Speeders Beware!
July 23rd, 2008 by Braddah LanceI gotta say, kids do da darndest things.
After reading an article last week backing up what numerous Kwonics/Lanceformers/Lurkahs have already mentioned, enforcement is the key to help curb the road woes… or at least the “presence” of authority.
This keiki took matters into his own hands. (Sorry that the link didn’t work - the story is below)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Landon Wilburn, 11, has a future as a cop - a traffic cop. The youngster, who used to shout at speeders to slow down as they drove through the Stone Lakes subdivision in Louisville, now has taken matters into his own hands.
Dressed in a reflective vest, wearing a bicycle helmet and armed with an orange Hot Wheels brand radar gun, he points and records the actual speed of passing traffic.
Landon also carries a flashlight with a built-in siren.
“When I saw it happening, I got the biggest kick out of it,” said resident George Ayers, 61. “People were locking up their brakes when they saw him.”
Many in the subdivision are frustrated that motorists tear through the neighborhood at 55 mph despite signs posting a 25 mph limit.
Officials said the city will install speed humps in the neighborhood if 70 percent of residents agree and are willing to put up half the money.
Landon Wilburn, 11, points his Hot Wheels brand radar gun to see how fast an oncoming SUV is driving on Taylorsville Road past the Stone Lakes subdivision in Louisville, Ky. Wilburn has been charting the speeds of drivers near his neighborhood since June. Landon said he used to shout at speeders to slow down - then had a better idea. (AP Photo/The Louisville Courier-Journal, Charlie White)
He stepped up and actually Did Something About It (one of my very first “controversial” blogs - just fo’ you MoOgooGuypAN).
Not an adult. Not a senior citizen. An 11 year old keiki who had enough and stepped it up by doing what’s right. It happens in every city no matter what part of the country you live in where the 25mph speed limit sign is more of an eyesore than the law.
Then when “city officials” get involved they want 70% of the residents agreeing to put in speed bumps and front up half the money.
Wassap Wit Dat!
That “solution” is just wacked. You got drivers knowingly breaking the law and it seems like the “system” is backing the lawbreakers.
What if someone here simulated a speed trap on the freeways? I betcha s/he guarns-bombarans would get a ticket instead yeah?
What if we had a citizens patrol camped out on known speedways doing “research” and once people get comfortable knowing that it’s not the police, switch it up and have a real officer there and BAM! Gotcha.
Has any keiki inspired you to do something? Anything? Give you any ideas?
Or think once adults get involved it’s all ovah?
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:34 am
FIRST! Ah………BL………your link with the “Keiki taking matters into his own hands”……doesn’t work. WHAT is he putting into his own hands?
Hope its CLEAN………..;)
OL
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:36 am
Am I first?! Wow! Read today’s Island Life story about the former foster kid who is becoming a doctor. That’s inspirational.
I know my brother was the one who got my grandfather to stop getting fall-down drunk all the time.
Kids can influence their parents, when the parents know that what they say is true, and for the better. That’s why littering, recycling, stop smoking campaigns and the like are geared toward kids.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 am
Lance - Your link goes to a generic AP page with a map of the states. I think I know what story you’re talking about (the 11 year old). Maybe this link from MSNBC will work better?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25716115/
Very clever boy.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Frickin’ technical difficulties….AGAIN! WWD!
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No.
Sometimes parents/adults are too hard head… das why hard.
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Mahalos muchos! I just went back and copy/paste.
Wat would dis computer laiden world be without copy/paste yeah?
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:11 am
Thanks for the post! It’s awesome to see kids doing something that contributes to an ‘”awareness” of what’s going on in their communities. What makes this example cool is that kids (most kids anyways) are motivated by what they (and maybe their parents) believe is right, and not necessarily by outside agendas (politics, business interests, etc.).
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 am
How would you like to speed all you want without your insurance going up or accumulating points? The catch? You must have deep pockets.
The citation-generating cameras could potentially pump millions into Arizona’s budget, but the program is drawing criticism because it lets drivers pay the ticket without license points or insurance consequences.
Citations carry $165 civil fines but no other consequences. Critics say allowing violators to pay the tickets this way is a ruse to raise money and help the state out of a budget deficit.
“People who can afford to pay can drive at higher speeds. There’s no reason to do it this way other than to create an incentive to pay the fine and not to challenge it”.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 am
Premature submission of previous post:
Here’s the URL:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/07/17/20080717sr-photoenforcement0719.html
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 am
BL,
My mom lives in a neighborhood in Kaneohe and she got pissed off at all the cars that speed through the neighborhood. She lives at the end of a “straightaway” almost 1/2 a mile long and cars ALWAYS SPEED. (Guess they think its a natural drag strip) She wrote a letter to the mayor and documented the many times her mailbox was run over and times cars crashed either into her tile wall or the fence next to the stream.
