Oct. 24, 2000--
Several Utahns learn a hard truth about traffic laws. Yes, it is illegal to be stuck in the middle of an intersection.
News Specialist Karen Scullin reports that South Salt Lake police say the traffic situation is not only frustrating, but dangerous.
Over and over again, drivers try to sneak through the intersection on a green light, even though cars are backed up in front of them, going nowhere.
And drivers who want to cross the backed up street can't get through, and they get angry.
Dan/Motorist: "IT SUCKS. THEY DO IT ALL THE TIME." "MAKE YOU MAD?" "IT MAKES ME MAD."
Kirk/Motorist: "GO AHEAD AND TAKE YOUR PICK, IT'S PRETTY CRAZY GOING FROM HERE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN."
The problem has gotten worse since I-15 reconstruction closed a large portion of 21st South,
and police say causing intersection gridlock is not only illegal but dangerous.
Brittan Heddlesten/South Salt Lake Police: "ACCIDENTS ARE THE LEAST OF OUR WORRIES IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE CARRYING KNIVES AND GUNS AND GETTING IN FISTFIGHTS AND BECAUSE OF THE GRIDLOCK SITUATION WE CAN'T GET TO THEM TO BREAK THEM UP WHEN THEY START FIGHTING."
Today the bicycle squad from the South Salt Lake Police Department
handed out tickets to those who were violating the law.
Karen Scullin/Eyewitness News: "MANY DRIVERS PULLED OVER TODAY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL. IN FACT SOME DRIVERS THOUGHT THERE SHOULD ACTUALLY BE A SIGN WARNING THEM NOT TO BLOCK THE INTERSECTION."
John Reavley/Motorist: "YOU EXPECTED TO SEE A SIGN THAT SAYS DON'T BLOCK THE INTERSECTION. YEAH, THERE'S SIGNS OTHER PLACES THAT SAY DON'T. LIKE DON'T GO STAY ON THE TRACKS."
One man who was stopped felt so strongly about checking for a sign, police say he got out of the car and wouldn't follow
commands to get back in and check for the sign later. The officers say the man became more uncooperative and had to be restrained.
Motorist: "I WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A GRIDLOCK SIGN. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SEE."
Most drivers were cited for violating the state statute that says you can't block an intersection. South Salt Lake Police say the citations are in an effort to keep the streets safe.
Police say drivers should wait until there is space on the other side of the intersection before they enter the intersection, even if the light is green.
Viewer E-mail:
"I applaud this effort by the police department! But, the rest of the story is, pedestrians are crossing against signals that say 'Don't Walk.'
A perfect example is South Temple turning right onto State Street. The cars are backed up 20 to 40 and waiting (through) several lights. Pedestrians walk and block the intersection after the "Don't Walk" is lit, and barely one or two cars make it on the light change.
Pedestrians should be cited for unlawful crossings also!"
