‘I-35,’ day two: Police report Wednesday’s results

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

As WSB commenters pointed out, the Aggressive Drivers Response Team was visible on 35th SW again yesterday. Here are the tickets mentioned on the Seattle Police website SPD Blotter:

1 at 49 mph
1 at 47 mph
3 at 46 mph
2 at 45 mph
3 for No Proof of Insurance and 5 Cell Phone violations

Will they return today? They don’t announce their plans in advance, but as the update concludes, they do advise “all motor vehicle operators to be familiar with and obey all local and state traffic laws and to always drive with due regard for all others on the roadway.”

DP April 21, 2011 (8:53 am)

So the cops wrote just seven tickets? In how many hours? Eight? Even if they were out there for just two hours, that would not be a lot of tickets. And the fastest driver was going what? Fourteen miles over?
.
I don’t know . . . maybe it was just a fluke. Or maybe everyone knew the cops were out and slowed down. Or maybe — just maybe — 35th SW is not quite as bad as some people seem to think it is.

w.s. maverick April 21, 2011 (9:04 am)

thats to fast for that road

m April 21, 2011 (9:15 am)

35th seems like it has improved, traffic seems to be going around 35- 40 MPH most of the time so I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t write too many tickets. I saw the police out and it was around 10:30 am. 35th could use a road diet though like Fauntleroy though.

KBear April 21, 2011 (9:24 am)

If people saw the cops and slowed down, then the operation was a success. 49 mph in a 35 mph is almost one and a half times the speed limit. That’s nothing to sniff at. Also, there may have been numerous warnings issued to speeders who weren’t ticketed. Don’t criticize the police for doing their job.

shocked April 21, 2011 (9:24 am)

DP – I agree with you all the reporting made it sound like triple digit tickets. I guess Admiral Way is a much more dangerous hiway. But the cell phone tickets shock me, almost two-thirds of the speeders are also distracted.

WSB April 21, 2011 (9:27 am)

As the captain pointed out at WSCPC the other night, they do not ticket all speeders. They go after the ones going notably above the limit – or at least, that was the case on Tuesday. Didn’t say these were ALL the tickets they issued, just what they chose to highlight. – TR

CMP April 21, 2011 (9:24 am)

It’s as bad as people say it is. I was driving southbound this morning between Alaska and Morgan and two people passed me clocking in at 45 mph. And I think they slowed down once they saw the radar sign.

SarahScoot April 21, 2011 (9:29 am)

DP: nowhere does it say that only seven tickets were issued: “Here are the tickets mentioned on the Seattle Police website SPD Blotter…” and “3 for No Proof of Insurance and 5 Cell Phone violations.” This implies to me up to twelve tickets mentioned (if the speeders and cell phone users are mutually exclusive groups). In any case, I doubt SPD mentioned all speeding tickets issued.

2wheels-a-go-go April 21, 2011 (9:32 am)

Uh, DP and shocked, did you not see the story from 2 days ago?
https://westseattleblog.com/2011/04/you-asked-for-it-you-got-it-seattle-police-out-today-on-i-35

“SW Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen says 21 tickets were written today, average speed 50 mph (in a 35 zone), highest one, he believes, was for 60 mph.”

yeah, that’s not bad at all, DP.

Lil\' Wash April 21, 2011 (10:13 am)

I am glad they got 5 cell phone violators. They need to ticket more. I think these people are more dangerous than the people speeding.

Magpie April 21, 2011 (10:22 am)

I’m surprised that they didn’t get more, too. I am very glad that they are beefing up the patrols on 35th..more tickets = people will start paying attention = less accidents and near misses.

Mongo April 21, 2011 (12:45 pm)

2wheels-a-go-go…

The data on number of tickets written is meaningless without some frame of reference. How long were they out there? How many cars went through the area during that period?

My experience as a driver who uses 35th both ways every day, along with any data I’ve seen on average speeds, indicates that all this “oh, everyone drives like they’re on I-35…” is alarmist hype, not supported by the facts. I’ll say it again… the VAST MAJORITY of drivers on 35th (I’d bet 95%+, though I don’t have hard data to support it…) drive at reasonable speed and in a reasonable manner consistent with an intracity arterial.

All that being said, I am glad they’re doing at least occassional patrols to address the few that are outside those bounds….

RJB April 21, 2011 (12:53 pm)

I have heard a lot about this “road diet”. I moved onto Fauntleroy almost two years ago as they were finishing this project. I am sure it has helped SOME but it is not a cure all. Drivers still do not move over (merge) where lanes reduce from two to one…MANY speed up to get over when they realize they need to merge. This includes Metro buses, many commerical vehicals and of course the daily drivers. The signage SDOT put up is not adaquate nor are the few arrows pointing to merge to the right. And the honking!!! Daily, at all hours and sometimes for BLOCKS! Most that drive this road drive it daily, it is not “new” anymore. They speed, run the light at Fauntleroy and Edmunds…and again, the endless honking. We change the roads when really it is the drivers that need to change. Slow down, please pay attention and have some patience.

Concerned April 21, 2011 (1:31 pm)

They were out again late am … I saw them stop 3 people. Yeah!! But you can see their lights and most people saw the news or WSB so of course they are slowing down somewhat!!! As I went further up 35th (no police) there were speeders north and south of Barton going much over 50!! They see the cops when they get by Guadalupe!!! Hope the police make regular visits!!!!!