Aiken Public Safety tickets students, resident for speeding, running signs 9/30/2009 7:44 PM
By KAREN DAILY Staff writer
Aiken Public Safety officers saturated the streets in a Southside neighborhood Wednesday afternoon looking for speeding motorists and drivers running stop signs, and they found exactly what they were looking for.
In recent weeks, Aiken Public Safety has received complaints from residents living in the Sandlewood subdivision near South Aiken High School.
The callers have voiced concerns that motorists have been speeding through the area and using it as a cut-through to Pine Log and Powderhouse roads. The drivers are failing to slow to residential speeds, officials said.
The officers also noticed a large number of drivers failing to stop at posted stop signs.
"They are running right through them or only stopping when they see us," said Officer Jason Griffin of the City's Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Driving Team.
Although many of the drivers stopped were students, at least one of the motorists plowing though intersections was a resident.
Aiken Public Safety issued tickets for motorists running stop signs - a four-point violation.
Many of the drivers riding through the neighborhood were chatting on cell phones and not paying attention, police noted.
"This is a residential neighborhood with children playing outside," Lt. David Turno said. "The residents here have legitimate concerns."
There were as many as a half-dozen officers in the neighborhood to monitor traffic. They were all busy with motorists.
Currently, there are no posted speed limits in the neighborhood, which means the speed limit is 30 mph.
But Turno said Public Safety might look to reduce the speeds and set the limit at 25 mph.
Although many of the officers monitoring the drivers were hidden from view, Turno said Public Safety wants to notify the public of the problem.
"We want people to slow down," he said. "We want them to know we are going to be here."
He said they will be back.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
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Posted by: Sgt. wildonaviche On: Saturday, October 03, 2009 6:43 AM
Comment Title: make my day
Go ahead and kepe speeding and running those stop signs. Ill keep writibg tickets and start making arrests. You kids are gonna learn your lesson from me. Little punks.
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Posted by: On: Friday, October 02, 2009 6:06 PM
Comment Title: LOL
ROFL! Words of wisdom from one of the jerk drivers who most likely had a cell phone stuck by your face while you were responding trying to convince someone other than yourself that the problem lies with children NOT riding the school bus. I love Mr. Red; get over it already. If you don't like the traffic, either find a new route or actually do something to find a resolution. It's pretty much the same problem at all schools; not just Kennedy. Traffic congestion haunts most of our schools, in every state. Whether our children ride school buses or not will not eliminate problem drivers. Not everyone feels they should get their child up at 5:30 a.m. to catch a bus that won't get to school until near 8:00 a.m. anyway. Some of us parents actually enjoy spending time with our children, even a car ride to school in the mornings. The congestion problem has NOTHING to do with the crossing guard, just as it has NOTHING to do with parents who actually like their children and take them to school.
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Posted by: On: Friday, October 02, 2009 3:00 PM
Comment Title:
You're kids are not special, put them on a bus and eliminate the traffic problem!!!!!
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Posted by: On: Friday, October 02, 2009 2:03 PM
Comment Title: KMS Crossing Guard
Mr. Red you are doing a great job. As long as teh drivers are actually PAYING ATTENTION and are not in their usual RUSH TO GET SOMEWHERE...there are no problems. Only when drivers are not paying attention as you direct traffic is there a problem. This includes things such as when you direct one lane of traffic to move, but the jerk too busy on the phone only notices a car next to them is moving so they go as well; this is where the problem is...people not paying attention to YOUR DIRECTIONS....instead they just react without even knowing what's going on first. The negative feedback is coming from people who are either always in a rush, OR they are one of those who seldom pays attention to your guidance. Keep up the good work Mr. Redd. The children are safer because of you. Now if we can just get the attention of the impatient parents/drivers who are always in a rush or too busy on their phones!!!
