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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, October 12, 2009 Troopers can’t stop every bad driver By Bill Sheets Herald Writer Bill Downing of Everett asks: Recently I was northbound on I-5 past Quil Ceda Village when a car with British Columbia plates was weaving in and out of the 60 mph traffic, going at least 70. The driver was giving no signals, just darting and sliding, including past a state trooper who did not stop the car. Is there some reason why the Washington State Patrol cannot or will not stop speeding B.C. drivers? In Washington state, apparently having a Canadian plate is better than a diplomatic one as far as carte blanche in traffic is concerned. State Patrol trooper Keith Leary responds: The Washington State Patrol does not single out any specific drivers or vehicles to pull over. If a trooper observes a vehicle committing a traffic violation, the trooper has the discretion to stop that vehicle. If a driver from another state or country is stopped in the state for a traffic violation, that person is subject to same fines as a Washington resident. When a violation is identified, troopers take appropriate action. However, troopers are not able to catch every violator. Aggressive driving is one of the top four collision-causing violations, and the State Patrol takes these violations seriously. From Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 this year, troopers contacted 5,745 aggressive drivers statewide. Troopers drive marked and unmarked patrol cars and motorcycles, and some troopers are assigned specifically to spotting aggressive drivers. Also, WSP aircraft work Snohomish County routinely. The State Patrol suggests that if drivers see aggressive or dangerous actions, and if it is safe to do so, they dial 911 on their cell phone and report the driving behavior. Troopers must observe traffic violations to make a legal stop for the violation. Kelly Roark of Everett asks: I am a motorcycle rider and several times over the summer I was surprised by grooved pavement on I-5 northbound in Snohomish County. If you’ve never had this experience before, then consider yourself fortunate. Once you’re on grooved pavement at 60 mph, you can’t safely change lanes. Instead, you need to “ride it out” until grooved pavement ends in your lane. A simple suggestion: One mile ahead of the grooved pavement, post a sign indicating “grooved pavement ahead” and also indicate which lane is grooved. I’ll guarantee you every bike rider will heed that warning. Meghan Pembroke, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation, responds: We already use advance warning signs to remind drivers to use caution on grooved, ground-down pavement. Our traffic control plans require contractors to place “Grooved Pavement” warning signs 3,000 feet in advance of a work zone and “Motorcycles Use Extreme Caution” signs 1,500 feet ahead. Our project inspectors regularly review traffic control setups in the field to ensure that we are providing adequate warning for drivers. We encourage all drivers to slow down, stay alert and use caution as they approach and drive through any of our work zones. E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your city of residence. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out Focus on the real problems I am tired of all the statistics saying aggressive drivers and speeders cause all the accidents. These just do not hold up. There are usually other factors that are not being exposed in these stats. As a counter example, consider Formula 1 or NASCAR racing. The drivers speed and the drivers are aggressive, but they are focused and trained well at what they do. The real problem is the apprehensive, incompetent, or DISTRACTED drivers that do not get off their CELL PHONES! I strongly urge these people to be the NEW target of tickets. Driving and talking on a cell phone? TICKET! Smoking and driving? TICKET! Driving 50 in the passing lane on I-5? TICKET! Going 70-75 on I-5? Who CARES as long as they are paying attention to what they're doing. Fast Cars Faster Women | Oct 13, 2009 8:27 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Canadians Kill Go ask the young boy in Marysville how he feels about Candaian Drivers. Like to one in the White Mercedes that nearly killed the poor boy. The Driver sped off and made it back to his home in B.C. and will face no punishment under Washington State Law. Lucky guy if running kids over is your thing. Canadians need to be held accountable in the USA, just like anyone else. Mike Flavin | Oct 13, 2009 4:01 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Aggressive Drives The problem as I see it here in the state of Washington is the PASSIVE aggressive drivers. You know who you are the ones doing 60 in the left lane making everyone who is going faster pass you on the right!! The sad thing is you do not think you are the aggressive driver but you are. The law states "Keep unless passing" it does not mean that you have a right to be in the left lane in means unless you are passing traffic you need to move over. This is the only state that I have been in where so many people are in the left lane and will not get out of someones way. I suspect the person who sent in the email is likely Passive Aggressive driver... Just move over why do you care if someone passes you? Nolan Foss | Oct 13, 2009 6:28 am | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal 70 in a 60 is not really speeding. worry about people doing 100 in a 40 or people who insist on driving 50 in the far left lane blocking traffic behind them. Choco Myte | Oct 12, 2009 10:18 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Canadians speed with impunity Any one who regularly drives 5 north of the 405 knows that whenever you see someone driving at a high rate of speed the odds are probably 2 out of 3 that it is a Canadian in an expensive car. The WSP is derelict in their duty by not stopping these dangerous drivers. Where is the accountability? timg | Oct 12, 2009 11:27 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Canadians The WSP didn't stop the person cause if your aware of this if your from Canada and your stopped and get a ticket Washington State does not hold them accountable to pay it. They are not forced to pay their fines and a warrant is never issued and they cannot suspend their license. Isn't that great! They shouldn't be allowed back into the country if they don't pay but it doesn't matter to the government. Officers have quotas to go by every month and pulling over a Canadian who isn't going to pay anyways and they know this, is wasting the officers time. They want someone local. Liz Reece | Oct 12, 2009 9:59 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Troopers Can't Stop Every Bad Driver The WSP spokesman didn't answer the specific question because, without a lot more information, he has no idea why a specific trooper didn't stop a specific vehicle. The troopers do the best job they can, given their limited manpower (thanks, Gov Gregoire! ). To those who wonder why ALL lawbreakers aren't caught equally, my response is this: Have you ever gone fishing? Did YOU catch them all? Curt Dooley | Oct 12, 2009 9:49 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Yes man Leary is nothing but a bobble-head yes man for the WSP higher ups. The truth is the WSP wimps are afraid to stop any B.C. truckers that wear turbans unless they have back-up. I watch them sit in their little radar trap every day south of Mt Vernon and ignore the 70 mph+ trucks with B.C. plates. It is really fun to watch these arrogant fools with a badge pass the northbound cars on the shoulder while throwing gravel on the people that pay their excessive salaries just to get in position to catch another Washington driver going 5 over on a 3 lane interstate. There is a good way to save money...dump about half of those worthless overpaid storm troopers. Rich Kruml | Oct 12, 2009 8:35 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) I find it normal that the first question was not answered by the trooper, instead a statment was made. You were asked a direct question as to why your trooper did not pull over this driver after witnessing the driver breaking the law. I too ride motorcycles and your singage is **** poor and a lot of times is not even there. Is this what our taxes are paying for? WSP is not concerned with trafiic safety unless revenue can be generated. I commute 100 miles round trip 5 days a week through the I-5 Seattle corridor and the only time I see the patrol is when they are ticketing speeders or sitting at an accident scene. How about getting bad drivers off the road weather it's for aggressive driving or driving too slow? Brian Pendell | Oct 12, 2009 7:45 am | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal WSP If it isn't a speed trap, the Washington State Patrol doesn't care. R N | Oct 12, 2009 6:55 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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