Roxboro and Geer accident on Friday afternoon

From a posting by Steve Graff, president of the Old North Durham Neighborhood Association, this afternoon, to several local listservs:

I was just driving back home from a quick trip downtown and came across an bad accident scene at Roxboro and Geer. Roxboro north of that point was blocked off, as was Geer to the East. The entire Northeast corner was blocked off with police cars and crime scene tape.

It appears that a large pickup truck hit an older blue sedan. The sedan appeared to have had it's top cut off. It looked like it was hit in the center of the car on the passenger side with tremendous force. From the best that I could determine, the police at the scene were performing an investigation, taking measurements. I did not see any civilians who might have been the occupants of either vehicle.

I would be surprised if the occupants of the blue sedan survived. It really looked that bad.

Steve has a photo on his blog too.


The Durham Herald-Sun reports that - "According to Michael, An El Camino that was eastbound on Geer and a Chevrolet pickup that was northbound on North Roxboro collided in the intersection.

The El Camino apparently went through a red light, according to police investigators.

The female driver of the El Camino and a 9-year-old boy passenger in the car were trapped and extricated with the so-called "Jaws of Life." "

Response From News And Observer

Received from Mark Schultz, the Durham/Orange editor of the News and Observer:

Thanks for your note, though we prefer to know who we're talking with.

Taking aim can be literal or metaphorical. They clearly are taking aim at the speeders, even if no one has lifted a gun yet. The sign itself is an implied threat.

Thank you Mark. Now that we know we should be reading the story as poetry, we feel much better about it.

Fanning the flames

The News and Observer story we linked to in the post below begins with this sentence: "Residents with paintball guns are taking aim at speeders in one Durham neighborhood."

We would ask if the reporter who wrote the story has seen any residents with any paintball guns in any Durham neighborhood taking aim at any speeders? This is exactly what Dan Sperry of the American World Paintball Union referred to in his open letter, which we published here yesterday:

I am asking two things with this open letter. 1. I would like the media to stop the circus around these signs and actually use your resources for good rather than ratings. Instead (of) reporting the sign, do some research and digging, find out why the people aren't being heard why police aren't posting positions on the street. Find out why
the people who pay taxes can't get signs or speed bumps.

We have written to Mr. Chambers and his editor. We will publish any response from them.

Credibility

We are confused by Police Chief Jose Lopez's comments in a News and Observer story yesterday. (We've also seen the story at Cleveland.com. If you see it in your local paper, please let us know.)

"To hide behind the Internet and do something like this takes away from your credibility," he said.

The Police Department has been working on plans for stronger citywide enforcement, he said.

Working with the police is the best way to reduce speeding, not taking matters into one's own hands, Lopez added.

"It's not the poster; it's what the poster represents," Lopez said of the signs. "It represents the need to look out for someone assaulting you, in a sense, with a paintball. You're going to look around to see who's out there instead of looking at the road before you. It's pretty much indicating an act of imminent violence. Two wrongs don't make a right."

For starters, why is the chief concerned with our credibility? We have said repeatedly, and we repeat, this is not about us. This is about the selfish and reckless behavior we see daily on the streets where we live, work, and play. This is about reducing the problem of neighborhood speeding.

Whose credibility is really at stake? Either Durham has a neighborhood speeding problem, or it doesn't. We say it does. Durham PD issued a statement on Monday pointing to the increased number of speeding citations written in a three block area over a period of weeks in July. We think that means Durham PD recognizes the problem. Chief Lopez says "The Police Department has been working on plans for stronger citywide enforcement." We think that means Chief Lopez recognizes that neighborhood speeding is a citywide problem. We are grateful for the increased efforts that Durham PD is undertaking to make our streets safer. We are hopeful that this means Durham PD and other city departments will be working together to develop a comprehensive program to reduce neighborhood speeding.

Chief Lopez has previously stated that discharging a paintball gun at a moving vehicle would be a criminal violation. We have no intention of becoming criminals.

Chief Lopez says "You're going to look around to see who's out there instead of looking at the road before you." Does he believe that not being aware of your surroundings, that not seeing who's out there, will lead to fewer accidents? A six year old girl was killed in Raleigh yesterday exiting a school bus by a driver who didn't see her. If our signs have made drivers more aware of their surroundings, and of the possibility that there are people out there on our neighborhood streets, we think that makes our streets more, not less, safe.

