Letter: Police Are No Help With Butterfield Construction Traffic
Wheaton resident writes about Butterfield/Naperville construction issues after two years of project-related challenges. To send a letter to the editor, email Charlotte@patch.com.
Wheaton Patch accepts and publishes letters to the editor emailed to Local Editor Charlotte Eriksen at Charlotte@patch.com, or sent as a message through the Wheaton Patch Facebook page. Please note in subject lines the message is a Letter to the Editor.
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As a Wheaton resident, we have been surrounded by construction on Butterfield and Naperville for two years. The project is now going to run through the next construction season.
As a “soccer mom” who lives and works in Wheaton, I cannot get around to run routine errands, get to kid’s sports fields or get to the grocery store in a timely manner.
Last Monday I was issued a $120 ticket for not obeying construction signals on Naperville Blvd. When the Wheaton officer pulled me over, I was told "You learn this in Drivers Ed 101". As a Glenbard South graduate, this was not taught to us. Instead we drove on 88 and in Glen Ellyn neighborhoods. The officer also stated there had been two accidents over the weekend on Naperville Blvd. and if I go to court to fight the ticket it will be an additional $285 in court fees. This is pretty harsh for a law abiding citizen with a clean driving record who has been granted “accident forgiveness” by the insurance company that insures the driver and has been living in the construction for over two years.
It is too bad the Wheaton Police Department will not help the residents by directing traffic and helping the flow of congestion. An officer making a U-turn through the congestion is more apt to create accidents than someone turning right on Naperville Blvd. trying to get to Fed Ex.
The Police Department says they are not responsible for the roadblocks and flow of traffic or for the price of the tickets, this is directed from the State. The State will not return my messages.
Vicki Schmidt
Dan
10:11 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
So you are complaining because you broke the law and got caught??
Dan
10:13 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
We all have to deal with this traffic and construction, the problem here seems to be one that I am seeing more and more, the me me me me its all about me.
Lisa OToole
10:32 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
There were originally 2 lanes on Naperville Road; both going straight. Now because of construction there is a straight lane and a turn lane, but people are still using the turn lane to go straight even though it is clearly marked for turn only. Apparently the mess has given some people license to drive wherever they choose. I would like to see some of these people caught as I've seen them nearly cause an accident twice.
Dan, I apologize if that sounds like it's all about me.
Dan
10:51 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
My comment is in regards to the letter above as she is upset that she got a ticket for not following the posted requirements in the construction zone. Those people that are still using the turn lane to go straight are also the ones that are all about me me me, "this one lane deal is an inconvenience for me so I will use this turn lane and go straight anyways even though it is clearly marked". I agree they should all be ticketed.
Vicki Schmidt
12:20 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Dan, I was trying to turn right to get onto W. Loop Drive to get to Fed Ex and entered the right lane one turn too early and made a judgement call that to merge and reenter the straight lane would be more apt to cause an accident than to proceed 10 feet to turn right. As I turned South onto Naperville Blvd. I did turn into the straight lane.
This is not breaking the law, it is a "subjective ticket" and according to the Wheaton Police, it could have been a warning ticket because there was no law broken.
The letter was written with the intent that we should all be working together as a community to help the drivers as well as the business owners who are down 30 to 50 percent in sales because of the construction for over the past 2 years.
With the holidays and winter weather approaching, this will only worsen the single lane accidents and congestion and low sales on Naperville and Butterfield.
I too have had people cut me off not obeying traffic signals or lanes and implement defensive driving in that area.
Daniel M. Vallo
12:08 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Why is it when a violator gets a legitimate traffic ticket they then write letters castigating the police department ? My motto is " the law is for all or it is for none" !!
Tony Bobbit
12:23 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
The question is ::: Do police use the construction zone as a speed trap, easy income for the village?? Or if safety is really the concern then why isn't pressure to get the construction completed. Actually a few more workers on site might have gotten the project complete in one year.
So why do we have to continue with this issue and LCG seems to delay and piddle along in an area that endangers or children waiting for a school bus etc..
Daniel M. Vallo
12:45 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Tony maybe you can answer a question on your speed trap statement ? First I hardly think motorists are "speeding" in a congested construction area. Next if there is prohibitive signage how can it be a trap for violators ? Maybe a more careful analysis would be in order Ya Think ??
Joe Zydeco
10:16 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Just stay away from Danada. There's a FedEx in Glen Ellyn.
Vicki Schmidt
8:32 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
Thanks, Joe, I appreciate the tip on the Glen Ellyn FedEx.