The Chronicle
Due to safety concerns, the Duke University Police Department has begun using hefty punishments to enforce traffic laws at some intersections.
In the past, when police saw illegal activity by motorists, they would give a verbal warning or issue a Duke ticket. But in January, after noting the numerous accidents and near misses at the intersection of Flowers Drive and Erwin Road, where left turns are prohibited, the Campus Police began issuing far more costly state tickets on a regular basis. Because Duke police are commissioned by the state, they have the authority to write tickets outside of the Duke system; in the past, they had simply chosen not to.
"You can't say it was never enforced," said Major Robert Dean of Campus Police. "[Although] it may not have been enforced as vigorously as it is now. Now it's almost a daily thing."
Since this time last year, officers have written 97 tickets at the intersection of Flowers and Erwin, the vast majority of which were issued after January. Left turns are prohibited by the state because of the volume of traffic at the intersection, said Uniform Patrol Commander James Schwab. The bulk of the tickets have gone to visitors and hospital employees, he added.
Police have also stepped up enforcement at the intersections of Campus Drive and Swift Avenue and Towerview Drive and LaSalle Street, other common spots for accidents.
"Safety is the main reason for any traffic enforcement," Schwab said.
Although motorists may not see police monitoring the intersections, they are often in the vicinity and therefore easily pull cars over. "It's not like a speed trap," he said. "They don't just sit there and watch. It's something they drive by many times every day."
For motorists, there is a big difference between Duke and North Carolina traffic tickets for an illegal left turn. Duke tickets are 50 dollars; state tickets total 90 dollars. The difference results from an 80 dollar state court fee, raised from 65 dollars in January. Also, state tickets add two points to a driver's record, which can raise insurance premiums.
One Trinity junior who received a ticket for making an illegal left turn during finals week of spring semester felt her 90 dollar fee was excessive.
"I did something blatantly wrong so I deserved to pay a fee, but I think that much money is ridiculous," she said. "The 80 dollars in court costs is just them making money and that seems unfair."
A graduate student who received a ticket this summer for an illegal left turn and also wished to remain nameless had similar feelings. "Honestly, I don't think the punishment fit the crime," she said.
Because the sign prohibits left turns at all times, even during hours of low traffic, police will use discretion in issuing the tickets. State tickets will be reserved for more flagrant offenders.
"We'll look at traffic conditions and severity," Schwab said. "Obviously it's not quite as hazardous at 3 a.m. than at 3 p.m. If a motorist causes another car to squeal its breaks, that will be a state ticket."
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