Chief Lopez says that working with the police is the best way to reduce speeding. We have lost track of the number of times we have contacted the City of Durham and the Police Department over the years in an effort to reduce speeding. We have no idea how much money the City of Durham has spent in the past decade on traffic calming measures both ordinary (speed humps and traffic circles) and extraordinary (neckdowns and chicanes, for example). We have no idea how long the waiting list is for speed humps at the moment. But each of these requests represents an effort by the citizens of Durham to work with the city and the Police Department to reduce neighborhood speeding. What is surprising is that the Chief had a functioning, successful program that encouraged citizens to work with the Police to reduce speeding. It was dropped for "budgetary" reasons. We've asked the Police Department to provide figures indicating how much money was saved by dropping the PACE Car program, but have not heard back.

Our credibility is not the issue. The internet is not the issue. Neighborhood speeding is the issue. We look forward to learning the details of the Chief's plan for "stronger citywide enforcement." Beyond that, we look forward to hearing from the rest of our city's leadership how they plan to make reducing neighborhood speeding a priority for all of the city's government, not just the Police Department.

We get letters

I would like to applaud you and your group for your efforts to slow speeders on your residential street. I also live on a residential street that runs between two busier streets so a lot of users cut down our street as a shortcut. They often speed, even though there are often many kids outside playing. I know that speeding isn't a major criminal offense but the actions of drivers like the ones that speed down our streets show a total lack of regard for the people who live there. It's time to take back our streets! Good for you and your efforts to make your street safer for the people who live there. Bag a couple of those a-holes for me!

Regards,

Guest editorial

Note: the Angry Neighbor received this open letter earlier this afternoon. We have read it, but are not ready to respond yet. We share it with you in the interest of dialog, and thank the writer for his time and concern.
===================================

Hello,
I am Dan a member and (USA) founder of the World Paint Ball Union. I am writing an open letter to show our disapproval of signs and of the media circus involved with the signs. Paintball markers are made for a design to be used in controlled environments with proper safety devices in place. Malicious paintballs can be very harmful to all
people in the surrounding area even the kids you are claiming to protect with them. Since no one has gone on the record to say wither these signs are meant to be joke, or if you will shoot speeding cars we can only look at this is threats being made with our sporting equipment.

There are multiple things the media as failed to mention. How many of the town people are trained to use a speed calculating device? When did it become ok to threaten violence on someone? When did it become ok to persecute someone with out a conviction? When did it become ok to fire paint filled projectiles travelling 280fps if not more into the public with out any regard to public safety.

I don't blame the community per-say as I live on a street with the same situation, I am also sure that the community people don't realize the harm that can be inflicted from shooting paintball markers maliciously. I do say shame on the Media however.

I am asking two things with this open letter. 1. I would like the media to stop the circus around these signs and actually use your resources for good rather than ratings. Instead reporting the sign, do some research and digging find our why the people aren't being heard why police aren't posting positions on the street. Find out why the people who pay taxes can't get signs or speed bumps. 2. I am asking the community to remove the signs. We will help you in your fight to stop the speeders We can reach out the town, and even local fields and players. I am sure the bulls wouldn't want you to chase after the speeders throwing bats and baseballs t

To the community, we know you didn't mean harm but the signs really hurt our sport. I know people including ones who play don't see anything wrong with this but there is, and here is are 2 scenarios that are very possible. Someone that sees this on the news or reads it in a paper buys a paintball marker to be a vigilante, sees a car that he thinks is speeding and shoots a paintball at it. Instead of the guy hitting the car he hits a kid on a bike in the eye. The end result the person is still speeding and now a child in the community will be blind and missing an eye for life. Then the media will do all new reports that a town of people hurt a child and they should all be
arrested and paintball should be banned. Yes the same media who chuckled at the idea.

The second scenario is that the signs aren't a joke and people really do shoot a driver while he is speeding. Some one shoots the driver it causes him to loose control of his vehicle the vehicle drives into a house or a crowd of people killing someone the vigilante is now someone who committed manslaughter.

These signs set a bad example for the Everyone, The community, The Kids, and the Paintball players.

Paintballs are round dimpled pieces of gelatin, they shoot at 280 to 300 feet per second and can leave welts and bruises. Paintball when played in the correct environment is safe and fun but when played maliciously in a city environment is dangerous and could be deadly.

Thank you for taking you time to read this
Dan Sperry
Founder and Member of the World Paintball Union
http://wpbu.org


The WPBU is an internationally founded Union of Paintball Players both professional and recreational. We are a worldwide nonprofit group that has members from every continent. Our goal is to promote paint ball in a positive light and help the local communities. We do not condone any misuse of Paint ball Markers, or paint balls them self and hope that people that do get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
We have three sections of rules to all of us in the union need to
abide by. These rules can be found on our website

We get letters - From California!

