Thursday, September 4, 2008

Crosstown traffic

Is it going to take a fatality for the Department of Public Safety to man intersections during power outages?

Sure, there's usually an officer at the Microl Intersection-- since Judge Govendo specifically mentioned it in his month-old letter.

In fact, there were "at least five" police vehicles there when three vehicles played bumper car a few blocks away in Susupe, according to the Saipan Tribune. This tidbit was amplified by a comment to the Marianas Variety article: "What they did not tell you in the story, there where 8 cops with their cars sitting at the Microl intersection chewing beatle nut and watching one cop directing traffic while this accident happened at the "Naru" intersection. So much for short supply of personel."

Sure, there are traffic rules at intersections we (should) know during outages. That's fine for unexpected outages that don't last long. A judge shouldn't have to shame DPS into protecting public safety at all controlled intersections when we know the power will be out for hours.

5 comments:

Lil' Hammerhead said...

I did a post that included this information awhile back. Every time I've seen an officer directing traffic at an intersection, there have been three to five cars on the side, with a number of officers shootin' the breeze, chewing betelnut, laughing, etc.

Why?

KAP said...

Seems like some sort of hazing ritual.

Bruce A. Bateman said...

Why waste the time of just one officer when you can bolix up half the on duty force?

KAP said...

Maybe gas costs too much.

Whatever happened to Officer Friendly?

I briefly considered "copping" him for a day and filming his adventures: the Grotto, Banzai, a couple of government cars parked in compromising places... Alas, my spirit of adventure has evaporated.

KAP said...

Oh, for those not of this island, Officer Friendly was a blow-up doll assigned to lean against patrol vehicles for traffic control. The scarecrow thing. (Too European to be believable AND he bore a passing resemblance to Otto the pilot in Airplane.)

I believe PSS is considering the concept.