Safe Westside Facebook Group Started by Eric Bollens
For those of you who are more Facebook-inclined, Eric Bollens has started a Community Page for Safe Westside. Here are several things we can expect to see in coming weeks that will be communicated and organized, at least partially, through this group:
- LICENSE PLATE REPORTING PROGRAM. In the next week or so, a web application will go up that will allow travelers to report cars driving recklessly or at excessive speed on Palisades Drive and Sunset Boulevard. While regular citizens cannot write tickets, LAPD is involved with this community effort and will be sending out letters to all reported speeders and going even further in extreme cases; the plates will also be published on the website and sent to the Palisadian Post to raise awareness.
- CITIZEN RADAR PROGRAM. This is the next step of the license plate reporting program. The LAPD has offered to train citizens as radar operators and then dispatch them in pairs, an operator and a spotter, to collect information on speeders on Palisades Drive. At the Rustic Canyon meeting, there were more than ten volunteers that were willing to spend the time to get trained and make a six month commitment as operators. However, these people, once trained, will need spotters to write down the plates once they clock the cars. For students in high school, this is even an opportunity to get community service while truly, truly making a difference.
- COMMUNITY AWARENESS VIDEO. Currently in the early planning stages, we are looking to put together a video to raise community awareness about the dangers involved with speeding and reckless driving. We’re looking for ideas on exactly how to put this together, as well as people willing to speak, even just for a few second clip, about how they have been impacted.
- SPEAKING OUT. In the coming months, the LAPD, local schools, and community groups will be looking for people willing to come and speak at school assemblies and for other events. For those who willing to share their own personal experiences, no matter how hard they may be to share, this is probably one of the best ways to reach others and warn them of the dangers in speeding.
- THE PLEDGE. Last week, the beginnings of a Pledge were drawn up. The exact language of this Pledge is still being worked on, but essentially those that pledge will promise never to speed or drive recklessly again and to take positive efforts to stop others from doing so as well. A website will be put up where all the pledgers’ names will be published, and decals will also be offered that can be placed on a car to show the driver has pledged.
My opinion is that the citizen radar program would go a long way in resolving Palisades Drive issues. If I understand this program correctly, the citizens would effectively be enabled to cause tickets to be issued to speeding drivers. This is labor intensive, as opposed to setting up automatic speeding camera devices, but to my knowledge these automatic cameras for speeding are illegal in California. So a manual-labor oriented solution would be the next best thing.
Facts could be gathered about what kinds of speeds have been involved in accidents along Palisades Drive. Tickets should be issued at some point above the speed limit and below the common accident speed. The road is so drivable that probably issuing tickets for anyone going over 60 mph would prevent most accidents. I suspect the people driving 50-60 mph on that road are not causing accidents.
Steve, the law does not consider citizens non-biased witnesses, and therefore the program will not actually enable the LAPD to issue tickets to offenders. What the program will do, however, is allow the LAPD to issue warning letters to people spotted in the canyon. This will not be completely effective, of course, but it will be a deterrent by raising awareness often to one’s loved ones. If, for example, this program had existed a couple years ago, my parents would likely have gotten a notification about me, which would have been enough for them to lift my license.
As for facts about speed on Palisades Drive, this program will give the LAPD an understanding of trends in drivers. From what they have already gathered in their ticket-giving ventures since the latest incident (we’ve been in conversation with LAPD Traffic and LAPD West divisions), violators are as often adults and children – excessive speed across the board. I agree that tickets should be handed out based on what is actually a dangerous speed, but according to DOT, that is any speed above 45 mph in the lower canyon, and any speed above 35 in the upper canyon. Some of us may disagree with the 45 mph zone, but better safe than sorry, so I’m afraid to say that 50-60 mph is still considered illegal and a ticketable offense. In the upper canyon, there are places where there are no protected crosswalks but major pedestrian thoroughfares (like Lower Palisades Circle), so the 35 mph speed limit makes sense. As for the actual accidents, some have been caused by excessive speed, but others by road conditions at the proper speeds.
One thing to add: for repeated offenders, the LAPD are looking into other repercussions besides simply sending letters. Captain Lauer and Officer Smythe have both been in conversation figuring out the actual logistics. More on this soon.
Eric,
Thanks for your response and clarification about the effectiveness of the citizen radar program. On my part I would like to clarify that my 50-60 mph theory was only meant to apply to the non-residential, lower part of the canyon. I am wondering if the threat of giving tickets for going faster than 45 mph in that lower section might heavily reduce the number of people who would otherwise support safe-driving measures. Maybe 20% of all drivers on that section travel at less than 50 mph?
At any rate, all the numbers I have mentioned are pure speculation, and I welcome any actual stattistical facts on driving speeds that anyone might care to supply.
Hi Eric,
My twins wrote a letter to the post that was published last week about Nick. My son and I followed a car tonight(approx 5:20 PM) on Sunset Blvd. Driver passed us at approx 60 plus mph just after first Marquez turn off ( by Ronnies).We followed him to the light at PCH.
My son thinks it was a red acura.
Sure about license plate:
5WQU864
Not sure how to post plates. I know I managed to navigate this site to read your initial forays at reporting speeders.
God bless what you are ding.
Hi my name is Kristiane Alphson I am on of Lisa Up de graff’s twin daughters. My twin sister (Britt) and I wrote a letter to the Palisades Post about Nick Rosser’s tragic death on Palisades Drive. My mom and I were going home from errands and it turned out it was about 20 minutes after Nick Rosser’s death. I think what happened was a terrible thing. All the former racers should no that racing is a bad thing and Nick Rosser’s death proved it. I applaud the former racers that have stopped racing and I encourage the other racers to PLEASE stop now. I am sorry something terrible like this has happened to warn people about speeding. God Bless you for stop racing and thank you for letting people submit comments about the tragedy.
Thank you,
10 year old Kristiane Alphson
Hi my name is Kristiane Alphson I am one of Lisa up de graff’s twin daughters. My sister (Britt) and I wrote a letter to the Palisades Post about Nick Rosser’s tragic death on Palisades Drive. Me and my mom were out doing errands when we were driving home and it turned out we arrived about 20 minutes after Nick Rosser’s tragic death. I am sorry that something as terrible as this has happened because people speed so fast. I applaud all the former racers that have quit racing and for those who haven’t stop racing I encourage and beg you to PLEASE stop racing. God bless you for quitting racing and for letting me speak about what I feel.
Thank you,
10 year old Kristiane Alphson
kristiane alphson wants to make sure you read her opinion..not posting. Perhaps due to my email address?