Last year, my own neighbor and I talked about a paintball speed "remedy" for our residential street, too. Our homes are on a street that is posted as a 30 mph zone, but we have people that fly down our street at speeds of 60 or more. My wife has petitioned the city for speed bumps and/or stop signs for 6 years with no success. You've re-inspired me. Keep up the great work!

Sacramento, CA

Media coverage

We are still overwhelmed by the response around the country to our small statement against neighborhood speeding.

A supporters' Facebook group has grown to over 100 members in a day. We've been frontpaged on CNN and The Drudge Report. We've gotten emails of support from around the country and Canada. We've gotten more interview requests than we can count, from local and national media, including 96 Rock, G105, and Good Morning America. All of this from three little signs, and not a paintball fired in anger. Clearly, people around Durham, the Triangle, and the country have reached their limit with people speeding with impunity down the streets where they live, work, and play.

We have been nominated for a Darwin Award, to which we say, do not make assumptions about our steadfastness.

We have turned down all interview requests from the media, but that may change in the very near future.

In the meantime, we await a response from the City of Durham to our offer to fund the the reinstatement of the PACE Car program. And to our request that the city mandate its employees observe the speed limits when they are driving in our neighborhoods.

Angry Neighbor Facebook Fanpage

Become a fan,slow down a speeder...

We get Facebook posts

Some of our supporters have started a Facebook group. Here's what someone had to say:

Hey everyone! Im from Canada and I read on CNN about your awesome signs! My family and I also live on a street plagued by speeders, and recently my bf and I have taken to putting some cement blocks in front of our house since people INSIST on parking on the grass too. I like to scream "SLOW DOWN" as the jerks drive by. Just wanted to let you know you've got love and support from Canada too!!

Go Durham!!

We get letters

Hi,

Good to see your signs in Durham. I' m in my 60's with beginning cataracts and bright lights on cars at night kill me. I've threatened probably 1,000 time to shoot their headlights with a paintball gun. Keep up the good work!

We get letters - From Wisconsin!

Greetings!

I love your idea! We live in a small Wisconsin town on a busy street.
I have three daughters, from 14 down to six years in age. I would like
to try a passive-aggressive approach like this rather than pulling a
Clint Eastwood glare and thoughts of smashing a radiator to one of
those speeding vehicles.

I was wondering, do you have any spare signs and, if so, what do I
need to do to get two?

Anyway, thank you in advance and kudos to a wonderful plan.


Mosinee, WI

We get letters - From Michigan!

Hi,

I saw your group mentioned on the Drudge Report and then I went to your facebook page. I was wondering if I could get a sign to put in my yard or something? I live in Michigan and I think it would be great to start a group up here or at least show support for your efforts. Please let me know, thanks.

Follow Angry Neighbors on Facebook and Twitter

We now are on Facebook and Twitter. Follow us today for all the latest news about our latest efforts to slow down speeders in Durham!

We get letters

Yes, I NEED a sign (or two or three!) We live in Raleigh and our street is a cut-through with a posted speed limit of 25. The speed survey done in May recorded the high speed of 81. Ridiculous!

Plaza Place
Raleigh, NC 27612

We get letters

I joined a group on facebook called "Angry Neighbors with paintball guns" and they said if you would like a sign to give you an email. Here is the post I put there...

I live in Oxnard, CA and have the same type of Speeding issues on my street. It is a 25 mph street but people FLY down the street at 40+. I almost get horse yelling so much at everyone speeding. I have 2 young kids and if one goes out in the street it would be horrible to get hit by one of the speeders. I would LOVE a few of the signs to put up. Maybe some people would slow down?

Sooo.... how do I get a sign? Please let me know!!

Our current statement

Angry Neighbors With Paintball Guns are amazed and gratified at the reaction to the first step of our citizens' campaign to reduce speeding on neighborhood streets in the city of Durham. We posted three small signs in two locations in one neighborhood. We received top story coverage on local television news, more than half a dozen requests for interviews from local media outlets, and generated hundreds of comments on blogs, media websites, and Facebook. We received numerous requests from individuals who wish to receive their own copies of our sign. We inspired the creation of a Facebook group. We clearly touched a nerve in the city of Durham.


The Durham Police Department has issued an eight paragraph statement in response to our signs. We have the utmost respect for the officers of the Durham Police Department. They put their lives on the line for us every day.


Durham PD's statement includes a series of statistics relating the number of traffic tickets written in July 2009 in a 3 block area near the locations where our signs were installed. They state that 46 hours of police activity resulted in 64 citations being written.


We have two responses to that.

