Residents call for speeding crack down

Speeding might be fun in the movies, but in a small town like Mercersburg, it can be a problem.

[jane]

I've called and written to the PSP to ask for additional patrols where I live to catch the speeders. Sometimes the racing around is ridiculous. One has to be fearful of even pulling out of the driveway. But so far, no response. Unfortunately, unlike Mercersburg, my little town isn't a borough, doesn't have a borough council, nor a police department. We must rely on the State Police, and they just aren't responding.

[huh]

We also need to get the state legislature to approve radar for our local police. We are the only state in the country that does not allow local police to use radar or laser. Why is that?

[Get out of my way]

Mercersburg used to be the 'SPEED TRAP' capitol of southern Pa. What has happened? I guess with the addition of the second red light and the pedestrian crossing markers, traffic policing was assumed to take care of itself. Speeding and aggressive driving is a problem everywhere. With the mindset of "I'll do what I please, the heck with you", and no real consequences, what do you do? Good luck trying to slow folks down. They just don't care.

[Oh ME2]

jane wrote:

I've called and written to the PSP to ask for additional patrols where I live to catch the speeders. Sometimes the racing around is ridiculous. One has to be fearful of even pulling out of the driveway. But so far, no response. Unfortunately, unlike Mercersburg, my little town isn't a borough, doesn't have a borough council, nor a police department. We must rely on the State Police, and they just aren't responding.

Jane,

I feel your pain but it's not the fault of the C-burg PSP barracks.

I forget the number of Troopers, I think about 67 but anyhow, they patrol about 600 Square MILES, YES MILES and are the 2nd busiest barracks in the state.

I have several friends that are or were Troopers at C-burg and they said if you were assigned to patrol the zones that surround C-burg Boro, you didn't even waste time signing out a radar gun 'cause you just didn't have time to do speed enforcement. The reason, they were too busy responding to calls for service, etc.

Maybe the PO needs to do an in depth report on the PSP C-burg barracks to include numbers of Troopers in Patrol, Crime Unit, Patrol Troopers assigned per various shifts, numbers of calls for service broken down by Township, etc.

[bev]

If they hired a trooper just for Lincoln Way West for speeding only ,they would have enough money from fines to pay him plus money left over. My house faces LWW and believe me it is awful how fast people go on this highway.

[A Talking Horse]

Public Opinion wrote wrote:

One thing he's finding even more alarming is the competition for the right-of-way on East Seminary Street when traveling between two vehicles parked on the opposite sides of the street. "Now they're playing chicken to see who gets there first," said Mike, noting the drivers challenge each other head-on.

Hm...I don't live on the street. But I use it everyday...and it always seems to work ok. There can be a little give and take as to timing when two cars are going the opposite direction. You really have to yield traffic turning ON to the street - they have to get out of the flow of Main st traffic. I've never seen anything remotely like "chciken"

If problems have increased - it's no doubt due to people short-cutting through/around town to avoid the huge state-fabricated traffic jam caused by the traffic light at Selser's point.

[Stinkeye]

People speed all the time, and once in awhile, whether intentional or not, will run a stop sign.

Ohhh wait!... NOW I get it:

LOL

"A number of accidents have occurred in the community, but none too serious, according to Linda, who also works with the Mercersburg Police Department."

LOL

[A Talking Horse]

Well - Mercersburg - particularly west of the boro is a bit of a no-mans land PSP-wise.

To their credit - they have really stepped up the presence on 16W recently. Especially during the rush hour drive times - people just rip through there like crazy. Just being seen out there a few times sticks in peoples memory and makes an impact.

[anononononon]

people drive too fast almost everywhere down here, we need more police presence everywhere. If you're not going 10 - 20 over people tailgate you like you're going 20 under the limit. noone here is that important that they can't lose 5 minutes

[Appleway neighbor]

We also have made several calls to SP about the speeding on Appleway in St Thomas. I have offered for them to use my driveway but they decline. People use this road like it is 81 and the speed limit is 35 or 45 depending where you are at!

[ficklefingeroffa te]

You slower drivers:

If you can't keep up with the big dogs, then stay off of the porch!

:)

[ann]

its stay on the porch

[SuperNerd]

How about stopping all of the idiots who come out of Mountain Shadows and run the stop sign? One woman has almost nailed my car twice, stopping barely in time. Is it that hard to stop for 2 seconds at a stop sign?

[Billy Bob]

I think the speeding is caused by people who are realizing that Letterkenny will close in the next BRAC, and they are heading South towards MD as rapidly as they can. :)

[What]

What does Letterkenny have anything to do with this??

[MAYBE]

maybe they were in a hurry to get to the bank to get money to go buy more gas !!

[Speed Freak]

The increase in speeding you're all witnessing is related to the ever increasing gas and fuel prices.
These speeding motorists are all speeding for pretty much the same reason: to get to the next filling station before the price increases again.
Some make, some don't.
It's a constant challenge for us all!

[THE WATCHER]

huh wrote:

We also need to get the state legislature to approve radar for our local police. We are the only state in the country that does not allow local police to use radar or laser. Why is that?

I can tell you that would be a very very bad idea.
I have lived in a state that has more police radar per capita and I can tell you most local police use it as a income maker for the town and state.
It's widely abused for this purpose and dosen't really stop speeders.
You get stopped by police with radar and when you ask let me see the speed on it your told NO you don't have that right.
It's a double edge sword. It's fine in Pa the way it is only State Police can use it.
The towns do have an option for a laser type of unit that uses blocks placed on the road side..Fairfield does use this type of inforcement besides VASCAR.
So why doesn't the town make that street a one way if it's so narrow, I don't know as I have never been on that street.

[brush ape]

hey fickelfinger, i hope you're a big enough dog to stay on the porch where you belong.

[smoke and sunshine]

What most people don't realize is the faster you drive the worse your fuel mileage is. Obey the speed limit and your fuel goes a lot further. These people who cut you off are the ones sitting at the red light waiting for it to turn green when you get to it so they're not really making any time now are they?