But the next time I run into the old "motorists are law abiding, but people on bikes are lawless," cliche, I'll trot out this handy datapoint: Last Thursday and very early Friday, State Police issued 82 citations to people in cars near the Woodburn Outlet stores.
From the Oregonian:Offenses included one arrest for drunken driving, three citations for reckless endangerment [of another person], three citations for driving with a suspended license, one citation for driving without a license, and one citation for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.The Statesman added that
58 citations [were] for "Illegal Stopping or Standing" on Interstate 5.You may also recall 51 citations and one arrest from a crosswalk enforcement action last summer.
That's a whole lotta "exceptions"!
(Photo from the SJ)
Update, June 10th, 2015
Here's a good set from both Marion County and the City:
- 22 were arrested for DUIIs
- 76 were issued seat belt citations
- 899 were given speed citations and warnings
- 89 were cited as suspended drivers
- four were arrested for felonies
- 10 people were cited for other violations
The Salem Police Department also participated in a DUII campaign during the month of May to target people driving under the influence of intoxicants.And even traffic counts yield evidence of routine speeding.
Lt. Dave Okada with the Salem Police Department said the campaign resulted in 50 DUII arrests, and more than 1,200 other citations.
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| From the Commercial Vista Corridor study |
37 comments:
Online in the SJ today:
"Marion County sheriff’s deputies have issued more than 100 citations in the past week because drivers have been ignoring the road closure signs at River Road S, officials said.
In a press release, sheriff’s spokesman Don Thomson reminded drivers that River Road S between Oroville Road and the bridge over the Willamette River in Independence remains closed.
There are areas where the road is still under 4 to 10 inches of standing water, and it has not yet been inspected for safety, he said."
Online in the SJ today:
"The Marion Co. Sheriff’s Office encountered numerous traffic safety violations among Salem commuters during its Three Flags enforcement blitz Friday morning.
Six deputies were deployed along Lancaster Drive SE and Highway 22 east of I-5 for four hours on Friday morning, issuing a total of 74 citations and 11 warnings. Of those tickets, 40 were written for improper use of cell phones. It is illegal in Oregon to use a cell phone for any reason while driving. Each ticket for using a cell phone while
driving carries a fine of $142."
And here's a KGW story near Portland:
'A two-day sting near the I-5/217 interchange targeting aggressive drivers netted 216 traffic stops and 163 citations, deputies said.
The operation was conducted by deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
An ODOT semi truck travelled up and down a roughly seven-mile stretch of Interstate 5 near the Highway 217 interchange as deputies, who were driving nearby, watched how drivers interacted with it.
“Overall, we’re looking for aggressive driving patterns; following too close, dangerous lane changes, un-signaled lane changes, cutting trucks off - things of that nature,” said Sgt. Tim Tennenbaum. “If you’re involved in a crash with a truck, the potential for injury is much, much more significant.”'
Bollards. Some recent tweets reframed them as ubiquitous reminders that autoists constantly want to drive where they are not supposed to!
Also, at the CATC Open House, several comments by city staff underscored motorist misbehavior. The Assistant City Traffic Engineer said "Drivers will do, what drivers will do." And indicated that he didn't want to stripe crosswalks more frequently because drivers will ignore them as they become more frequent.
The City's Traffic Signal manager addressed leading signal intervals for people on foot - giving the crosswalk signal a head start while auto traffic remains stopped - and said "Drivers will catch on to it and ignore it."
Staff summed it up by saying "We haven't found a way to fix driver behavior."
In today's SJ note about construction starting up for the summer:
"Marion County Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers that a highway work zone is set up along Lancaster Drive NE between Center Street and Sunnyview Road while workers widen the intersection of Lancaster Drive and Market Street. Posted construction speed is 25 mph, 10 mph slower than the normal.
Sheriff’s deputies and Salem police plan to increase enforcement in the area. In the days immediately after the construction zone was established, police handed out warnings. One deputy reported stopping a driver traveling 56 mph in the posted 25 mph zone."
