How to deal with insane drivers on your street?

[Kanori24]

So this is way off topic for the type of forum, but I thought at least a couple of people around would have more legal knowledge than I about how to deal with, and hopefully put an end to, some extremely dangerous drivers I have on my street. Before you post, please realize I am in the US, specifically the state of Alabama. State laws vary greatly so I don't expect an exact answer, just general advice. Let give a few observed examples:

 

1) The stop sign runner. Not even a 'california rolling stop'. Not even a slight drop in speed. To this guy, the stop sign isn't there. And neither are pedestrians. He's nearly hit ME a couple of times, and I've talked to a few neighbors, who have the same experience. One other says they were out walking, with their child riding their bike in front of them, when this negligent monster who has no regard for human life came careening through and, as I was told, came within mere inches of making ketchup out of their child.

 

2) Mr. 'Must use every drop of fuel possible to accelerate down a hill'. Every evening at around 9pm, this black Chevrolet truck turns off of the main road, and comes running down the hill into the neighborhood at full throttle. I am not exaggerating at all. FULL. THROTTLE. I think he's screwing with the little speed radar the city placed on our street, because I've seen it display 92mph one evening. NINETY TWO. MILES PER HOUR. RESIDENTIAL STREET.

 

3) The burnout *censored*. Some high school punk with a cruddy sounding old Honda Civic loves to pull out of his drive. Stop to smoke and scream the front tires for like a whole minute and then finally launch it to the end of the street. Speed estimated at about 60mph.

 

My neighborhood is mostly pretty quiet. A lot of elderly folk. But we do have these young idiots, people my age, who just seem to have no regard whatsoever for the peace and safety of anyone else. I know my first move would be to get with the other neighbors, and perhaps come up with a petition of sorts. Last time the stop sign runner almost hit me, I got his tag number and called the police. They came down and said they couldn't do anything about it.

 

Okay so what can I and hopefully a band of good neighbors do about it? (besides criminal activity)

[DoctorKaizeld]

-call the police office and ask for a car to patrol more frequently in the area (not the 911 number by the way, pretty sure you know this but I know enough people who don't)

-petition to put a round about in if applicable

-petition for speed bumps (don't recommend this one though)

-have multiple residents call the police on the cars (when you see it happen, talk to everyone else who you can see saw it and give them the plate number if they could get it)

-request a traffic cam be installed (most likely will require a petition)

[Rabbit1251]

Report it to the Police. If others on your street have already reported it and they receive enough reports they will have to send someone out to monitor the behavior. If they don't then file a complaint with your City Council, both for the offensive behavior and for the lack of Police response to it. The City Council is made up of Elected Officials, if you take my meaning.

 

 

The Rabbit

[TheMastersSon]

This is Alabama, so I'd be surprised if the perpetrators weren't off-duty police. My advice is don't live in Alabama.

[Kanori24]

I have a feeling the police already know, since I've seen patrol cars coming through more frequently this year, and as I pointed out with offender number 2, we do have one of those radar displays that shows your speed and flashes a bright red light if you are speeding. I mean, 5 or so over... everybody does that, but freakin 90+mph?! Yeah these people are insane. Makes me wonder if that little unit automatically alerts law enforcement and snaps a picture of your tag after you pass. If they don't, they should.

 

Thanks for the advice on getting with other neighbors. That seems to be the most likely effective course of action.

 

@TheMastersSon You are right about that. I have had off duty police officers blast past me in the right lane on the freeway, with no lights on when it's freakin raining like crazy and you can hardly see their cars. But, your advice is not hardly advice. It's a suggestion that I be a coward and flee which is not going to happen :P

[DoctorKaizeld]

No the speed tracker doesnt alert the police nor does it take pictures. It has a box attached to it and records traffic levels and average vehicle speed.

[HeyYou]

Take a video of both Mr. speed demon, and Mr. I don'tknowhatabrakepedalisfor.... being sure that their plate is clearly visible. Present THAT to the police, and see if they can't use that to at least write a ticket. If they STILL won't do anything, post it on youtube, and make a point of saying that the cops refuse to do anything. :D

[Kanori24]

I've presented 8 videos in total of Mr "Stopsignsareforpeoplewhowantkidstolive" to the police, albeit with no visible image of the tag, but it certainly is the same vehicle every time, and at the same time of day. So there is a consistent vehicle, and a consistent schedule, yet they still say "We can't do anything about that" So WTF am I talking to the wrong law enforcement agency or something?

 

And you know what's bad. If I, say, take matters into my own hands and go flatten some tires, or confront the sorry punk myself, you know I'll be the one in deep doodoo then :\

[Rabbit1251]

 

And you know what's bad. If I, say, take matters into my own hands and go flatten some tires, or confront the sorry punk myself, you know I'll be the one in deep doodoo then :\

You would indeed be in "deep doodoo" not only with the Authorities, but with the other party who, if they found out that you did it (and they probably would), would retaliate. This would cause you to retaliate ad infinitum until someone crossed the line and hurt or killed somebody. Press your Elected Officials. That's what they get paid for. Also get the license numbers and vehicle descriptions as has been suggested. There is power in information.

 

 

The Rabbit

[TheMastersSon]

@TheMastersSon You are right about that. I have had off duty police officers blast past me in the right lane on the freeway, with no lights on when it's freakin raining like crazy and you can hardly see their cars. But, your advice is not hardly advice. It's a suggestion that I be a coward and flee which is not going to happen :P

Sorry for my failed attempt at levity. Nothing in that post was meant seriously and imo Alabama is actually a gorgeous state. Although I agree with others about your problem: stick to legal channels especially in that part of the country imo.