I wanted to write in regard to the recent sting operations that have been taking place at the crosswalk on Heather and Cochran streets in Simi Valley.
From what I have observed, the Police Department has a female officer intentionally walk across Cochran during busy traffic hours, while officers on motorcycles wait to catch and pass out tickets to anyone who does not slow down. This, I believe, is unsafe and unfair.
The officer crossing the street not only threatens her life, but the life of the drivers. Due to the nature of the street -- the speed limit being 45 miles per hour, and Cochran being a four-lane street -- it is difficult for a driver to see a pedestrian in time to actually slow down and stop. Even if the driver does see the pedestrian and slows down, he could get rear-ended by the car behind him.
My dad has experienced, many times, stopping in the left-turn lane from Cochran onto Heather, when a pedestrian has started to cross the street. As the person nears our car turning left, they are completely blocked from the view of oncoming cars going west in the two right lanes on Cochran. Even when the eastbound cars see the pedestrian and slow down, we have witnessed many times the danger for pedestrians due to this blind spot from left-turning vehicles, as well as the sun setting in the afternoons adding to the difficulty in seeing pedestrians.
If the city really wants to make the crosswalk safe, they should install a crosswalk light.
It is unfair to citizens to hold repeated sting operations when the conditions on Cochran make it difficult to see pedestrians and safely stop. Considering the way the economy is currently, people cannot afford tickets. The Police Department should be more considerate to us civilians.
-- Christian Corralejo, Simi Valley