Last week the Salem PD did a crosswalk action: "The Salem Police Department traffic unit conducted a pedestrian safety enforcement campaign on Wednesday June 27, 2012. The project was conducted from 1:00 pm until 7:00 pm at 17th St. SE and Mill St. SE, 17th St. NE and Chemeketa St. NE and 17th St. NE and Nebraska St. NE. During the six-hour campaign, fifty-two citations were issued for failing to stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian, five citations were issued for failing to properly use a seat belt, two citations were issued for driving with no insurance and two citations were issued for operating a motor vehicle without valid driving privileges."
Apparently last week ODOT did a statewide series of commercial freight inspections on the interstate (Ashland, Woodburn and south of Roseburg) and found a quarter of the drivers had been driving too long without rest - 256 citations.
Here's a particularly good one from the SJ - a hit-and-run, compounded with a second crash and a drunk driver:
"A vehicle-pedestrian crash on Hawthorne Avenue NE turned into a fiasco tonight [the 29th] when a drunken driver hit barricades blocking the scene, Salem police said.
The initial crash occurred at 5:43 p.m. a quarter-mile north of the Sunnyview Road NE intersection, Salem police Sgt. Jason VanMeter said. The road was blocked in both directions for about an hour.
In that crash a northbound car struck a woman, sending her into the air and landing on a second car that was southbound on Hawthorne, VanMeter said. The woman was taken to Salem Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The car that initially hit the woman, who appeared to be in her 40s, left the scene of the crash, police said. The car is missing one of its side-view mirrors, VanMeter said.
Twenty minutes after officers arrived, a drunken driver went through a barricade as police were starting to clear the intersection.
An officer was heard on the scanner saying, “Regarding Hawthorne, I’ve got cars, cops and drunks everywhere.”
VanMeter said the male driver almost hit a police car.
“So that was a fiasco for a bit,” he said.
The driver was arrested at 6:20 p.m. after taking a field sobriety test.
“He’s currently throwing up in the back of one of our patrol cars,” Van Meter said Saturday night."
From the SJ late today:
Deputies handed out 76 citations and 25 warnings during a four-hour safety enforcement blitz in Salem, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Forty people were cited for cell phone violations, 14 for seat belt violations, 11 moving violations and 11 non-moving violations, according to a press release....
"We're seeing more compliance with the seat belt laws than we are with the laws pertaining to cell phone calls and texting," Deputy Ethan Griffith said in a press release. "These behaviors continue to distract drivers and lead to motor vehicle crashes, injuries and deaths. We really want to encourage drivers to put their phones away and focus on their driving."
In the Oregonian today:
"In Portland alone, police take reports on more than 5,200 hit-and-run crashes, from fender benders to serious injuries and fatalities, each year. That's 100 a week; that's mind-boggling....
Oregon's hit-and-run laws reward drunken drivers for leaving the scene and turning themselves in later, after evidence of intoxication has dissipated. You see, unlike DUII charges, there's not even a mandatory minimum jail sentence for hit-and-run convictions....
After spending a few years in prison, [Miriam] Clinton will face her fifth license suspension. But ultimately, the bigger question may be, how does the state keep Clinton, or anyone else, from driving while suspended? It's as if these people are addicted to driving."
http://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.ssf/2013/11/joseph_rose_trying_to_make_sen.html#incart_river_default
From USA Today -
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/12/distracted-driving-accessing-internet/3497721/
"Insurer State Farm began asking drivers in 2009 whether they went online while driving. The percentage of drivers who said they do so has nearly doubled, from 13% in 2009 to 24% this year. Among drivers ages 18-29, that number rose from 29% to 49%.
There were also jumps in the percentages of people who read or respond to e-mail, and who read or update social media networks while driving.
Most research on distracted driving — and most laws against it — have focused on texting while driving, which creates a crash risk 23 times greater than not doing so, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Research at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that reading or sending a text takes a driver's eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds — long enough to cover the length of a football field at 55 mph. A 2009 study by Road and Driver magazine found that the reaction times of two drivers were faster when they were legally drunk then when reading or sending texts.
The increases are driven largely by the growing use of smartphones among drivers 40 and older, says Chris Mullen, State Farm's director of technology research. 'It's not just a youthful problem.'"
