Members of the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division will be out in force today at NW Broadway and Couch. They will be on the look out for stop sign violators during a “traffic safety mission” that will last from 10:00 to 11:30 am.
Lt. Chris Davis and Capt. David Hendrie were at the PBOT Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting last night (someone from Traffic Division attends every month) and told us the mission comes in response to complaints that some people are blowing through the stop sign. Lt. Davis said their hunch is that many people look ahead to the traffic signal at Burnside and do not see the stop sign in time. They’re worried that someone might get sideswiped.
Here’s a snip from the official PPB media statement about the mission that was sent out this morning:
The intersection of Northwest Broadway and Couch Street has recently become a four-way stop and there have been reports of motorists regularly running the stop sign, endangering other motorists, pedestrians and bicycle riders.
While the statement specifically mentions “motorists” as routine violators, Capt. Hendrie reminded me last night that they will pull over any vehicle operator that does not fully comply with the stop sign.
This intersection became a four-way stop in March of last year. PBOT has said they would prefer to have a full signal, but they have yet to make that investment a top priority.
You have been warned.
UPDATED, 4:23 pm: PPB Traffic Division reports a total of six citations and nine warnings were given out during the mission this morning. Here’s the breakdown via a PPB statement:
“Four citations and eight written warnings were issued to motorists while two citations and one written warning to bicycle riders.”