Astoria Is a Dangerous Place For Pedesterians

Letter to Editor - The Daily Astorian November 30, 2007

Letter: Lax Enforcement

With the police chief selection process going on, now is a good time to re-evaluate the city of Astoria's practices and policies dealing with traffic and vehicle-noise law enforcement.

The speed limit on residential streets in Oregon is 25 mph. However, based on a review of citations issued and communications from the Astoria Police Department, drivers are free to drive at speeds of up to 35 mph or more in Astoria without fear of receiving speeding citations. The APD's de facto enforcement practice and policy in 25 mph zones is to not issue speeding citations until vehicle speeds exceed 35 mph.

Noise pollution caused by modified or defective mufflers and excessively loud vehicle sound systems is a growing problem in Astoria. These noisy vehicles and motorcycles make as much or more noise as large trucks or buses, and are heard from blocks away. Besides being annoying and disruptive, such vehicles cause direct and cumulative adverse health effects.

Considering the APD's lax policy in enforcing speed limits, it is not surprising that, in the last seven months, five pedestrians in Astoria have been hit by vehicles:

On May 3, a pedestrian was hit by a car at the corner of 18th and Exchange streets with such impact that the pedestrian was thrown onto the hood of the car. On Oct. 16, a pedestrian crossing Eighth Street at Duane Street in the crosswalk was hit by a vehicle and taken to the hospital. On Oct. 25, police responded to a hit and run incident in the 1,000 block of Grand Avenue, where a pedestrian was hit by a motorcycle. On Nov. 1, a pedestrian was hit by a car at 17th and Exchange streets, and taken to the hospital. On Nov. 21, a woman was seriously injured when a vehicle struck her as she crossed West Marine Drive in the crosswalk.

The APD's lax enforcement of speed limits has created a hardcore group of people who routinely speed through Astoria's streets. Drivers in Astoria are not afraid to speed along Astoria's residential streets and collector routes because there is little chance of being cited.

By its own admission, the APD does not enforce vehicle noise laws. Through August 2007, the APD didn't even own a sound (decibel) meter which is necessary for enforcing Oregon's statute making it an offense to operate a motor vehicle that does not meet certain noise emission standards. Once last year, the APD borrowed a sound meter in an effort to check vehicle noise emissions. This effort was doomed from the start because the APD did not follow the required statutory methodology to measure sound levels.

Astorians For Livable Neighborhoods is endeavoring to make neighborhood streets safer by asking the city of Astoria to enforce speed limits. ALN is also concerned about excessive noise caused by modified and defective mufflers and boom cars.

If you are concerned about these issues or want more information, contact ALN at (503) 298-3369 or aln-info@earthlink.net. ALN's Web site address is: http://home.earthlink.net/~aln-info/

Leon Jackson
Astoria