Letter: Citizen scolded for taking action
Monday, June 18, 2012
I fully respect that the Vancouver police force is stretched thin. I understand there are too few officers to handle all complaints of speeding in residential streets.
At the very moment students are walking home and crossing the corner of Franklin and 53rd, vehicles drive right through the stop signs, or take the corner as if a stop sign doesn't exist. Tired of cars driving 40 mph in the 20 mph school zone outside my home, and fed up with the danger of trying to cross the street walking my children to school, I chose to see just how bad it was. Standing in my driveway, I videotaped 15 out of 20 cars not come close to stopping at the stop sign. On two occasions, as the car approached, I stepped into the street bouncing the basketball, and when they did stop, I asked that they go 20 mph, not 40 mph.
The police simply can't be everywhere, and monitor every street -- but not 15 minutes later, two Vancouver police vehicles were parked in front of my home, there to inform me I cannot stand in the street obstructing traffic. Standing there, I pose a threat to the automobile doing 40 mph. It's a shame the police do not get more support.
Troy Stewart
Vancouver
