Speed Traps In Petaluma
Attitude
What is a "Speed Trap?" A speed trap is where the posted speed limit is significantly lower than what "feels" safe to an ordinary driver who also might miss an occassional speed limit sign. Police, sneaking around bushes, signs or otherwise staying partially hidden, regularly hang out in a trap zone, radar guns ready and pointed at cars, set to nail those unsuspecting drivers with speeding tickets.
The most common speed traps in Petaluma seem to be on most approaches and exits from the downtown area, specifically on Lakeville Hwy and Petaluma Blvd on both the north and south side. These traps appear to form a ring around downtown from all approaches exept the less travelled west side.
Attitude Adjustment
The issue here is, do these speed traps make enemies or emissaries? How do the speed traps in Petaluma make the ticket recipients feel about our town? Are we sure this is what we want our police officers to be doing with their time? Do the speed traps really make our town safer?
Making Petaluma Safer. In most normal homes and places of business, if there is an unsafe condition, it behoves the owner/landlord to fix it! If there is a crack in the sidewalk or slippery stairwell, etc., the normal person fixes it.
The fix for these unsafe driving areas, the speed traps, is to install speed bumps rated to the posted speed limit! With speed bumps in place, the town will in fact be safer. Citizens will not speed in those zones anymore. This is a much better solution than punishing unspecting citizens and visitors who happen into the speed trap area with tickets! If someone trips on a crack in your sidewalk would you give them a ticket?!!! That's what we are doing. If Lakeville Hwy is unsafe, let's simply fix it.
By changing these speed traps to speed bumps, Petaluma will be a safer, more friendly, and a more inviting city to come visit and spend money.