Peters police trying new ways to curb speeding
Issuing traffic citations for speeders in residential neighborhoods in Peters Township is not working, said township police Chief Harry Fruecht. Drivers still don’t obey the posted speed limit of 25 mph even after they receive a traffic citation.
In an effort to remind drivers to travel at the speed limit on residential streets, Fruecht and the police department are participating in a program known as America’s Trash Talks to Keep Kids Alive: Drive 25.
The township has 4,000 decals, about the same number as the traffic citations written. Fruecht hopes the new program results in motorists driving slower in the neighborhoods.
Each residential house should eventually have two decals that will be placed one on each side of the trash receptacle that, when placed at the curb for pick-up, will be visible to drivers.
The program is just for homes in residential neighborhoods and not for residences along state-owned roads, like East McMurray Road, where the speed limit is 35 mph.
Fruecht is looking for neighborhood organizers who will take several of the decals and go to the homes and actually place the decals on the trash cans. Some of the township neighborhoods already participating are Thompsonville Road, Maple Lane, Hays Road and Center Church Road.
Decals were also distributed during the township’s Community Day in June.
If interested, call the police department at 724-942-5030 during regular business hours and ask for the chief.
“We write 2,400 to 4,000 traffic citations and it’s not working,” Fruecht said. “The tickets are not slowing traffic down. For this program to be effective, we need the cooperation of the residents. We need them to take an active role.”