Speak Up: Phoenix aims to ramp up enforcement at 10 most dangerous intersections

The city of Phoenix is applying for a $200,000 grant to ramp up enforcement efforts at the 10 most dangerous intersections in the city, Mark Carlisle writes. About $120,000 of the total will pay for equipment such as radar detectors and portable blood tests and drug tests, Assistant Police Chief Ed DeCastro told the city council. The other $80,000 will pay for the overtime it will take for the enforcement efforts. Here’s a selection of what readers from across the Valley had to say on NextDoor:

• “Start giving tickets.” — Mike Ross R.
• “We need one between 52nd and 54th and Cactus Road.” — Luis Castro
• “We need them on Dysart and Litchfield between Glendale and McDowell.” — John D.
• “Watch the hi-lift trucks with black smoke and high beams on at night trying to intimidate other people.” — Rodney Ameigh
• “The city of Phoenix has paid tens of millions in lawsuits involving its police, with over $26 million from 2008-2018 alone. Maybe better training would help pay for the programs and much more instead of all the payouts.” — Terry Herna
• “I wish there would be more patrols down Thunderbird Road from Tatum to Scottsdale Road.” — Jacqueline Nelson
• “We need one on 35th Avenue and Glendale for all the red-light runners” — David Kelsven
• “First, survey all intersections and determine the violations that were the causative factors of the traffic collisions Speed is seldom the causative factor. Train the officers to direct their attention to those violations at those specific locations. Maintain a pin map showing areas of enforcement. Traffic enforcement on seldom-used streets for violations that are not the causes of collisions is a waste of time! Writing a citation a day or week is not going to cut it. Omnipresence is a great tool!” — Doug Henderson
• “They need to place cameras everywhere and fine the speeders and the red-lights runner big time.” — Ted Wechsler
• “They need to enforce a no tolerance for excessive speeding. 20-plus mph over the limit and your car is impounded, no driving courses to keep it off your record and increase all of the fees incurred. And if you cause an accident, mandatory jail sentence should be imposed.” — Crystal H.
• “Take away their vehicle for one month to teach the red-light runners to think about it next time.” — Rocio Gonzalez
• “We have more than 30 people a day jaywalking along 19th Avenue and Glendale. Council approved enforcement. Do you honestly think that we have any available officers to enforce the law? Heck no. There are more pedestrian accident on that corner than most. People won’t walk 10 feet to be in a crosswalk. It puts anyone driving that intersection at risk every day. We need more officers for enforcement of the laws we have on the books, for everyone’s safety.” — Cindy G.
• “Are they going to be out between midnight and 6 a.m. when these guys are driving around with mufflers sounding like gunshots?” — Mark Doyle
• “Sure, why not hire more officers and ticket all those that run red lights, don't register their cars in Arizona, dark tinted windows, etc.” — Patricia Longoria
• “Just have ’em sit at 19th and Northern Avenue. They could give a ticket like every five minutes all day long.” — Mary Benson