Sunday, October 21, 2007

Traffic Violations on the Square

What kind of traffic violations are you noticing on the Square?

It seems like I’m not the only one who is observing flagrant disregard of traffic laws on the Woodstock Square. When you spot one, post the details here. Include date, time, location, violation, vehicle description including make, model and color, and, most importantly the license plate. We’ll assume it’s Illinois, unless you indicate otherwise.

If you call the PD and the officer arrives while the violator is still there, add what action the officer took. If he sees a car in a handicap zone without a handicap sticker, did he write a ticket? That one is a $250 fine! Parked in a crosswalk? Parked on a corner of the Square where signs say No Parking? Parked in the no-parking striped zones in front of Read Between the Lynes Bookstore and Starbuck’s? In front of the movie theater? Blocking a sidewalk?

I won’t repeat all the details here about the blue Honda parked alongside the Opera House, facing the wrong way on Dean Street. You can read those details at “Well, was she?” a few days ago.

Granted, parking is tight on the Square, but Mayor Sager said last week that there are 1,400 parking spaces within a block of the Square. Of course, that doesn’t mean within “a block” of where you want to go on the Square.

And don’t just spot the violator. Call the PD and sic the beat officer on the violator. And, if the violator takes off before the officer arrives, either call back and cancel the call or meet the officer and explain that the driver just left. Thank him/her for responding and ask him/her to keep an eye on the parking problems.

Maybe we need a few signs around that read, “Violators will be ticketed. No warnings.”

OK, it’s your turn. Let’s hear about the parking and traffic violations on the Square.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe the diagonal striped no parking spot by the coffee and book stores could be used as a motorcycle only spot. It would have to be signed as such but it would be a better use of space. Two motorcycles could fit nicely and free up a space for an automobile. Oh, and the reason we back in is because it is easier to get out of the spaces than trying to push the bike back uphill and the bike won't roll off of the side stand if it is pointed uphill.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Woodstock's system of arbitraty justics, I did not get to add this comment last week about the Woodstock duck fiasco:

Gus, I generally disagree with you but you are so right on this issue. If Sager can get away with this, what other laws does he feel are made to be broken at his whim??

Selective enforcement of laws and arbitrary justice divides communities and causes neighbors to distrust and hate each other - often bitterly.

Two thumbs down to our pinhead mayor and his spineless court on this flagrant slap-in-the-face of law-abiding citizens and his desire to destroy Woodstock.

Does anyone feel the same way??

Anonymous said...

Anon, personally, I like our dear Mayor Sager. Have you ever seen him do rural community theater, sing and dance stuff? just like on TV! - absolutely lovely! If you haven't, please do come to a city council meeting, I call it "his alternative stage" and Brian is wonderful when the lights are on him! Oops, I digress....back to the Ducks. I must agree with you (sans name-calling) on how his actions have pitted neighbor against neighbor, and how this type of reckless behaviour can destroy respect for the law. Maybe his 15 minutes of rural fame has blinded him to what is right, just, and moral? Anyway, I do wish he'd forget this mayor silliness and get back to comuunity theater full time!

Anonymous said...

Dude, go watch some Liza Minelli or Brian Sager DVDs, or whatever floats your size 13 spiked heels -- but why not let this forum stick to the issues and not your infatuation with Mayor Sager.....

Anonymous said...

Dude-caller: No, please let him go on, this is great stuff!

Anonymous said...

Mayor Sager is just magnificent! His performances are just breath taking! I wish he'd come out of the closet already... sigh (tears)

Anonymous said...

G&P: Personal foul - 15 yards! Can we just stick to the issues already?? He's a meglomaniac, been charged with an ethics violoation, and a terrible mayor with a Napolean complex, but no need to go all Halsted Street in this forum.....

Anonymous said...

Doesn't Sager also "teach" at Oxford? Yale? Or was it McHenry County Part-time Community College?? (Does he teach theater?)

So, let's see: He's a Thespian, a Scholar, and Duck-Loving-Mayor all in one!

What the hell ever happened to the Carhart-wearing men of Woodstock??????

Anonymous said...

You left one out: Doesn't Sager also have some kind of "business" with our sista-city down in Mexico??? Hmmm.....

Anonymous said...

I’d rather see the city police spending their time patrolling neighborhoods to alleviate Harvard gangs shooting out windows in nice quiet subdivisions; or southbound 47 in front of Taco Bell where 2 lanes merge to one to catch the idiots who think it’s ok to speed up in the right lane and cut people off to get in front of just one more car; or have a constant presence when the high school lets out to see if the dark-clothed group of kids are truly a loitering ‘gang’; instead of clogging up their time with cars parked on a white line. I understand that a law is a law and a violation is a violation – but prioritization needs to be looked at also.

Anonymous said...

The mayor's being gay or not has nothing to do with his performance of his duties and is a private matter. People who comment on it (either disapprovingly or not) make themselves look silly and detract from the power of their own, more legitimate arguments. Keep to the issues, please!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Gus said...

The "sincere question" posed by Anon on 10/22/07 at 9:32PM doesn't belong in this posting about traffic problems on the Square, but it is worthy of its own discussion. I'm removing it from this posting and will include in a separate new posting.

Please, folks. I appreciate all your postings of whatever opinion but ask that you stick pretty close to the topic.

If you want to success a new topic, please email me at Gus@WoodstockAdvocate.com