IN THE CITY
by Sgt. Joey D. Seeley
After enjoying a mild fall, winter has finally found us and temperatures are starting to drop considerably. With the onset of winter officers of the police department have already started to respond to several motor vehicle collisions that could have been prevented if a few simple precautions were taken. Motorists need to alter their driving habits and use extra caution when operating a motor vehicle this time year. Here are a few tips to assist motorists as they venture out onto the roadways this winter.
Please slow down and allow yourself plenty of time to get where you are going safely. Every year officers of this department investigate a number of collisions that are caused primarily by motorists driving too fast for road conditions. Operators need to pay special attention to road conditions and abide by the posted speed limits. Please remember that even though a particular street has a posted speed limit, road conditions may reduce the speed you should be driving. Be aware that temperatures may warm up during the daylight hours during the winter months that cause the snow to melt causing water to run onto the roadways. You may be operating on roads during the day which are wet and clear of ice and snow but as night approaches the temperature may drop below freezing that causes a layer of ice to form on the roadway. These icy spots on the roads can cause an operator to lose control of the vehicle leading to a collision, which can result in serious injuries or even death. So please slow down and remember to always wear your seat belt when operating or riding in a motor vehicle.
As winter progresses and snow starts to accumulate please pay special attention when pulling into and out of parking lots and driveways. Snow banks can be high during the winter months and your view is going to be obstructed by these banks. When exiting a driveway please take the extra time to be sure there are no other vehicles coming prior to pulling into the roadway. This may mean having another person as a lookout or by creeping slowly out into the intersection until you can clearly see there is no other traffic present. Whenever possible drive forward out of a driveway rather than backing out. This will give you a better view to see if any vehicles are coming or not. If the driveway is your own you may want to consider taking a moment to knock down the snow so it does not obstruct your view. If you are driving along the street please be aware of your surroundings in case somebody decides to pull out in front of you. This not only applies to businesses and private driveways but for snowmobile trail crossings as well. Expect the unexpected as you drive; by driving defensively you may be able to prevent a collision from happening to you.
The city of Presque Isle continues to enforce parking violations year round on city streets. Residents should avoid parking no longer than two hours on any street at any given time. The fine for overtime or all night parking is $15 per occurrence and if not paid within 48 hours increases. If the parking ticket is ignored the registered owner of the vehicle will be summonsed to court for failure to pay a parking ticket. If the registered owner of the vehicle is later found guilty of the civil infraction a fine will be levied, which is considerably higher than the original parking ticket. This all night parking ban is in effect during the winter months so the city plows can keep the roadways and sidewalks clear of ice and snow. If a vehicle is impeding the removal of snow from city streets officers will first attempt to locate the owner to have it moved. If the owner cannot be located in a reasonable amount of time the vehicle will be towed by a local wrecker service at the owner’s expense. The Presque Isle Police Department is asking everyone to abide by the street signs as well as city ordinances that are in place in regards to parking of motor vehicles on city streets.
Please make an effort to drive responsibly and abide by all laws and ordinances that are in place to keep the streets of Presque Isle and surrounding communities as safe as possible! If you have any questions concerning operating a motor vehicle during the winter months or ordinances that are in effect within the city of Presque Isle, please feel free to contact any officer from the department for assistance.
Sgt. Joey D. Seeley is the Crime Prevention Officer with the Presque Isle Police Department. He can be reached at 764-4476.
