The Proverbial Last Straws and Our Mission

When I quit my job driving for Hinz Trucking in September of 2012, I returned home to Arizona to try and enjoy something of an ordinary life at home.  As I have been driving a truck for over ten years, which kept me far away from home for weeks at a time, I didn't notice the growing problems in my home city of Tempe, Arizona: Red light violations, bicycle violations, poor school zone enforcement, aggressive homeless panhandlers, city buses failing to follow FMCSA laws, and a police department that has officers not only in violation of the traffic laws, but from my questioning seem to be oblivious as to the exact violations, even up to the rank of sergeant!



I have had enough, and my e-mails and calls to the department have not been addressed to my satisfaction.

You are welcome to share your thoughts or
places you'd like me to investigate for the
Tempe Safety Report.

This blog will chronicle my observations in Tempe, and hopefully shine such a spotlight that the city will address our concerns.  The following are a few examples I have noted.

1.  Civilian, City vehicles, both from the utilities and general operation (Non emergency, general use situation) police department vehicles speeding, failing to use turn signals, headlights and taillights not working, illegal lane changes.
2. Bicycles speeding through stop signs & red traffic lights, using crosswalks, school zone violations including cycling past crossing guards walking children across, cycling without lights, and riding against traffic.
3. Vehicular traffic failing to slow to 15mph in active school zones and 35mph in several parts of the city designated "School: 35mph: At All Times." 
4. Vehicular traffic failing to stop for children in school crosswalks.
5. Illegal use of center lane.
6. Railroad and Light Rail crossing violations.
7. Aggressive panhandlers, youth, and intoxicated individuals harassing the general public.
8. Aggressive dogs at our parks.
9. Police not enforcing red light running, speeding, illegal lane changes, overloaded non commercial vehicles, pedestrian violations, stolen shopping carts, bicycle violations, vagrancy laws, illegal tints, noise violations, and bar regulations concerning the over-serving of alcohol. 

 So what do the Tempe Police do exactly?

They respond to their dispatched calls, look for DUI's, civil unrest, block streets during emergencies and events, and I'm sure they do catch some speeders, especially the excellent motor officers on their bikes.  They use to be a lot more vigilant and courteous and were much more of an effective presence on our streets.  Perhaps it was when they started painting their cars black and white, or perhaps when the new wave of upper class moved into now ubiquitous high rises of downtown Tempe that things began to change for the rest of us normal working folks.  Whatever the reasons, our police department as a whole seems to operate in a way that does not seem to be hand in hand with the values of community policing, but rather as a chained pitbull, who doesn't care about anything other than getting fed; oh sure it's got a mean bark, but try getting it to work for you unless it has something to gain.

A Commercial illegally bypasses railroad crossing gates.