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SOUND OFF: Portsmouth's Worst Drivers?

If it were up to you, where would you set up Portsmouth's latest speed trap?

 

We've all had the feeling—a driver cuts you off, ignores a red light or speeds past a group of children and our sense of justice kicks in: “How great would it be if a cop saw that?”

Bearing in mind that Town Hall decision-makers occasionally read our comment section, we wanted to throw this question out to our readers: in a perfect world, where would you set up the town's next speed trap? 

Your neighborhood cross street? A school crossing walk? Somewhere along West Main or East Main Road? Tell us where the town should set up a net for speeders in our comments section below. 

Related Topics: Portsmouth Police Department - RI

Stanley Farak

6:27 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

Quaker Hill on East Main and now that the school year is starting, at Melville School on West Main.

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Bill

9:31 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

I totally agree with Mr. Farak, Melville School is a hot spot for speeders, I feel that anyone traviling through any school zone should use their four way flashers...

Stanley Farak

6:28 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

and......maybe our local police should set an example of obeying the speed limit

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imsayin

12:10 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012

aren't there more serious things to be setting examples of other than the occasional speeder ?

Joe Sousa.

6:48 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

Speed camera's should be used on both main roads. Police can't be every where. We should be taking advantage of technology that slows traffic with out wasting man power.

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Christine Wirth

7:23 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

I agree with Mr. Souza that we should be using technology to combat the 55-65 mph Massachusetts drivers on both east and west main roads. My brother lives in Arizona where they use cameras, and it works beautifully to reduce speeding on residential roads. A picture of the vehicle is taken when speeds become excessive- 15 or more above the speed limit, and it is recorded and documented. Tickets are then mailed out to offenders. Technology is an excellent solution for this increasingly more dangerous problem in Portsmouth. Let's utilize it!

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imsayin

12:13 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012

i agree with this BUT let it be known that this replacement of machines in place of humans is not always accurate. There are glitches and sometimes the picture is taken of a law-abiding driver as the offender slips out of frame.

STMP3

7:49 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

Middle Road! Middle Road! Middle Road!!!!! Anywhere on Middle Road!

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T.Lees

8:40 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

East main road NEAR and between the police station and Clements!!!!! Ridiculous how fast people drive! I personally would love to see a speed bump put in!!!

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Alan Corcoran

4:51 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Narrowing down East Main Road to one lane each way from Town Hall to Clements' Market will take care of most speeding issues in this area. It's harder to speed when you can't pass those who are driving the speed limit.

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imsayin

6:11 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

To below: that traffic would be horrendous !

Island Porkrunner

8:48 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

the traffic cams are awful. they only slow down the traffic and make it more congested. You will no longer be able to make left turns on a yellow light etc. when traffic is heavy. You can't be in the intersection or it gives you a ticket. It happened to me driving an old car with slow acceleration. by the time I got to the intersection the light went from green to yellow and I got a ticket for doing something I always thought was legal. the light does not have to be red to get a ticket. the speed limits are 35 can you imagine everyone going 35 24/7 on east main? travel times would increase 30%. I've said this since I moved to New England (extremely different driving behaviors than the south) - raise the speed limits to reasonable limits and ENFORCE them. It's crazy how the speed limits are so low and no one obeys them. why have them?

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TheOneCalledZed

3:50 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

I think we've found our "worst driver", Mr. Porkrunner: it's you.

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Robert E

4:02 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

Speed limits on E Main are 35 only from the Middletown line to Quaker hill where it becomes 25 until you reach Power st fonm there until RT 24 is 30.

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imsayin

12:15 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012

^This is the inaccuracy of the technology that i'm talking about!

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Christine Wirth

10:06 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The point of the speed cameras is to slow down commuter cars traveling through Portsmouth at a rate of 50-60 miles per hour. Can you imagine raising the speed limit on east main road to 45 miles per hour?! These same cars would be doing 80! Good luck making your left turn then! And speed cameras monitor speed, not turning.

BILL KELLY

9:18 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

Our local police are THE BEST. I have only called them on two occasions and both times they took my calls seriously and were in our neighborhood within minutes! They are true public servants.

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Stanley Farak

9:35 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

Another area is Park Ave from East Main thru Island Park.. The prblem with cameras is that the owner of the vehicle is ticketed, not the driver. If a police officer stops a vehicle, it's the driver who gets ticketed, not the owner neccessarily.

