THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 19, 1996 TAG: 9607170102
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: 108 lines
If you were cruising down General Booth Boulevard in mid-June, you probably noticed extra police officers handing out speeding tickets along that route.
The speed limit in front of the Virginia Marine Science Museum had been 45 mph, but for about two weeks it mysteriously was reduced to 35.
Road discovered that the speed limit was lowered for the grand opening of the museum's expanded facility. According to Road's grapevine at City Hall, the museum hadn't finished negotiating parking spaces with Ocean Breeze Festival Park and someone worried that there wouldn't be enough parking for attendees of the grand opening. So, they asked that the speed limit be lowered and that folks be allowed to park on the side of General Booth.
During that time, police officers began giving speeding tickets to more than a few baffled motorists.
Almost two weeks later, the speed limit was again 45 mph.
Can the city legally do that? Yes, as long as signs are posted saying the speed limit has been changed.
Are the parking tickets still valid? Yes, because the folks ticketed still exceeded the posted speed limit and there were warning signs of the speed limit change.
Will a judge throw out the tickets once in court? Let's hope so. Jerking around a speed limit isn't right.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Brian, no address given. When you're driving down BUCKNER BOULEVARD toward INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD the light takes forever when you get there.
RW: Road assumes you're heading north on Buckner to go left on Independence? The reason that light seems so long is because it's coordinated with the Lynnhaven Parkway and Independence intersection signal. In layman's terms, it only switches to the side street when the Lynnhaven light does, which is why it seems so much longer (it's not an on-demand signal). That's the one bad thing about all the signals being coordinated.
Mark, no address given.This is about the Virginia Beach Amphitheater. More than being annoyed about being charged $1.50 for a ticket regardless if you're going to use it, are they going to pave that parking lot? I've been there three times and each time I had to wash the car.
So, for $1.50 per person how about putting something called asphalt down.
RW: Hey, now there's a good point, Mark. Road asked our resident amphitheater expert. He says there are no plans to pave that lot. The fee is intended to help pay for the amphitheater. Another reason it's included in your ticket is so that you don't have to stop your car and pay an attendant when you enter like you do at Scope and Hampton Coliseum. Also, what's there is cheaper than asphalt and results in less water runoff during storms.
Joyce, Ocean Lakes. I was just reading some of these concerns by people. I think people are just in bad moods all the time and they pick on little things. I think it's really ridiculous and people should just get a grip.
RW: Joyce, everyone needs to vent at some time. You are venting about people who vent.
M.J., Kempsville. It's apparent that the stop lights on ROSEMONT ROAD are not working. In the afternoons, after 2 p.m. during the week, traffic from the light at SOUTH PLAZA TRAIL to the intersection of VIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD, in all directions, is like a parking lot. Cars are absolutely stopped. They're ignoring the caution and red lights and they're staying out in the middle of the lanes, blocking traffic. When will traffic engineering solve this continuing problem?
RW: Guess the hope was that throwing in that additional right hand lane heading north on Rosemont would help the congestion problem. But, it doesn't seemed to have worked but so much. In fact, things seem to be back to normal with left turners off Virginia Beach Boulevard turning onto Rosemont Road blocking all the lanes once again. Road sat through two light cycles because the left turners blocked the roadway. Talk about irritating.
Anyway, engineers say they're restudying the area to see what else they can do about it. As soon as Road hears something, you'll hear something.
Michelle, Windsor Woods. Anything you can do about getting bike path symbols put on the path in front of MOUNT TRASHMORE? A lot of cars seem to use that as a lane and they need to put some symbols there.
RW: Road spoke with a fella at Parks and Recreation and apparently the department wasn't aware that there were no bike lane markings there. They've promised to put the work order in to get that lane marked.
Your concern is obviously valid. Road's seen many a car swerve over the solid line and into the path and you're right, it's usually filled with youngsters and adults with bikes and baby carriages. See, one person really can make the difference. When you see the markings and/or signs go up, Michelle, give yourself a little pat on the back.
Joe Hallstrom, no address given. Plaza Middle School has the lights to indicate a school zone and the lights have been flashing before 7:30 a.m. yet the sign says the reduced speed is between 7:40 and 8:20 a.m.
The question is, do the police see a flashing light and write or do they look at their watch before ticketing?
RW: Probably what's happening, Joe, is that Plaza Middle School is a summer school site, which is why the lights are active this time of year. Engineers aren't too concerned about the difference in time for the summer but they'll have it checked by the time school starts in the fall.
And, if the light is flashing, you could get a ticket.
Tanya Jones, no address given. My complaint is with the shoulder lanes on ROUTE 44. People are driving those things even when it's closed especially at WITCHDUCK ROAD heading east toward the beach. If I'm in the right lane and someone's in the shoulder lane I can't get over to get off the expressway. I think it needs to be enforced.
RW: State Police routinely ticket people who use the shoulder lanes when they're not supposed to. Problem is so many people are doing it now that they really need one trooper assigned to the area daily. Personally, Road thinks the whole shoulder lane concept is ridiculous and has really only served to confuse people, especially out-of-towners. 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.
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