THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 5, 1995 TAG: 9505040134
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: The Road Warrior
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 122 lines
As Uncle Sam reaches into our homes, our workplaces and our personal income, it's not a far-fetched idea that he may one day be reaching for a camera to record our driving offenses.
Rob from Haygood Point brought up this topic after he had seen an article in an airline magazine. Here's what he said:
``I read that Virginia was one of the few states which had recently enacted legislation authorizing the use of cameras to automatically record the license plate numbers of cars which ran stop lights and then to issue the drivers tickets. Can you determine whether or not this is true, and if so, when and where we might finally expect those to finally be brought to justice?''
Well, Rob. It's true. There was recent state legislation passed about using cameras at intersections for traffic light violations. However, locally, we don't have the equipment or money for said cameras.
Road called Tammy Van Dame, a spokesperson for the state police, who said that the Virginia Department of Transportation videotapes of local interstates can be and have been used for criminal investigations, like hot pursuits, etc.
However, they are not using the VDOT cameras for simple traffic violations, like speeding. That doesn't mean it'll never happen; there are just no plans for that kind of enforcement at this point.
As for inner-city cameras, there's no money budgeted and no talk of using them.
So, smile. You're not on Candid Camera yet.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
John Sargent, no address given. Shell Road is in two sections divided by Lake Smith. People are forever getting lost on Shell Road because they don't realize it's in two sections.
What about renaming the road, north and south, or putting a sign on Northampton explaining that there are two different parts? Thanks.
RW: Engineers are happy to entertain the idea of a sign saying the road splits, though how it'll be worded exactly is a mystery.
It's much easier to get a sign erected in this city than it is to rename a road that's already on city and state maps.
Mack Peele, Aragona Village. I'm calling in regard to John Williams' remark about the North Witchduck light at Jericho. I think the light could be changed to an on-demand light at night. But, my big complaint about that light is going south on Witchduck Road at Jericho, the left-turn light comes on whether anyone's sitting there or not so you're wasting all this time sitting at a light every time it changes. The next thing is tell all your drivers who are using Aragona Village as a major cut through that the speed limit in here is 25 mph, not 45 mph. Thank you.
RW: Sounds like there may be a bad loop if that left turn isn't behaving as it should. Engineers say they'll go check it out but that the chances of having the light flash at a certain hour are zip.
And about that speed limit, you just told 'em yourself.
The following wrote to Road:
Luke Williams, Tan Oak Court. I am concerned about everybody's favorite road, Route 44: the only interstate-type highway in the area where making changes into the exit lanes can get you run over by other drivers cruising down the shoulder!
You know the scenario: the wonderful shoulder lane that VDOT has allowed us non-HOV users to occupy during certain hours. The problem is that a vast number of motorists can't seem to grasp the concept of ``LANE CLOSED; KEEP LEFT'' during the rest of the day. A particular danger exists for those of us heading east and taking the Independence Blvd./Princess Anne exit. The law-abiding motorist who waits to change lanes at the ``Begin to Exit Here'' point has become a menace to traffic!
The state police regularly cite drivers for their lack of mathematical understanding, as they travel the HOV lane alone. Why not cite the drivers who are endangering others by driving down closed shoulder lanes? Or else do the sensible thing and give us the lane full time.
RW: According to Tammy Van Dame, with the state police, traveling the shoulder lanes during non-use times is a big no-no with the state police and they have and continue to issue warnings, summonses and tickets for it.
However, there are never enough police to monitor everyone, and Road wholeheartedly agrees with you. The shoulder lanes have become a dangerous menace to those who follow the law.
Several months ago VDOT went out and took down several of the ``begin to exit here'' signs because they were causing more confusion than they were worth. Now, for example at the Witchduck exit of 44, folks are left to their own judgments about when to get over to exit. Which, we all know, leaving people to their own devices often creates havoc.
Regardless, the lanes are there and they continue to be misused. As far as Road knows there are no plans to change anything about their working order.
Though the police say they will continue stringent enforcement.
Daphine Allen, Bellamy Manor. If no fly-over is going to be constructed in the vicinity of Princess Anne Road and Kempsville/Witchduck roads, then I think some serious consideration should be given to adding a right-turn-only lane from Princess Anne Road east onto Kempsville Road south using a portion of the newly closed service station lot on that corner and possibly even a part of the parking lot just prior to the service station.
Now would be a good opportunity to get this work done while there is no tenant at that corner. The extended lane all the way back to the church in that block would certainly help eliminate a great deal of the rush hour back-up in this area.
RW: It seems like a practical idea to Road. But, when you're dealing with government even the simplest things become a nightmare.
Road spoke to John Herzke, the city's head engineer, and he said that as far as he knew the city does not own that vacant lot and has no plans to purchase it to expand Kempsville or Princess Anne.
However, Herzke did say that this intersection was one that they submitted a proposal to VDOT to improve. They won't hear whether the project has been taken on by VDOT until sometime in the summer. And even then plans will have to be made, drawn and approved through a series of meetings.
It doesn't look like help will be there anytime soon. Of course, it has needed help for the past 10 years. We'll likely all be flying before the area's decent enough to drive through. MEMO: Tell the Road Warrior about your motoring problems. Get 'em off your
chest. Call on Infoline, at 640-5555. After a brief message, dial ROAD
(7623). When directed, press 1 to deliver your message, and 1 again to
sign off.
Road's Infinet address is: ld(AT)infi.net.
Or, write: The Road Warrior, Virginia Beach Beacon, 4565 Virginia
Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23462.
Don't forget to include your name, address and neighborhood.
by CNB