A Saanich man concerned about speeding near the site of a collision that has left a young girl unresponsive became the object of attention himself when police arrived in front of his home in the Gordon Head neighbourhood.
Bui remains . Her state has inspired neighbours including Gerry Tearoe to lobby for improvements. They include reducing the speed limit along Ash Road to 40 km/h from 50 km/h. Other possibilities include the introduction of a roundabout at the intersection where the collision happened.
Saanich Police, however, have also said they have received reports of individuals taking matters into their own hands by jumping out into traffic to slow down drivers.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know who it isB次元官网网址ut there are people who have been doing that, and who have been seen doing that,B次元官网网址� said Sgt. Alan Kurzinski of Saanich Police. B次元官网网址淭hat is why we are concerned. That is why we are here today.B次元官网网址�
Wearing a yellow safety vest and a clipboard, Tearoe was tracking traffic. But his physical presence also had another purpose. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 trying to slow down traffic on this street,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 have not seen any police, any police, who are monitoring it. IB次元官网网址檓 a citizen of Gordon Head and I shouldnB次元官网网址檛 have to be out here doing this, to slow down the traffic,B次元官网网址� he said.
He points to his clipboard. B次元官网网址淭hese are all the ones I have slowed down, or are within what I would say reasonable speed,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢ost of them I slow down by my presence, because they donB次元官网网址檛 know who I am. These are the [vehicles over the speed limit and who stayed over.B次元官网网址� The first category takes up a large section of the paper, the second is smaller, but not insubstantial.
As he was describing his agenda, Kurzinski and Const. DJ Swanstrom, arrived. Kurzinski told Tearoe that Saanich Police had received complaints about his activities.
B次元官网网址淲e have had a concern about safety,B次元官网网址� said Kurzinski.
Tearoe sounded puzzled. B次元官网网址淚n what way was I impacting my safety or anybody elseB次元官网网址檚 safety?B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淵ou are distracting drivers,B次元官网网址� said Kurzinski. B次元官网网址淭hat is what IB次元官网网址檓 told. IB次元官网网址檓 just here doing my job. I donB次元官网网址檛 make up these complaints.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淒o you buy that?B次元官网网址� asked Tearoe.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 need to buy anything,B次元官网网址� replied Kurzinski. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just responding to a citizen, who has complained. They have got concerns. So IB次元官网网址檓 just out here to identify you and make sure you are OK and you are safe and you are not doing anything wrong out here. And from the looks of it, I donB次元官网网址檛 think so.B次元官网网址�
This exchange did not necessarily settle the issue. TearoeB次元官网网址檚 wife Lesley Machan complained about what she considered was the selectiveness of police. B次元官网网址淭his gets more response than the traffic,B次元官网网址� she said.
Kurzinski said police have monitored and enforced area traffic in the past through readers that police can control remotely.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got 1,300 roads in Saanich, over 700 kilometres of roads, and we have complaints like this from all neighbourhoods, so we move them around on a weekly basis,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淯sually, they stay up for a week, and then they go [elsewhere]. This has been a high profile issue, and that is why they have been back here more than once,B次元官网网址� he said.
By this time, other neighbours had joined the conversation, which continued for another twenty minutes with considerable back-and-forth.
Kurzinski urged residents to report any serious traffic violations in the area, otherwise, their lobbying efforts with the municipality will fail. (Residents plan meet with Mayor Richard Atwell in the near future). He also said most drivers respect speed limits, adding some drivers will speed regardless. He also reminded residents police are taking action. B次元官网网址淢ay be you donB次元官网网址檛 see us, but we are here enforcing [traffic rules].B次元官网网址� h
He also reiterated concerns about reports about individuals, who have stepped into traffic to slow down drivers.
B次元官网网址淰ery, very, dangerous,B次元官网网址� he said.
Tearoe, for his part, said in a letter interview with the Saanich B次元官网网址 he has never jumped out into traffic, nor does he know anyone, who did.
B次元官网网址淣obody in the group would be that stupid,B次元官网网址� added Machan. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have death wishes. That is why we want to change the road.B次元官网网址�
Tearoe said the encounter with police was productive and that both sides left on good terms. B次元官网网址淲e had a good discussion.B次元官网网址�
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