Bikeportland on the OSP release from Wednesday through Sunday:
http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/02/no-holiday-from-road-carnage-and-lawlessness-in-oregon-97986
OSP troopers responded to over 120 traffic crashes, of which 7 involved a DUII driver. Approximately a quarter of the reported crashes occurred on I-5 (29 non-injury crashes / 5 injury crashes).
OSP troopers reported 50 DUII arrests, slightly up from 47 DUII arrests reported last year. Twelve of the OSP DUII arrests occurred on I-5.
Over 1,100 citations and 1,400 warnings
Nearly 900 citations and 920 warnings for speed-related violations
An Oregonian BikePortland conversation over 452 tickets in a recent enforcement action is getting some PDX play -
http://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.ssf/2014/01/portland_area_police_make_452.html
Yesterday according to the paper:
"Marion County Sheriff's deputies issued 70 citations to drivers in a planned traffic enforcement operation Friday, May 23.
Seven deputies in total were at Silverton Road and Lancaster Drive between 7:30 - 11:30 a.m. looking for drivers and passengers in violation of five major regulations, including failure to obey a traffic control device, following too closely, violation of a basic rule, careless and distracted driving and improper use of a seat belt.
Sgt. Jeff Stutrud of the sheriff's office said that the deputies issued three tickets for failure to obey a traffic control device, 37 tickets for use of a cell phone, 11 for seat belt violations and 19 for miscellaneous violations."
Here's another one for ya...
"Eight officers participated in the project [Wednesday], which took place at Commercial Street NE at the intersection of Columbia Street in North Salem, where there is a marked crosswalk.
Officers were out for four hours, during which an officer dressed in plain clothes would cross the street in the crosswalk.
During that time period, 56 drivers were contacted and 50 citations issued for those failing to yield to the pedestrian.
Another two were issued for drivers who passed a stopped vehicle at the crosswalk; three were cited for driving with suspended licenses; one for careless driving and another 27 citations for various other offenses. Another two vehicles were towed."
Here's another one:
"Between Dec. 12 and Jan. 5, Salem Police arrested 34 people on charges of DUI, arrested and issued 57 citations or arrests for driving while suspended and gave 525 citations for other violations.
They assigned one officer to work New Year’s Eve and New Years Day for DUI enforcement. That particular officer issued 13 citations and arrested two people on charges of DUI."
Also based on the 85th percentile of speed on south Commercial by Roth's, 4245 people a day speed more than 40mph in a 30mph zone.
Updated with clip from paper on more than 2000 stops in the month of May, including 72 DUI.
And from a Salem PD press release today...over 800 citations and warnings:
"The Salem Police Department will continue with specialized patrols to target those who are Driving Under The Influence of Intoxicants and will add extra patrols this weekend to enhance the safety of our roadways on this festive Super Bowl weekend.
The overtime patrols shifts, funded by Oregon Impact, will continue to focus on the very dangerous issue of driving while impaired. During the month of January, officers worked on three of these focused patrols and arrested two people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants while citing five people for driving with suspended driving privileges. One person was arrested on a felony warrant and an additional 86 citations and warnings were issued for other violations.
Overall, the Salem Police Department arrested 38 people for driving under the influence in the month of January, issued 95 citations for driving while suspended and issued another 706 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
Maybe this is becoming a monthly thing...over 900 citations and warnings...
From a Salem PD press release:
"During the month of February, Salem Police Department arrested 29 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, issued 100 citations for Driving While Suspended and issued another 921 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
Yes, it is monthly! Almost 900 citations and warnings...
From the Salem PD release:
"During the month of March, Salem Police officers arrested 48 people for driving under the influence, issued 87 citations for driving while suspended and issued another 881 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
From the paper:
"Drivers trying to avoid construction on Kuebler Boulevard are finding alternative routes along rural roads south of Salem, but apparently are hurrying a bit too much, officials said.
Marion County deputies have issued 39 citations in the last month to motorists for speeding on two-lane Hylo Road SE, said Lt. Chris Baldridge, a Marion County Sheriff's Office spokesman. Drivers were clocked at 60 to 75 mph in the 45 mph zone."
Here's the April Salem PD news...
"During the month of April, Salem Police Department arrested 43 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, issued 61 citations for Driving While Suspended and issued another 767 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
Here's the May Salem PD news...