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Craig

2:40 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

Out West, the traffic cameras also take a picture of the driver and it is presented along wth the citation in the mail, so your argument is moot.

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Stanley Farak

5:17 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

Craig...Do they use infrared cameras at night. And why should the registered owner of the vehicle by used as a revenue collector for the "state". I wonder who's insurance rates go up...the driver comitting the infraction or the owner of the vehicle. Moot, methinks no

he

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Stanley Farak

5:26 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

Craig....Do they use infrared cameras??? Why should the registered owner be used as a "revenue collector" for the "state"?? And, I wonder who's insurance rates go up, the driver or the registered owner. Moot? methinks not!!

KENNETH SCIGULINSKY

10:01 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

In front of Aquidneck Island Christian Academy.

Quaker Hill needs not a speed camera. It would pay for itself in a matter of months!

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Former Ports resident

11:28 am on Monday, August 27, 2012

How about worrying about more serious "crimes" rather than speeding. Everyone drives over the speed limit but as soon as you see a cop or know of where a camera or trap is everyone slams on the brakes creating more problems than if everyone kept right on going. I see more serious traffic problems with old people who can't keep a car in one lane, or drive where they want without pulling over to the slow lane.

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Stacy Nelson

6:01 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Are you really a Former Ports resident? I wonder because I seem to read your comments alot on "portsmouth patch". Do they have a patch where you live now? I think these articles for looking for more positive feedback.

faithful reader

12:36 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

How about a "No right on red" at the bottom of Hedly on West Main? Don't know how many times some idiot has cut out from Hedley in front of me during peak traffic times, because I don't tailgate the car in front of me. It could even have a "...between the hours of..."

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portsmouthgirl63

1:04 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

Tallman Avenue (Hathaway Elementary)....School buses speed up & down this street every morning & afternoon during the school year (with no sidewalks and kids walking to school)

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Deb Hunter Tomaskovic

2:45 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

Hedly Street. Cars, trucks, freight, etc drive way too fast on Hedly despite the 25mph posted residential speed limit. Not only do we have to deal with speeders, but the folks who don't secure their trash in the trunks/beds of their vehicles, result being the bumpy road bounces some of it out. I am forever picking up other people's trash from my yard because folks don't secure their garbage before heading to the transfer station.

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Cricket

3:47 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

Boyds Lane from East Main Road to Park Ave intersection! The speeding is continuous, both cars and motorcycles, all day, all night. I rarely see any speed patrolling in the area. And for us who live in the Valhalla area, we don't need to "see" the speeders, we can hear them very well.........

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Tonsandbunches

4:12 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

Bristol Ferry Road is another good spot. This and East/West Main Roads should be changed to one lane in each direction as Turnpike was done. These four lane roads are so outdated that they really are not wide enough for this amount of traffic and size of vehicles. Having the four lanes only encourages people to speed past the others. If changed to the two lanes (with either left turn lanes at lights or a center turn lane) the speed could be raised to a more reasonable limit. It's pretty scary driving now!

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faithful reader

9:07 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012

We don't need the police on Bristol Ferry, the wild turkeys have taken over that duty!

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Heather

8:39 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

I couldn't agree with you more. Also, there have been two fatal accidents on BFR in the past year and it is heavily populated with young children. I hope it doesn't take another death for something to be done on this dangerous road.

The Shill

4:13 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

Speed cameras are not currently legal in Rhode Island. Guaranteed under the 14th amendment, the right to due process guarantees anyone accused of a crime the right to face their accuser. When you are accused of violating the law based on a picture who is your accuser? When a police officer gives you a ticket, that ticket is thrown out if the officer does not show up at your hearing. I believe the reason for this is because without the officer the accused can not question there accuser as to the accuracy of what they have been accused of.

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imsayin

12:20 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012

why don't we all just ride bicycles and horses and go Forrest Gump? Worried about when it snows real bad? Ever seen the movie Balto?

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TAMORI

3:50 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Anyone who stops…when they have the right of way…to let another car make a left turn. It happens (to me) at least daily. Is it a Rhode Island thing? I’m not originally from here and have lived in several areas around the country. Nowhere does it more than here. Please stop it people.

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porsche germany

10:13 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012

route 24 before the bridge construction and park ave some girl with a late model black impala is always speeding over there so many kids she drives like speed limits don't apply

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