The City finally made this “speed bump” which is more illusion than anything else. Its a WIDE speed bump that’s not very high at all with stripes painted on it such that it appears to be a regular speed bump. I’ve seen idiots drive up ON THE SIDEWALK to avoid the speedbump.
You’ll ALWAYS have idiots who’ll disobey the law yet it has helped somewhat.
OL
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
sometimes kids make the most sense because they tell it like it is (think pre-schooler who calls you fat, or says something is ugly, or “my mommy does this…”) and aren’t worried about what other people will think. if they learn that something is wrong, and they see it happening they make a point to say so! i remember my cousin (when she was like 3) telling a stranger who was smoking outside the store, “smoking is bad for you! you shouldn’t do that!” then as we were paying for our stuff the cashier was quite rude so my cousin says, “are you mad? you’re not being nice!”
boy oh boy!
kudos to this 11 year old who is taking matters into his own hands HOWEVER if anyone were to do that here, i think they would either get hurt or in trouble…for trying to do good…WWD?!?!?!
set up speed trap on the freeway or residential street, probably get hit by a car, reported in the newspaper & have commentors call them stupid for trying to better things…but don’t get me started on the commentors again
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:51 am
As long as people can get away with breaking the law, it will continue until the law is enforced. That’s just human nature.
This kid got peoples attention, he’s smart.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:09 am
I was thinking of doing the same thing in my neighborhood. Only I was going to use a blow dryer.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
I guess dat’s why they call da youngah years “innocence” right?
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Dat’s really sad. I say after the first time ok but if you’re a habitual speeder you gotta pony up with consequences.
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Oooo-saaaa, one mo’ time, oooooo-saaaaaa. Bettah?
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He sure did…all da way back to da 808 too!
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No fo’get da bath robe and hair net.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Clever kid. Hey Coconut Willy, there was a case on da continent (we all know Hawaii is da Main land around) where a school crossing guard got fed up with people speeding by the school so he brought a blow dryer to work and pointed it at oncoming cars. It worked like a charm. If you have one of those radar guns for tracking pitches in baseball dat would work too. I agree dat hea da peeps trying to take matters into their own hands would get busted instead. Even when da officials try to curb speeders dey cave in to da whiners. Remember da van-cams? Da rumble strips on da Pali?
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:58 am
Let me tell you that Hot Wheels Radar Gun is da bomb. Too bad we never had stuff like that when we were kids.
In L.A., that kid would be in harm’s way. Some knucklehead would think he’s garnishing a handgun then retaliate.
I’ll give him credit…at least he’s trying to make a difference instead of whining (which grown-ups are good at.)
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Now that’s what I’m talking about lance. I can complain about our lazy cops all day long (btw, I used to work with those guys so I know the truth). Anyway, that’s the kind of thing we need, more people getting invloved beyond the cops. “Citizens on patrol”! There just needs to be more community involvement. Unfortunatley no more aloha now days. More and more people are only concerned about themselves and don’t want to socialize with their neighbors. Wasn’t like that in the old days. My parents said that they would never lock their house or car doors. Now, I would never leave any of those unlocked.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Speaking of traffic, I just came back from Kapiolani Women and Children’s hospital (saw my kid’s heartbeart for the first time!!), and they have the most cramped and crowded parking garage I’ve ever seen. Worse than Ward Warehouse. As for speeding, of course that’s a problem but on Oahu it’s just the perfect storm of bad driving-huge cars and truck, small spaces, frustrated ignorant idiot drivers, occasional dangerous weather, little old ladies and men running each other over, because let’s drop the sensitive crap, it is almost ALWAYS elderly drivers running over elderly pedestrians. You just gotta watch out for yourself and not contribute to the problem, that’s all you can do on Oahu.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Smart kid. Related to you BL? Anyway, I fed up with not only speeders though neighborhood with kids, but the guys revving their engines in the middle of the night and/or having their boom boxes loud enough to rattle my windows and throw off my heart beat. Den we get da lolos that pass you on the shoulder. One time car stops at 2 lane highway intersection to turn left. Pedestrian standing on the side waiting to cross the street, here comes this impatient driver that passes the car on the right shoulder, hits and kills the pedestrian.
Sorry if I sound upset cause I am. To make it worse, State puts up these reflector poles to block the shoulder near the intersection and people still try to squeeze thru. WWD!!! How many times I see people trying to cross the street jumping back because of this illegal maneuver.
Sorry for venting. Quick, somebody make me laugh!
