TCT Legend said:

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I'm so confused, so do we now want CSPD to uphold the law and write traffic tickets for red light runners? When that starts happening, will the "CSPD has nothing better to do than to pick on citizens" crowd come out in full force?

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I will note that traffic enforcement is the primary function of the motorcycle crew. They're also the only PD units that can realistically position themselves to consistently run directed red light enforcement.

I suppose they could use spotters on foot, radioing to patrol cars positioned past the intersection, although that's a good bit more manpower intensive. (I've seen the WA state patrol do something similar for speed enforcement - spotters on the overpass, with cruisers lined up on the on ramp.)

Smeghead4761 said:

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TCT Legend said:

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I'm so confused, so do we now want CSPD to uphold the law and write traffic tickets for red light runners? When that starts happening, will the "CSPD has nothing better to do than to pick on citizens" crowd come out in full force?

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I will note that traffic enforcement is the primary function of the motorcycle crew. They're also the only PD units that can realistically position themselves to consistently run directed red light enforcement.

I suppose they could use spotters on foot, radioing to patrol cars positioned past the intersection, although that's a good bit more manpower intensive. (I've seen the WA state patrol do something similar for speed enforcement - spotters on the overpass, with cruisers lined up on the on ramp.)

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I was in Kansas City in '98 or '99 when there was a big concert about to happen at Arrowhead Stadium. Korn Family Values tour or Lollapalooza or something.

The cops were doing exactly as you described. Spotter on the overpass, multiple motorcycle units by the on-ramp.

They were ringing people up easily. It was impressive.

maroon barchetta said:

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Smeghead4761 said:

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TCT Legend said:

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I'm so confused, so do we now want CSPD to uphold the law and write traffic tickets for red light runners? When that starts happening, will the "CSPD has nothing better to do than to pick on citizens" crowd come out in full force?

---

I will note that traffic enforcement is the primary function of the motorcycle crew. They're also the only PD units that can realistically position themselves to consistently run directed red light enforcement.

I suppose they could use spotters on foot, radioing to patrol cars positioned past the intersection, although that's a good bit more manpower intensive. (I've seen the WA state patrol do something similar for speed enforcement - spotters on the overpass, with cruisers lined up on the on ramp.)

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I was in Kansas City in '98 or '99 when there was a big concert about to happen at Arrowhead Stadium. Korn Family Values tour or Lollapalooza or something.

The cops were doing exactly as you described. Spotter on the overpass, multiple motorcycle units by the on-ramp.

They were ringing people up easily. It was impressive.

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With the WSP, it was the motorcycle guys running radar or lidar, and about 6 Crown Vics on the ramp. Memorial Day weekend traffic enforcement.

I just went and looked at that location on Google Maps (Marvin Rd in Lacey crossing I-5) and it's got a diverging diamond now. That wasn't there in 2002.

Angry Beaver said:

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I remember when the city said they bought this cutting edge system that would allow them to control traffic lights across the city and make gameday traffic a thing of the past. That was at least 10 years ago.

Traffic still sucks, and the traffic lights are timed like they were 25 years ago.

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I'm not sure about College Station but in Bryan they absolutely made a change and I noticed it immediately. The Villa Maria/Briarcrest light would be the worst because it essentially had five cycles instead of four due to the awkward double-right turn, and I remembered when they changed it in spring 2011 to skip the shopping center if there wasn't anyone there (it used to be on a strict timer). It cut down the daytime traffic by like a third and made the nighttime traffic a breeze. I had a late evening class at Blinn and I would watch as the thing flicked green for the shopping center while all the other lights were red. (I don't remember any blinking lights like when I was younger, though I still think they did the blink cycle on roads near railroad crossings, like Finfeather).