"Salem Police Department arrested 48 people for driving under the influence in the month of May, issued 95 citations for driving while suspended and issued another 1454 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
Here's the June Salem PD news...
"The Salem Police Department added extra patrols from July 7-10, 2016 coinciding with the July 10 date that marked the date(s) marijuana users celebrate the use of hash oil. During the month of June, officers worked on four of these focused patrols, arresting six people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, two of which were drug related Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicant arrests. They also cited one person for Minor In Possession of Alcohol and three for driving with suspended driving privileges. In addition, officers also arrested two people on misdemeanor and felony warrants and issued an additional 78 citations and warnings for other violations.
As an agency, Salem Police Department arrested 38 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants in the month of June, issued 110 citations for driving while suspended, issued 11 citations for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, and issued another 1395 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
Here's the July Salem PD news...
"During the month of July, officers worked on three of these focused patrols, arresting three people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, one of which had drugs as a contributing factor as being under the influence. They also cited six persons for driving with suspended driving privileges. In addition, officers arrested one person for driving with a misdemeanor level suspended license, arrested another person for drug related crimes and issued an additional 37 citations and warnings for other violations.
As an agency, Salem Police Department arrested 53 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants in the month of July, issued 82 citations for Driving While Suspended, issued 18 citations for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, and issued another 1138 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
From the August Salem PD news...
"During the month of August, officers worked one of these focused patrols, arresting one person for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. They also issued another 10 citations and warnings for other violations.
As an agency, the Salem Police Department arrested 32 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants in the month of July, issued 90 citations for Driving While Suspended, one citation for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, and issued another 1444 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
This fall the monthly totals seemed to disappear...but here's a new one:
"As an agency, Salem Police officers arrested 46 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants in the month of December, issued 128 citations for Driving With a Suspended License and issued another 1,338 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
And after another period of disappearance...
"As an agency during the month of April, Salem Police officers arrested 52 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, cited three people for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, issued 125 citations for Driving With a Suspended License, 18 citations for driving without a seatbelt, six for driving while using a cellular phone and issued another 1,192 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
I haven't been seeing these regularly posted...but here's one for July:
"As an agency during the month of July, Salem Police officers arrested 34 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, cited six people for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, issued 104 citations for Driving With a Suspended License, 21 citations for driving without a seatbelt, 15 for driving while using a cellular phone and issued another 1062 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
For August:
"As an agency during the month of August, Salem Police officers arrested 51 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, cited three people for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, issued 98 citations for Driving With a Suspended License, 92 citations for driving without a seatbelt, 22 for driving while using a cellular phone and issued another 1261 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
For September:
"As an agency during the month of September, Salem Police officers arrested 39 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, cited one person for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, issued 116 citations for Driving With a Suspended License, 23 citations for driving without a seatbelt, 6 for driving while using a cellular phone and issued another 916 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
For December:
"As an agency, Salem Police officers arrested 45 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, and 8 for Minor in a Possession of Alcohol during the month of December. There were also 128 citations issued for driving while suspended, 77 for speeding and 1,026 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
For February:
"As an agency during the month of February, Salem Police officers arrested 49 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, cited nine people for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, issued 113 citations for Driving With a Suspended License, 43 citations for driving without a seatbelt, and issued another 1137 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
For March:
"As an agency during the month of March, Salem Police officers arrested 66 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, issued 130 citations for Driving With a Suspended License, 11 citations for driving without a seatbelt, and issued another 990 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
For June:
"As an agency during the month of June, Salem Police officers arrested 48 people for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, issued 104 citations for Driving With a Suspended License, 34 citations for driving without a seatbelt, and issued another 1064 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
For July:
"As an agency during the month of July, Salem Police Officers arrested 47 people for Driving under the Influence of Intoxicants, issued 110 citations for Driving with a Suspended License, 14 citations for Driving without a Seatbelt, and issued another 1160 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
For February 2019:
"As an agency, Salem Police Department arrested 41 people for driving under the influence, and issued 9 Minor in Possession of Alcohol citations. There were also 158 citations issued for driving while suspended, 122 for speeding, 26 for seatbelt violations, 22 for distracted driving and 1,161 citations and warnings for various other offenses."
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