BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- Responding to residents' complaints about motorists who speed and ignore stop signs in the Vista subdivision, Hamilton police sprang to action.
In early August, part of Princeton Road was permanently closed to allow construction of the Butler Regional Highway, which will link with Interstate 75. Since then, traffic problems have plagued the formerly placid area in the city's northeast section.
That's why "we've been hitting that area like crazy," said Sgt. Dan Pratt, Hamilton police spokesman.
Between July 1 and Thursday, officers handed out 182 tickets -- 170 more than they wrote during the same period last year.
Even so, frustrated residents say the crackdown has had little effect -- forcing city officials to consider doubling fines for speeders and ticketing anyone who is even slightly over the speed limit, among other possible remedies.
"When you're in a school zone, they (the police) show no mercy. I think that's probably how we need to approach this situation," said Councilman Danny Crank. "We've probably got to take a hard-nosed stance until the construction period is over with."
Mr. Crank said a city ordinance would allow officials to double fines for speeding. The fines now start at $55 for drivers exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph or less; the higher the speed, the higher the fine.
City Engineer Chris Butterfield is studying the problems and is expected to prepare a recommendation for city officials by the end of next week.
Mr. Butterfield is examining whether timing of traffic lights needs to be changed and whether adding any temporary traffic lights would help blocked-in residents.
In Mr. Crank's view, the problems stem mostly from increased traffic flow. "I would say Vista subdivision didn't have any more than 100 cars a day going through there," he said. ". . . But I had one person tell me they sat there and counted 1,200."
"I've told the people there that I'm not going to solve all of their problems 100 percent," said Mr. Crank, a former Vista resident who still has many friends there. "But I am trying to minimize the inconvenience to those people."
