Double parking now seems to have a de facto legality. I'm also seeing more U turns, and the left turning lane used as a passing lane at intersections. Gotta love those low rider Honda Accords with canted wheels blasting their stereos.
I can understand why such observations are not publicly made by our aspiring local elected officials.
The police have basically stopped enforcing quality of life crimes and traffic enforcement is also none existent. Don't blame the cops however, such directives come from the top. Remember! This is what the voters voted for. Another job well done right?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, but our “no-worries” mayor thinks things are just fine. No more tickets, no more fines, everything is great. The police seem to be absent and they aren’t going to challenge anyone who just burned through a stop sign. If it’s not a selfie-op Mayor Matt doesn’t attend.
ReplyDeleteThis is a cultural incompatibility issue for sure. Reckless driving, double parking and cars with loud mufflers/loud music are all important parts of Latino cultural identity. The average Latino would be shocked that these cultural norms bother anyone. I think the optics of strict enforcement of double parking and quality of life issues would be really bad for Allentown since it would look like discrimination against Latinos. Would the police cite an otherwise law abiding elderly white person double parked while unloading their groceries? I personally would love to see Police Officers on bikes/foot patrols cite all drivers for loud mufflers/music, reckless driving and double parking fairly and consistently, but I can appreciate how it might make Matt Tuerk look more like Lou Barletta. It's a difficult public policy issue for certain.
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:20- YES, the police DO stop white folks, elderly or otherwise!!! My neighbor was waiting for the space in front of her home to open up to cart her groceries in,,, driver was in the car taking his time to exit the space... cruiser rolled up and told her to move immediately or get a ticket!!! Maybe the officer could have asked the guy leaving to speed it up??? It happened to me unloading building materials... also to me and another neighbor unloading/loading behind our garages at 3-4AM when there was zero traffic!!! NOW... anything goes!!! Noise and speeders all night/all day long... sounds like the stock car races at Dorney Park from years ago... Our non policing police!!!
DeleteI’m also getting sick and tired of seeing someone using an unlicensed dirt bike or scooter and passing people on single lane roads.
ReplyDeleteMost of the time, the vehicles they’re illegally passing don’t even know what’s happening until they’re right beside them. It’s just a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or killed.
I thought the APD was making this a priority. Or was that just what the mayor said to quiet everyone down.
Anon 5:30... yep, the squeaking wheel has been temporarily greased for now after they made a big deal out of impounding a few bikes/trikes. It's just a matter of time till some poor slob making a LEGAL right on red ends up killing/maiming one of these speeders!!! I have personally clocked people with my radar gun at 65 and above in a 30mph zone. Allentown is surely missing a great revenue stream!!!
DeleteWhy is that the city passes laws and then ignores them... is it to make the populace "feel good"??? I recall distinctly, "don't double park in Allentown, you may be towed" and THEN I witness, multiple times, not one, but two cruisers move into the middle lane on 7th St, both bypassing double parkers on each side!!! I was behind a car with a monster stereo... my car was rocking and I'll assume the cruiser next to the rocker was also shaking... not a peep from the officers in that cruiser.... Yes, Allentown is circling the drain... done... stick a fork in it!!!
ReplyDeleteMichael, a couple of months ago, I was following a herd of bicycle riders down Turner Street from 17th. Most of them were hogging both lanes of traffic… some popping wheelies a full block at a time. When they approached the RED traffic light at 13th and Turner. They turned left and almost caused an accident with cars traveling north and south on 13th Street. APD patrolman sitting in a Police SUV was sitting in front of me and observed the event!
ReplyDeleteSoooo, I pulled up next to him and asked him why he didn’t seem to mind what just occurred. He told me that he did mind but, Orders from the Top said “Don’t Pursue!”
Hey! We’re living here in Allentown!
Putting up with all the CREEP’S in Town!
YES!!! I've said this for years... orders from the top to ignore... I suppose when one of TPTB (the powers that be) get their car wrecked, their kid killed, their house robbed or any other infraction, it will be the time they cry out for justice. Right now it's the department of just-us and the hell with us...
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