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Posted by: On: Friday, October 02, 2009 8:01 AM
Comment Title: Kennedy School Guard
I agree He dosent know what he is doing. I have watched him have children cross and wave cars through at the same time. He also has cars turning from one lane while he motions others to do the same. I talked to a public officer and he said he is what he is. Keeps them from having to stand in the road and direct traffic. He does have a hard job and needs help from public safety. They should also watch the school buses and cars passing stopped cars on a yellow line next to kennedy. They force people off the road so they can pass illegally.
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Posted by: Robert A Yeldon On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:52 PM
Comment Title: I hate Cameras
I am totally opposed to all speed cameras. They are not accurate and they don't really do anything expecte raise revenue and force drivers to cocnstantly watch their speedometer rather than concentrate on the road ahead and what is going on around them. I found some interesting information on http://bit.ly/Y59uH that may be of use to readers.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 5:08 PM
Comment Title: Take a look at Cedar Creek's problems
If you think Beaver Creek is bad come to Cedar Creek. The residents have the same problem with speeding, not stopping at stop signs and the traffic in the mornings and afternoons is crazy. People using to go to SRS and avoiding Whiskey. There is a "Sheriff's Substation but is NEVER used!! The wonderful developers keep turning and looking the another way and refused to work with the residents and address this problem. There has been numerous requests for a traffic light at Whiskey and White Pond and gates in and out of the development as well.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 3:12 PM
Comment Title:
They should check Chukker Creek Road. It is a zoo in the morning. The parents dropping their kids off at school think they own the road. Half of them don't even look both ways when exiting the parking lot. Not to mention the traffic back up they cause. People who live in the area can't get past them to go home. Parents should be encouraged to use the bus, then we wouldn't have these problems.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 3:08 PM
Comment Title:
They really need to go after people running the red lights on Whiskey Road. It is terrible as many as three cars will pass through the intersections or turn left after the light has changed. Also, the left lane is for passing, not joy riding.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:39 PM
Comment Title: Highway 78
Try commuting on Hwy 78 in the morning. 55 is the speed limit except through Montmorenci it is 45. i leave my house to get to Aiken and always get behind some nut driving 40 or 30. Why can't they ticket the under the speed limit drivers also. Commuting to school or work would be easier and it would also save lives because i see people passing so they can commute. this is so dangerous. people stay home till after 8 unless you have alife and have to be somewhere! And what about the Big Generator. this is a big joke. people come to a complete stop almost to see the big machine. The speed limit there is 50 so why is Aiken County allowing this to affect parents and working individuals trying to drive the speed limit to school or work. they should ticket the ones who stop traffic. it happens in the afternoon too.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 1:00 PM
Comment Title: Kennedy Crossing Guard
Mr. Redd does an excellent job as the crossing guard at Kennedy; only when he is NOT there does the traffic slow and have severe problems. The traffic on Pine Log is quite heavy anyway and when school is letting in/out, it is to be expected that it would be worse. Granted it does not help that Whiskey Road is so close; however that is not Mr. Redd's problem. His job is to get the kids across the intersections SAFELY.....not to accomodate us as drivers to get somewhere on time because we failed to take into account the school traffic day after day. Obviously you are aware the traffic is heavy so perhaps it would behoove you to choose an alternate route. Personally I am thankful we have someone like Mr. Redd who has gotten my children, as well as countless others, across the intersections safely for 11 years now. I applaud you Mr. Redd for having done such a super job; we are fortunate indeed to have you on the side of our children.
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Posted by: Kathy On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:55 AM
Comment Title: Speeding
I think the Police need to start checking allover Aiken City and County. I come up Hwy 1 everyday and people think they are on the Interstate driving, with as fast as they are going. My son has just gotten his permit and he will tell me why arent they going the speed limit. I say they are crazy. Most drivers now days, I think, think they don't have to obey the laws. I wish they would start just handing out tickets like crazy.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:19 AM
Comment Title:
Add Woodwinds to it also. people flying thru the area all the time in the apartment complex and housing development.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:11 AM
Comment Title:
Most of the southside neighborhoods in both the city and country are dragstrips. The soccer moms in the mornings are the worst. Dirve on Powderhouse Rd between Whiskey Rd and Pine Log Rd and you can be driving 10 miles over the speed limit and get passed on a double yellow line by an idiot. Hopefully they will start enforcing speed limits or just do away with them so those of us who drive the speed limit don't get killed.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 9:51 AM
Comment Title: Gem Lakes is drag strip too!
