The City of Hollister and our police department are facing
problems similar to those of other municipalities across the state
and nation.
Basically, money is tight and fighting crime is expensive. You
have to carefully plan your direction and priorities while being
faced with less bodies and overall resources.
The City of Hollister and our police department are facing problems similar to those of other municipalities across the state and nation.
Basically, money is tight and fighting crime is expensive. You have to carefully plan your direction and priorities while being faced with less bodies and overall resources.
It’s not easy, but we have faith that the Hollister Police Department, under its new leadership with Jeff Miller, is up to the task.
But we are still concerned about an everyday danger that looms as a local disaster waiting to happen.
Speeding within the city limits, especially on San Benito Street, is alarming and dangerous to pedestrians as well as bicycle and motorized traffic.
It needs to be dealt with immediately, not swept under the budget or resources rug for several more months of study or planning, especially with schools in session and people being even more distracted than usual during the holiday season.
If there are 34 full-time HPD officers, why can’t one or two be deployed with a radar gun, tickets and a pen during peak speeding times?
Just the sight of one officer writing a ticket on the roadside will send a message to some or most drivers who pass by to slow down.
It might sound old-fashioned, but isn’t that more of a deterrent than yet another taxpayer-funded study or handing out borderline-useless literature?
We think so.
And why not get the California Highway Patrol and San Benito County Sheriff’s department involved in a three-way crackdown together? There’s an opportunity to pool resources and put a quick halt to a problem that is headed toward more tragic deaths in our community.
Also, we want more people to come and shop in downtown Hollister, yet local law enforcement lets the main street operate as a dragstrip.
That doesn’t make business sense, either. And the speeding fines imposed and collected will certainly come in handy to all involved as well.
If you want to see traffic slowed down in our community, here is who you can call: Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller at 638-4110, CHP Commander Bob Davies at 408-848-2324 and Sheriff Curtis Hill at 636-4080.
We will continue to monitor this reckless situation until we can safely cross and travel on our city’s scenic streets.
