By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
After getting complaints about motorists driving too fast in the downtown area, Bowling Green Police Division put the area on its radar.
For four hours Monday, from 5 to 9 p.m., targeted extra patrols were assigned to watch for traffic violations downtown. Three officers made 24 traffic stops during the period, according to Police Lt. Adam Skaff.
Here’s what they found:
- One vehicle was pulled over for traveling 40 mph in the 25 mph zone. That driver was cited for speeding.
- Nine other vehicles were stopped for speeding, all 36 mph or under. Those drivers were issued warnings.
- 10 drivers were warned for equipment violations, such as a headlight out or expired plates.
- Four drivers were warned for moving violations, including one stop sign violation, one driver not yielding the right of way when making a left turn, and two drivers making left turns where not permitted.
Only one citation was issued. The goal of the targeted patrols is to raise awareness of the speed limits downtown.
“We want to make people aware,” Skaff said.
The extra patrols were assigned after a citizen voiced concern about speed violations in the downtown area, and after BG Independent News posted a story about the concerns, Skaff said.
The police division will continue targeting the downtown with extra patrols when possible.
“We’re going to try to make a commitment,” Skaff said.
Rick Busselle had voiced his concerns at a City Council meeting last month about motorists violating speed limits in the downtown area.
Though the posted downtown speed limit on Main Street and Wooster Street is 25 mph, Busselle said he suspected the average speed by motorists in the area is somewhere between 25 and 40 mph.
“It’s dangerous,” he said, especially for bicyclists. “I don’t think it’s safe.”
Busselle suggested that motorists would be more likely to adhere to the speed limit if the Bowling Green Police Division were to issue more tickets to those violating the 25 mph limit.
The city does enforce the speed limit near the four corners of Main and Wooster, Skaff said, but he added that it has been a number of years since the police division did any proactive patrolling there.
