I don't live in Battle Creek, but quite close. I think this idea is outrageous. Let me add, I have not had a ticket since the mid-70's, but the thought of these people running around like Barney Fife yelling "citizens arrest, citizen's arrest" ticks me off.
Police feel need for speed patrol
Citizen's Traffic Watch created
By Trace Christenson
The Enquirer
In yellow shirts and black and white cars, Battle Creek residents are fighting traffic violators.
A new program, the Citizen's Traffic Watch, began Wednesday night and will use volunteers to monitor traffic problems and notify drivers of violations.
Seventeen people, all graduates from the Battle Creek Police Department's Citizen Police Academy, have been trained to use radar and laser, police radios and in-car video recorders, according to Lt. James Saylor.
Beginning this week they will be sent out in teams of two to monitor traffic, both to collect information for city traffic engineers and to notify drivers of infractions.
Saylor said the teams will respond to traffic complaints from residents without assigning a uniformed officer.
"What it will do is get some things off their backs so they can concentrate on other problems," Saylor said.
Chief David Headings welcomed 13 of the volunteers Wednesday explaining that similar programs have been used successfully in eastern Michigan.
"I am not above stealing a good idea," he said. "I think it will be a success."
He said the program will allow officers to concentrate on other work and is especially important during this tight budget time.
The citizens will help determine if complaints about traffic violations are valid and if there is a need to send out an officer to begin writing tickets or to contact the city to consider a change in design of the intersection or street, said Max Phares, the city's traffic engineer.
He said people monitoring possible traffic problems will provide more information than counters, which can determine only the number of vehicles and their speed.
"To have eyes and ears makes it more personal," he said. "These people will be very important to me on the street. I will have a lot more information to base our decisions on."
Saylor said members of the team will be dressed in bright yellow shirts so they are not confused with police officers.
They will stay in their car, a black and white patrol car with special markings, recording information and not attempting to contact suspected violators.
Saylor said violators will have license plate numbers recorded, the time, date and location and type of violation and a description of the driver.
The registered owner of the vehicle then could be contacted by letter about the violation.
Saylor said in many cases notification that drivers have been spotted violating traffic laws could solve the problem. But officers could be used to write tickets if problems persist.
The new citizens' team also will be in charge of the SMART cart, which is a device to record and display speeds of approaching cars. It is moved about the city to allow motorists and neighborhood residents to see the speed of traffic.
Randy Potts, 32, and his wife, Marnie, 29, recently moved to Battle Creek from Utah and decided to help with the traffic unit after attending the Citizen Police Academy.
"Anytime I can support our community that is what I chose," Randy Potts said.
They expect to volunteer at least four to five hours a month.
Marnie Potts said several of their friends have asked about the program and after they hear the description, she said she always surprises them by saying: "You better watch out for us."
Trace Christenson covers crime and courts. He can be reached at 966-0685 or tchrist@battlecr.gannett.com
Originally published Thursday, August 14, 2003