AGENDA #5c

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:

Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager

From:

Brian Curran, Chief of Police

Lt. Kevin Gunter, Administrative / Public Information Officer

SUBJECT:

Reporting Aggressive Motorists

DATE:

October 8, 2007

 

PURPOSE

 

This memorandum is in response to a citizen inquiry concerning the use of a standardized report form wherein bicyclists can report incidents with aggressive motorists.

 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

 

The request made on behalf of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board specifically mentions a current program run by the Charlotte Department of Transportation wherein a notice (2. Attached) is sent to the offending car’s registered owner.  This notice informs the registered owner that a complaint of aggressive driving has been made. 

 

We contacted Mr. Kenneth Tippette the Bicycle Safety Program Manager with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Department of Transportation.  Mr. Tippette reports that the Department of Transportation’s web link where citizens can access and submit information about aggressive drivers, receives approximately 12 reports annually. In contrast, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has its own aggressive driving reporting program that appears to be utilized more often by its citizens.  A part of their agency’s Highway Interdiction Traffic Safety Program (HITS), it too is accessed via the department’s web site. Citizens are instructed to report aggressive driving either by email or calling an established tip line.  Both departmental systems are managed by police department staff. The assigned staff member is ultimately responsible for ensuring the information submitted falls within specific guidelines.  

 

According to HITS unit supervisor, Capt. Dave Haggist, the police department only sends the notice to registered owners of vehicles that are current residents of Mecklenburg County.  Capt. Haggist further added that it is not uncommon for a citizen to give incorrect information regarding the description of a vehicle or tag number.  As a result of this incorrect information, it is possible for a notice to be sent to a resident falsely identifying unsafe or reckless driving. The potential for incorrect information being reported, the costs of record keeping and administration of the program, and the fact that this program does not make use of the 911 system gives us some concern. 

 

We believe that the public should report aggressive driving to law enforcement through the 911 system.  It is equally as important for the Police Department to regularly remind its citizens that the 911 system can and should be used for this purpose.  This can be accomplished throughout the year utilizing local news media outlets.  Bicyclists and motorists should be reminded that they can easily report aggressive drivers, impaired drivers, or other unsafe roadway incidents by utilizing this system.  With the 911 system the public can give the location and the offending vehicle/driver information immediately to awaiting dispatchers who then relay the information to police officers in the field.  The reporting person can request to have an officer respond to the location of the incident to file a report or request to speak to an officer by phone.  The reporting person also has the option to file the report anonymously.   Officers can then attempt to verify vehicle registration information and attempt to identify the responsible driver.

 

For these reasons, we believe it is important that the public report all aggressive driving incidents immediately to police via the current 911 system.  The need for immediate police intervention may be necessary to eliminate any further risk of harm to the public.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.                  Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Petition (p. 3).

2.                  Charlotte Aggressive Driving Form Letter (p. 4).