The red sign means ‘Stop!’

Marion residents want stepped-up enforcement at busy intersections

ralphhardin@gmail.com Everyone is in a hurry these days, but that doesn’t excuse speeding down busy neighborhood streets or ignoring stop signs.

At its August meeting, the Marion City Council heard a concern from resident Bill Joyner about motorists not stopping at the stop sign at the intersection of Judge Smith Drive and Shiloh Drive. Joyner warned that someone could get hurt if the city doesn’t do something to slow motorist down and suggested a possible speed bump would help.

“You either need to have some speed bumps or (Police Chief) Gary (Kelley) may have to station some police officers down there,” said Joyner. “Somebody is going to get hurt and I hope it’s not a child.”

Fogleman told Joyner that he would consider placing a speed bump there but would also ask for stepped up police enforcement.

“We will look in to what we can do,” Fogleman said. “It may be a combination of things. Maybe we can tag a couple of them and it will inspire others to slow down.”

Just down the road, another intersection is raising concerns for residents. The intersection of L.P. Mann Drive and Judge Smith Drive has been a three-way stop for a couple of years now, but the stop signs are often still being ignored.

“Just wondering when is Marion PD going to do something about the stop sign at Judge Smith and LP Mann?” Debbie Smith asked in a Marion residents Facebook group page. “I was almost hit again yesterday turning into my driveway. People don’t know what that big red sign means. They either don’t stop at all or when they do they are half way past the sign. What’s the point of having it there if 90 percent of the people don’t stop and the police are not doing anything about it. What’s it going to take, someone to get seriously injured or even killed?”

The topic struck a nerve with other members of the group.

“A lot of people still aren’t use to it being there,” said Natasha Wahl. “Especially if they don’t use it often.”

Smith replied, “This sign has been there almost two years. And if they are paying attention they can see it.”

But there was some discourse about how frequently the sign was being disregarded “I go through this threeway intersection every single day,” said Deborah Conlee. “Not once have I witnessed anyone running through this stop sign. Not once.”

Robert Sean VanGundy disagreeed.

“I also live right next to it,” he said, “and yes people run it constantly.”

Andrew Strange said, “I live at this intersection as well, and the stop sign gets run by multiple people on a daily basis.”

Jay Brown opined, “Doesn’t make since to me why there’s one there anyways. I don’t come through there very often, but I did the other day and just about ran it. I didn’t know they put one up.”

There has always been a stop sign at the north end of LP Mann. In 2017, the city installed stop signs at the east and west corners of Judge Smith Drive where LP Mann ends.

Annette Castle said, “it’s mainly for school traffic.

Hard to get through it without one.”

Smith said, “I live here at this intersection and see it every day. Multiple times a day.

Wahl noted, “If they don’t use that street a lot, it doesn’t matter how long it has been there. You can see it, but still to this day, I have never ran it, but there have been a few times I am like, ‘OMG, I almost forgot this stop sign!”

The sign seems to be more of a problem for longtime residents who are accustomed to there not being a stop sign going east-west on Judge Smith.

“We live on LP Mann and my husband will still go thru it if I don’t say something,” said Renee Harris.

Essie Lawrence said, “I don’t go that way much, but when I do, I forget it is there.”

Randy Belford asked a very interesting question.

“Has anyone called the Marion PD to report this?”

he asked. “And if so, what was their response?”

Randy Prater added, “What would you like the Marion PD to do about this situation?”

“Maybe start sitting there more often and writing more tickets?” Smith offeres. “Or at least make it known they are they’re watching.”

Deb Munoz suggested, “How about flashing lights on the stop sign?

Prater asked Smith, “Have you tried calling the department and talking to them about it?”

Smith replied, “I actually mentioned to the chief about having solar lights put on like I’ve seen on some stop signs. He told me it won’t happen.”

“They need to throw them in the trash,” said Bill Pearrow. “The police dont know it’s there ether.”

The PD knows it’s there,” Smith said, “because when it was first put up they were stopping people all the time.”

Jake McGruder said, “And if anyone doesn’t know, I think this will help you to be a little more aware. If you get a ‘running a stop sign’ ticket, it is $145. I know. I ran the one by my house when they first put it up and that’s the price.”

“Is that the three-way stop with small stop signs?”

asked Brown.

It is. The newer signs are about a foot shorter than the standard stop signs in the city.

Essie Lawrence noted, “If the sign is small maybe a normal size one needs to be there?”

Brown sais, “I don’t go through very often at all and I ran it last time I did. I didn’t see it until it was too late. Definitely wasn’t on purpose.”

To which Lawrence added, “I don’t go through there much either. I always forget about it until I’m halfway through it. I completely forgot about it being there.”

Glenna Hughes added, “Maybe people are going more than the speed limit, making it hard to see the stop signs?”

Amanda McFadden said, “That road is crazy during the school year, it’s a good idea that they put a stop sign there. I bet there’ll be more officers patrolling (now that school has started). I would also do a camera focused on that spot to catch all the drive-offs and present it to the police or city hall.”

“If I had one I could set up, I sure would do it,” said Smith. “I would have it facing both ways.”

Rick Overturf said, “They stopped me for coming to a rolling stop. So they have set up there during the day and were stopping people.” “I’ll be honest,” said Joe Todd. “It just got put up there a couple of years ago, but was not there for decades, and people just aren’t use to it being there if you don’t drive that way much. It snuck up on me the other day and I had to slam on my brakes., I see your point. Some people just run it and some are just not used to it being there, and it’s not very big and kind of sits off the road.

Lynn Yeager opined, “Silly that it was ever put up. Take it down, problem solved.”

The conversation then shifted to another problemsome location in the community “What we really need to discuss is how difficult it is for people to get onto 77 and to the Walmart with the Walmart entrance right across the street,” said Raven Presley. “Way too much traffic and I’ve seen a lot of close calls.”

“I totally agree,” Charlotte Durdin said. “We need a traffic light at 77 by Walmart.”

Charley Duncan made an important observation.

“Stop signs, speed bumps and traffic lights are not guaranteed to save anyone,” said Duncan. “Do what your Mom told you and look both ways.”