi.ed heav.y fines against'Tiolators tagged in this area. <br /> <br />To try to address this issue "\ve ha,re run dozens of directed enforcement projects in that <br />area, and have cited numerous violators. This ho\ve"ver is a futile effort, as the design of the <br />road\vay and the increased ,rehicular traffic in that area accompanied with an inadequate road <br />system, merely forces drivers to operate in this unsafe manner. The only true solution to this <br />serious safety concern is prompt and efficient redesign of this section of County Road 33. <br /> <br />Terry 11aurer and I have met briefly \vith one County Official concerning this, and there <br />appears to be some disagreement as to \\7hether or not there is actually a plan to realign and <br />improve this section of County Road. We ad,Tocate a position that there is a definite <br />realignment sho\vn on the County Transportation Plan, and that both the City and County <br />ha've discussed this issue before-and have agreed that changes need to be made. <br /> <br />In the interest of public safety, and in line \vith the rapid expansion of our residential <br />developments in this general area, I am asking that our City Council support me by bringing <br />