It’s Saturday and the Red Phone’s been on the prowl again.
Thanks for all the calls and keep them coming in the future. Don’t
forget that the Red Phone now rides twice a week, answering your
questions and sticking up for the little guy every Wednesday and
Saturday. Got a question, need an answer, call the Crimson
Crusader
– always waiting, always online, always at 635-9219.
It’s Saturday and the Red Phone’s been on the prowl again. Thanks for all the calls and keep them coming in the future. Don’t forget that the Red Phone now rides twice a week, answering your questions and sticking up for the little guy every Wednesday and Saturday. Got a question, need an answer, call the Crimson Crusader – always waiting, always online, always at 635-9219.
Raging over red lights
A caller is tired of stopping at red lights on Highway 156, especially when no cars are coming.
“I’m curious as to who sets the cycle for the lights on 156 and San Benito coming out of town by the sewer. That light used to be green for 156 all the time and now it’s all screwed up. The light coming out of town is green more now than on the highway. The other light that needs to be checked out is Fairview and 156. I use both those intersection frequently and the light cycle doesn’t seem like it’s operating right.”
A few days later the reader called back
“It’s 4 o’clock in the morning and there’s a red light on 156 and the road coming out of town. There’s no cars coming out of town, it’s ridiculous. It just turned green and now it’s switching back to a red light on 156. That’s a priority road so I don’t know what’s going on.”
Red Phone reported the problem to Donna, a public affairs officer for Caltrans District 5, which oversees Highway 156. Caltrans inspects its lights every 90 days to make sure they are working correctly and Donna said an electrician was enroute to inspect both intersections.
“I’ve talked to one of our electrical engineers and he was headed out to look at the lights right now,” she said.
She promised to give Red Phone an update as soon as the electrician had looked at the lights. In the meantime, she suggests local resident keep Caltrans aware of any possible malfunctions by calling Caltrans District 5 at 805-549-3318.
“If (residents) feel like (stoplights) are not functioning properly they can call and report them, then our engineer will check them out. Maybe they have they have them cycling like that during peak traffic times or for some other reason. (Electricians) can make sure the lights are working properly, but I’m not sure if they can change them.”
Abandoned auto graveyard
Abandoned cars still line Canal Alley, according to one Red Phone caller.
“A while back I told Red Phone I had a problem with shopping carts, holes and cars in Canal Alley. Carts resolved, holes will be repaired in June but the cars are still there. After I contacted the police department abandoned vehicle section, I left the vicinity, make and license plate three times. To this day, no response at all. It was better when you spoke with a live person, but now a recording that says they will leave a removal vehicle tag for 72 hours or they will tow away the vehicle. No removal vehicle tag to date. I know they’re shorthanded but to leave a tag would take as long as having a cup of coffee. It’s a home to abandoned cars. They are going to have to rename Canal Alley to Graveyard Alley for Cars. Motto: Leave your abandon cars here, no one cares if its a right of way alley, laws are made to break. What a joke.”
Before you throw in the towel and rename the road, call the Hollister Police Department at 636-4330 and speak with the dispatcher – don’t leave a message. Tell them you haven’t received a response from the abandoned car department and ask them to send a police officer to your home. When they arrive, escort them to the car in question and ask for a vehicle removal tag to be written. If that doesn’t work, call Police Chief Jeff Miller, same number, and complain about the lack of enforcement.
