THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 4, 1996 TAG: 9610020162
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ROAD WARRIOR
LENGTH: 114 lines
Here's a story by Emilie Lounsberry of the Knight-Ridder newspapers that Road just had to pass on:
LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. - Officer Mathews is a new addition to the Police Department in this charming town of antiques stores and bed-and-breakfasts, but he has already proved he's no dummy when it comes to getting speeders to s-l-o-w down.
Look again.
The patrolman IS a dummy - a mannequin on loan from the A.H. Mathews Inc. men's store. But he sure looks real to drivers who go whizzing by and then hit the brakes when they notice the shadowy outline of a cop at the wheel of the white patrol car.
Lambertville Police Director Albert J. Varga said he and his officers get a chuckle whenever a driver who has just gone past Officer Mathews starts flashing headlights to warn other errant drivers that a cop is on the horizon.
Varga said Officer Mathews had been on patrol almost daily since early August at varying locations throughout the borough. He said the decoy is effective because a real officer is sent to the same location the following day, so drivers never really know whether they're driving past the dummy or a real cop.
``He looks so good you just can't tell,'' Varga said. ``The locals will wave at him.''
Gerald Arenberg, spokesman for the National Association of Chiefs of Police, said that although police departments often place empty police cars at high-traffic areas to discourage speeding, the use of mannequins, especially dummies that end up with a real identity, is unusual.
Although Officer Mathews would certainly be no good in an emergency and can't investigate a burglary or chase a fugitive, Varga said he's still a big help to the 10-member department in dealing with traffic woes.
``People love it,'' said Varga, adding that some residents had asked to have the dummy stationed outside their house while they're on vacation or if there's a party in the area.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Danette Sparks, no address given. I'm calling about the intersection ROSEMONT ROAD and BUCKNER BOULEVARD. There's a lot more traffic since the road has been extended to DAM NECK ROAD and I think we need a light there. Could you investigate that?
Also, turning left from the PELICAN WATCH APARTMENTS onto ROSEMONT ROAD there's a large hill obstructing the view. You have to pull way out on Rosemont to be able to turn left. Thank you.
RW: Engineers say there's not nearly enough traffic on the new section of Rosemont Road and Buckner Boulevard to warrant a light - yet. When the road was constructed, signal wires were installed in case the road met requirements at a later date, so 10 points to the engineers for thinking ahead.
As for the big hill, engineers say they'll check the area as a view obstruction.
Fred Farrell, no address given. The situation on SHORE DRIVE is bad due to the construction on the LESNER BRIDGE.
It's a four lane bridge and they're only working on one lane so why doesn't the city open two lanes toward the west in the morning rush hour and switch it to two lanes in the east for the evening rush? The traffic right now is backed up to PLEASURE HOUSE ROAD. Thank you.
RW: The back-up you speak of Fred must have been last week when a six car accident happened and everyone had to sit.
However, that sort of back up shouldn't be the norm out there. An engineer went out and drove Shore Drive twice last Friday and was able to make it in the westbound direction, during peak travel times, in seven minutes. Not a bad number.
However, engineers have decided to have an officer stationed out there to help the situation. Mostly, the cop helps folks stay focused and polite. Work is scheduled to be finished today in the eastbound direction. Work on the westbound lanes will follow with a completion date of Oct. 18.
Hang in there, dude. We're not talking a lifetime here.
Tom, Virginia Beach. I would like to address the light at the corner of VIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD and CONSTITUTION heading toward Pembroke Mall.
The light turning green to make the left-hand turn onto Virginia Beach Boulevard is very very short and only lets two or three cars through. What can you do about it? We need help with this light.
RW: Well, Tom, for starters I guess Road could go out and spank the light to make it behave.
In all seriousness, Tom, the light's timing as well as every signal from Great Neck Road to Witchduck Road will soon be retimed as part of the Congestion Mitigation for Air Quality project. Basically, the lights will be retimed to be more efficient, meaning drivers won't be sitting still spewing all those pollutants in the air any longer than absolutely necessary. Preliminary traffic counts are taking place now and the retiming should happen a few months from now. At this point, that's the only retiming scheduled for that signal.
Jim Flanagan, a caller from last week who called back to clarify his comment. When you're attempting to cross GENERAL BOOTH BOULEVARD coming from OCEANA, if someone coming east on PROSPERITY has already caused the light to change so that they then have the green light to cross General Booth and you're approaching General Booth on Prosperity from Oceana you don't get a green light.
There are no left and right arrows for that crossing signal so it's not a matter of keeping one side with a red light to allow the other person to turn left or right.
RW: OK, Jim, I think we get your drift this time around and believe it or not, engineers say they may be able to accommodate your request and retime the light so that both sides get green at the same time. Of course, that's assuming there are absolutely no other factors involved. But, hey, sounds like it could be good news. MEMO: Tell the Road Warrior about your motoring problems. Get 'em off
your chest. Call on Infoline, at 640-5555. After a brief message, dial
ROAD (7623). When directed, press 1 to deliver your message, and 1 again
to sign off.
Or write: The Road Warrior, Virginia Beach Beacon, 4565 Virginia
Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23462.
Don't forget to include your name, address, and neighborhood. by CNB