Ask Office Michelle – Question #203
Posted by originalgabriel
This isn’t so much of a question as it is a comment: you *really* need to update your contact information.
I tried to call in today to request targeted traffic enforcement at a troubled intersection but the number listed on your website for traffic enforcement turned out to be a “vacant” number for Sacramento County and directed me to call the Sacramento County switchboard, they told me to call another number which turned out to be disconnected. I checked the phone book (which was just delivered two weeks ago, so it shouldn’t be outdated; not that your website should be either) and the number listed there had been changed and directed me to call another number which just turned out to be an answering machine.
On a related note: how many calls does it take to get targeted enforcement? I’ve worked on the 800 block of 21st Street for a year now, and for a year I’ve been sporadically calling for targeted enforcement at the intersection of 21st and H (motorists routinely run the red light and/or drive around the traffic diverter) but I’ve yet to see any enforcement. Ironically (or maybe not) during the year I’ve worked on that block, there’s been targeted enforcement due to motorists complaints of cyclists not coming to a full stop at the intersection a few blocks East; but really, I think the dozens of cars per hour running a red light while driving through the crosswalk (no, really; a postal worker was almost hit this afternoon) in order to circumvent a forced turn in a residential area should take precedence over a handful of cyclists not coming to a complete stop, don’t you?
Dear originalgabriel,
I know the intersection you are speaking of. It is very busy, not just during commuter traffic time, but all the time. I’m sorry you were having trouble contacting us. The number you referred to was unfortunately a dead end. The Police Department’s new website will be posted very soon, and all numbers have been updated. The number we have listed for our traffic section is good however. Go to our web site at www.sacpd.org, and click on the contact information. Scroll down to traffic problems. The number is 277-6128. It is a recorded message. It asks you to leave a message with the pertinent information. You may request that they call you back.
Cyclists, like motorists, must follow the same rules of the road, which includes coming to a complete stop at stop signs. I will be forwarding this message on to our Traffic Section so they can address these concerns.
Take care,
Officer Michelle
