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Reader Poll Replies: * I
think Vegas is a great party town, but the driving of most people is very
bad. The cab drivers seem to be the worse. Anything that makes
the streets safer is a good thing. Dianna W.
* I think increasing citations can't
help but make people safer drivers. Cars, especially cabs, often run red
lights and this can kill people. Since speeding isn't a large problem
because of congestions, cops can concentrate on unsafe lane changes, tail
gating and red light running. Martha Mantel Palo Alto, Ca
* By increasing citations to unsafe
drivers, the quality of driving will improve because citizens will feel
comfortable about coming out to drive. With the prices of insurance
and gasoline these days, no one wants to risk a crash with an unsafe
driver (whose insurance is probably already high risk and costly) who
doesn't care about a fender bender anyway. Not to mention the
quality of the new cars that you see parked crosswise in the outermost
regions of a parking lot, or taking up two spaces so as not to get a
scratch in that beauty! Hopefully if it is too costly or too much of
a nuisance to keep taking care of tickets, those who just can't get it
under control to drive safely will take the bus! Laurie
* No --- because service of alcohol
and the general atmosphere of "more is better" (and please
understand, I LOVE Vegas!!!) lead to reckless, inattentive, impatient and
dangerous driving. Knowing that alcohol impacts the decision-making and
reasoning parts of the brain FIRST, it is a no-brainer (no pun intended)
that a lot of drivers are impaired at some level. Citations cost money -
they do not change behavior....and Vegas ain't gonna put the tourists
(read: money) in jail and ruin the vacation if they can help it. The
citations will increase the city hall coffers ---- but driving in and
around Vegas will be just as scary as it always is..... Just my
opinion, Susan Billings
* To me...this is an easy one. Yes, I
personally think it will increase the quality of driving around Las Vegas.
But in the long run it could harm the tourism such as car rental, off
strip shopping, and outskirts sightseeing. The reason for increased
quality is that drivers will be more cautious and alert in their driving.
Never knowing when an officer of the law might be around, they are less
apt to break the law. Our home town had the same problem and once the town
cops became firm, there was less speeding in residential areas, main
street and business area. The only draw back to being hard core, was of
course the complaining of those busted and secondly, it seemed for awhile
we had a bad reputation as a town with a Rambo cop. Outsiders didn't come
into town as much. In Vegas, as I said it could and will probably hurt car
rentals but in the same token might increase taxi, limo and monorail
sales. Bottom line...Yes it will increase the quality of driving
because who wants to spend their gambling cash on a fine? But it could
possibly hurt sales in the long run. Jetta Wildermuth
Continental, Ohio
* Yes, I feel that issuing more
citations will increase the quality of driving on the Las Vegas streets
because this will make them stop and think..."It is worth working our
tails off to save up some money for our future and then in one quick
second make a stupid mistake to get pulled over and get a ticket and take
a day off of work to go to court and/or pay the ticket". It is
definitely worth being a responsible adult, work, save your money for much
better things, save your life, your passengers life and all other people
on the road and not get a bad driver record on top of it all. To
the Metro Police and the Highway Patrol. "Thank you all for your hard
work and keeping us safe"... Marianne Heilig Las
Vegas, Nevada
* People are not concerned about
paying fines and therefore continue driving unsafe. Raise the fines and
make them pay and they will slow down. Sherree Ball
* Any city needs a program of
evaluating and prioritizing its problem areas and sites, and focusing
resources on mitigating the problems. Solutions can be in improved
traffic controls and signage, enforcement missions, or education.
Unfortunately, the city sees issuing citations as a self-funded education
campaign. If you're going to do it, at least do it right. Get a
group of motor officers and a radar gun. One cop is the spotter, the
others chase. Keeps them all busy. Move the
"mission" from the Strip to Paradise, to Boulder Highway, on a
random schedule. The Locals will get "educated" real
quick, but Vegas draws crappy drivers from all over the west, (its not
just the cab drivers) so there will be a constant supply of
revenue. Now, all you need is an inter-jurisdictional agreement to
be able to have out-of-state judges and Motor Vehicle Departments
cooperate in the penalty enforcement. Or, keep it "What happens
in Vegas stays in Vegas", and just don't come back unless you have
taken care of the ticket. Oh, yeah. The state could hold an
"Amnesty Lottery" where out-of-state violators with bench
warrants for non-appearance can have their citation dismissed in a formal
award ceremony. Don Bartley Portland, Oregon
* Yes. Ticket enforcements are great
for the majority of visitor who don't have a car or rely on taxis. While
driving a rental if I choose, it's nice to know the police are watching.
Dennis
* More citations may have some
deterrent value but increasing the amount of the ticket very steeply after
the first one will give immediate shock and more thought to doing it again
soon. The police should give a warning with the first ticket that if
they pay the ticket or if they challenge it and are convicted then the
next one will have a potential for a heavy cost. i.e, first ticket would
be $50 and the second would be $250 or $500. Regards, Ben Oliva
Park Ridge IL
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