First, the problem of speeding in our neighborhoods is not confined to one area in Durham. It is a citywide problem. The city must adopt a unified approach to the problem. It is unfair to the citizens of Durham to approach the problem in a piecemeal fashion. It is unfair to the overwhelming majority of law abiding citizens in Durham to wait until problems become so serious on any one block that neighbors feel their basic safety is threatened. The culture of people driving as fast as they please through neighborhood streets without any regard for the safety of the neighbors who live and play there must change. Part of that change must come from an increased commitment from the leadership of the law enforcement community.


Second, if the police wrote 64 tickets in 46 hours of monitoring one small area over a one month period, how many could they write with 200 hours of monitoring the entire city? Traffic studies in many neighborhoods consistently place the 80th percentile of traffic speeds 10, 12, or even 15 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. In some cases, the response of the city of Durham has been to propose raising the posted speed limit!


Many of us, as individuals, have tried to work to resolve this problem. Here are two immediate steps the city of Durham can take to help.

One, restore the citizen participation PACE Car program. We are discouraged to read that the city has neither the time nor the money to continue this very successful program. Over 1500 citizens signed up to participate in the 18 months the program was operational. Bring it back. Tell us how much money you need. We'll raise it.


Two, get serious with city employees who violate speed limits and other traffic laws. Set an example by cleaning up your own house. When we see you driving 45 mph or 50 mph in a 35 mph zone, we realize that you don't care about our city and our neighbors. Join us, don't fight us.


Stay tuned for further developments.

AngryNeighborWithPaintballGun@gmail.com

One ANGRY neighbor

Thank you Ms. FITZPATRICK for writing this to the Durham News:

http://www.thedurhamnews.com/front/story/198083.html

(She is ONE angry neighbor)

Editor's note: This letter, printed with the writer's permission, was originally sent to City Manager Tom Bonfield, Mayor Bill Bell and the City Council


I am writing to express my concern about careless driving in downtown Durham. Since my husband and I purchased our home last February, I have been involved in two accidents while crossing over busy streets during my less than two-mile commute to work. In the first accident, I was hit by a speeding car as I went through a green light at the corner of Trinity Avenue and North Roxboro Street. In the second accident, I was stopped at a red light at the corner of North Duke Street and Morgan Street and was rear-ended by a car that did not stop soon enough. Although I was not injured in the first accident, I was injured in the second and am still suffering from severe neck and back pain months after the accident.

My husband and I first came to Durham as Duke students and, after living in Boulder, Col., and Nashville, Tenn., we chose to come back to Durham both because we have a soft spot for old industrial cities and because we wanted to help make the community a better place. We really love living in the city, and see so much potential in the architecture, the leadership and the people in Durham. For that reason, we chose to purchase a home in an up-and-coming area of Durham in order to be a part of the solution and not the problem. Professionally, I research low-cost behavioral interventions for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients and attend graduate school in social work. My husband teaches at Duke. I consider myself to be an upstanding citizen; I have chosen a profession which (I hope) will improve the lives of others, I regularly tutor foster children who live in my neighborhood, I respect my neighbors, and I try my best to obey traffic laws.

While my accidents have certainly been inconvenient for my family, I know that I will be all right despite these minor setbacks. Instead, I worry more about the harm that could be done to others who are in similar situations. While I am young and healthy (both physically and financially), I can't help but imagine the harm that could be done to some of the individuals that I work with on a regular basis. If one of the caregivers with which I work were similarly injured in an accident caused by a careless driver, the ramifications for their family and the individual with Alzheimer's for which they care would likely be catastrophic. In the same way, if one of the foster children which I tutor were injured by a careless driver, their injuries could set them back both financially and physically to the point that they might not recover.

Over the past year, I have seen a barrage of e-mails on the Duke Park Neighborhood Association and Old North Durham Neighborhood Association listservs wherein individuals have had similar experiences to mine. While anecdotal, these accounts surely indicate a pattern which could possibly be explained by the lack of enforcement of traffic laws throughout the residential neighborhoods in downtown Durham.

I urge you to look more closely at possible strategies that might be used to improve the situation. Solutions might include enforcing traffic laws more strongly and installing traffic control mechanisms (such as those found in Watts-Hillandale or Trinity Park) throughout the myriad of neighborhoods that comprise our community. I urge you to examine these as well as other potential solutions to this problem both for the sake of individuals that have already been affected by the reckless driving of others and for individuals who might be especially vulnerable to the negative physical, financial and psychological effects of accidents caused by careless drivers.

All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed in any manner

P.A.C.E Program

Please bring me back!

- Durham needs it -