Sheriff's Department Cracks Down on Speeding on Dan Hoey Road

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department issued 19 traffic tickets from 39 vehicle stops during the month of March, according to information provided to the Village of Dexter. That number is down slightly from February, according to Sgt. Beth Gieske.

Of the tickets issued, eight were for impeding traffic, one was for tinted windows, one for texting while driving, one for defective headlights, and one for no proof of insurance.

The report was presented to Dexter Village Council at its regular meeting on Monday.

Gieske said impeding traffic charges have been implemented by the department for the past two years and allow drivers to address a speeding violation but plea to a lesser offense.

"It's a judgement call that the deputy makes depending on whether or not a driver has a long list of violations on their license," she said.

The driver must call the court and sign up for a pre-trial conference with a police officer that usually results in a driver having the ticket amended to a charge of “impeding traffic,” which does not carry any points.

Instead of a $130 ticket for 5 miles an hour over the speed limit, a driver would appear at court, discuss the ticket with a police officer, and fill out a form, which is given to a magistrate for review. If approved by the magistrate, the driver must be able to pay the $155 on the spot and walks out without any driver's license points.

"It gives individuals a break who deserve it, and it also helps alleviate the court docket," Gieske said.

In other action:

Dexter resident Roger Sullivan addressed the council to request a stop sign at the intersection of Eastridge Drive and Bridgeway Drive in the Westridge Subdivision in order to combat drivers speeding through the neighborhood.

Sullivan said due to construction traffic and new homeowners moving into the neighborhood, he is concerned about the safety of 15 children who live near the intersection.

A report issued by OHM, the village's engineering firm, states that an all-way stop is not warranted at the intersection, due to the low volume of traffic in the neighborhood. Steve Dearing, OHM engineer, said stop signs are generally reserved for areas reporting 200 vehicles or more per hour. Dearing said a stop sign at the intersection would largely be ignored by drivers.

Sullivan requested that the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office increase patrols in the subdivision to alleviate speeding.

"Something has to be done," he said. "If a stop sign isn't warranted that's fine, but we want this issue to be taken seriously before an accident happens."