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
eh Coconut Willy, I thought you was going use the blow dryer to slow down the cars with the force of the wind from the dryer. Dat buggah better have some MEAN horsepower, then.
I agree with the above posters mentioning the pure intentions of this kid. Once adults get involved, all pau. All kine ego-driven agendas come out. No can.
On a slightly different note, I get all depressed when I hear about all the politics that go on in youth sports leagues. Parents trying to live vicariously through their kids, bullying coaches and volunteers, to get their kid in the spotlight. I thought was supposed to be about learning stuff like teamwork? sportsmanship? dealing with adversity? No can. I give you credit, BL, for putting up with all that shibai and huge egos.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
OK Ynaku, here’s your laugh. And Lance, here’s how kids inspire me to take life at face value and no worry too much about it.
TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America.
>
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I seem to recall that HPD would sometimes park a marked patrol car at certain areas with speeding problems, and put a dummy with a radar gun in it. The radar gun was on, so it slowed down the hard-core speeders with radar detectors.
I wish they’d keep doing this at random hot spots around the island, but sometimes put a real cop there, with another cop down the road to issue real tickets.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
MoOgoo, Thank yeah, good one. Same dog! BWAHAHAHAHA
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
man, i needed a kid like this watching out for bad drivers trying to merge into other people’s lane on monday morning…dang white SUV made another car ram into mine cause some people try to speed and merge without looking! blah!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
MoOgoo - that was too funny!!! That just goes to show how kids are so straightforward in their thoughts. As Bananafish commented, I think as adults we lose the innocence and let our egos motivate our actions.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I wasn’t opposed to da van-cams but I was opposed to how they targeting even those going 5mph ovah! I mean c’mon, going up or downhill you cannot maintain the speed unless you have a finely tuned car. Da rumble strips was just plain dumb…… & I no even drive there.
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You know wat? Dat’s kinda true - at least he had the sense to “dress up” wit one helmet and reflective vest.
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I would leave ‘em unlocked all da time…. aftah I rig it to give a shock if you touch ‘em.
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Yeah! Wat’s da deal wit parking garages? Do da people dat design ‘em tink we all drive Pintos?
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Nope. You said smart.
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I was kinda tinking you coulda used one turbine from one Aloha plane cause dey ain’t in use any mo’.
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TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father’s cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn’t punish him?!
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand. Funny!
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I wondah how come no one specific division for traffic yeah? Leave da patrolmen/women to do their jobs and patrol and get da traffic guys driving around the freeways. If I was Mayor…..
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Did da white SUV stop?
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Das why I keep tellin’ Da Wife I nevah going grow up!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Bruddah Lance for Mayor. (better than clown prince)
CHEE HOO!!! oops too late to file. Darn it! neva mind, we promote you to Emperor (K-Dramas) Same high as King yeah?
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
JOKES!!!! yay!
One day a 6 year old girl was sitting in a classroom.
The teacher was going to explain evolution to the children.
The teacher asked a little boy:
TEACHER: Tommy do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.
TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see God?
TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That’s my point. We can’t see God because he isn’t there. He doesn’t exist.
A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask the boy some questions.
The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the boy:
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yessssss (getting tired of the same questions by this time).
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?
TOMMY: Yessssss
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?
TOMMY: No
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today in school, she must not have one!
smahhht kid!
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Here’s another Smart Kid:
A little boy wrote this letter to his grandmother:
Dear Grandmother,
I’m sorry I forgot your birthday last week. It would serve me right if you forgot mine next Tuesday.
With love,
Mike
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Smart kid. It’s always encouraging to see kids doing stuff like that.
@Scott(#16):I thought was only me! When I was preggers with my 1st, I went to KMC for my ultrasound & got to take home a printout of baby. On my way out of the structure when I was making that right turn to go down the ramp, this car was coming up the ramp. Fast. So I ended up turning sharper that I would have. Little did I know I creamed the side panel of my Ford RangerP/U! I found out when I stopped for lunch and walked around the truck. I thought I jumped the curb,not creamed the side.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:28 pm
thanks for them jokes. at least i smiling now. this blog is good for the health.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:01 am
BL:
Try this….a lady was caught 20 times on camera, speeding through the trap when it was first put up for testing. The DPS arrested her anyways for excessive disregards to a posted speed limit sign.
You can’t really speed on the H-1
it’s like rush hour all the time on there.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
BL, awww, nope, that buggah ditched! sucka! so that lady’s insurance better pay. looking like going be over 5 weeks and $8,000 at least. how sad. anyways, sorry if any of you were stuck on H-1 traffic ewa bound on monday morning. that was that white SUV’s fault.