Add Gem Lakes to the neighborhoods were residents fly down the road ...and it is not just the teenagers,the adults do it too
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 9:48 AM
Comment Title: Beaver Creek !!!
Don't you all have a sheriff living in that community? I believe you do, because I've seen a sheriff's car parked at a home everynight I've been in that area. What is he doing? Certainly he must know something!
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 9:34 AM
Comment Title: Beaver Creek
Yeah. We have a stop sign, but 30% of the locals drive through it at 35 mph. Several claim that it wasn't there when they moved into Beaver Creek and so they see no reason why they should obey it. Besides, it is a 3 way stop and they figure the other guy will stop. It happens every morning and every evening when those same folks are on their way to work. Cell phone in ear as well !!!
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Posted by: Outside Looking In On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 8:49 AM
Comment Title: To South Aiken/ Kennedy Traffic
You are wrong. Dr. Redd knows exactly what he is doing. He has been doing it for twelve years, that I have taken children to those schools. In that time, there has not been any students struck by vehicles in that school zone. There also has not been a major accident. Yes traffic backs up, yes it fustrating to be held for a long time at the light, and yes the amount of traffic that goes through that school zone is too much. However, with the situation of the three schools being on the same spot of a main cross town road, there is not much to prevent the congestion. HOWEVER, BLAMING THE CROSSING GUARD IS NOT THE ANSWER. By the way are you aware, that he is "retired gentlemen" and receives little or no compensation. If you are truly concerned about this situation, try stopping one afternoon and talking with Dr. Redd, he will be happy to tell why he does the lights the way he does. Also, get with Public Safety and see what they think. Ask them how that congestion could be eliminated. Finally, talk to council representatives and school board members they are the ones that make the ultimate decision as to schedule, traffic flow, speed limits, and of course what type of credentials a school crossing guard must have. PS: I do not personally know Dr. Redd, but I think he is very well qualified.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 8:05 AM
Comment Title:
It's about time!!! They need to be out here on a weekly basis.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 8:00 AM
Comment Title: South Aiken/ Kennedy Traffic
While Aiken Public Safety is out there why dont they do something with the school crossing guard at Kennedy Middle school. He changes the light and traffic is backed up on Pinelog from the school all the way to the Kroger Gas station. He has no clue what he is doing. Then traffic is blocked on whiskey and pinelog. They need a officer there instead of someone like him. You never see an officer there helping him.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 7:58 AM
Comment Title: STUPID - not a speed trap
going 50 in a 30 mph zone is NOT a speed trap. You got caught doing what is illegal.....face the facts STUPID...you could hurt someone going that fast
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 7:14 AM
Comment Title: Officers, come to my neighborhood next!
The people in Woodlands/Virgina Acres/Dunbarton Oaks think the streets here are dragstrips. Come by in the morning, when the soccer mommies are flying down the wrong side of the road, cell phone glued to their ears, trying to get their lazy brats to school on time. I nearly get into head-ons with these imbeciles on a weekly basis.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 6:47 AM
Comment Title: confused
50 in a 30 duh. "get em jason"
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Posted by: reddog On: Thursday, October 01, 2009 5:48 AM
Comment Title: It was a speed trap!
Can't wait to hear, "I got stopped for 50 in a 30 mph zone. It was a speed trap because I didn't see him." Now if you want to watch residents run stop signs and speed go to Woodside. We could fund the national debt with their fines.
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