Crime & Safety

Patch Readers Show Passion on Stop Signs

People commenting on two recent stories showing drivers' behavior at two Deerfield intersections how a cross section of ideas.

In the last two weeks, Patch took shot video for 15 minutes at a pair of Deerfield intersections—Longfellow and Hermitage Avenues along with Kenton Road and Margate Terrace—to measure drivers’ obedience.

Beside two trucks and a bicycle which paid no heed at all, most people slowed down even if they did not come to a stop. One person commented on Deerfield Patch’s Facebook page, “This is a horror film.”

Not everyone agreed. Ter Bel-Epstein felt Patch was invading the privacy of the drivers considering the video an act of “big brother.” Bel-Epstein believes Patch is being rude.

Find out what's happening in Deerfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Just because ‘you have rights’ doesn't mean it's appropriate to be going around taking videos of residents (?) and posting here,” Bel Epstein wrote. “That's just obnoxious. We have enough organizations and such invading our privacy these days.”

Another reader, Bernard Epstein, came to Patch’s defense. He called the effort a “reasonable and public safety minded bit of journalism.”

Find out what's happening in Deerfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Drivers, the occupants of their cars, other drivers, the occupants of other cars, bike riders and pedestrians are all put at risk (serious risk) by the scofflaws who routinely roll and/or blow through stop signs in the Village,” Johnson writes

Channing Grant put it in very simple terms. “No cop, no stop,” Grant wrote.

Other readers offered suggestions. Anngail Norris thinks clearing brush blocking the view of some stop signs would help. Jon Hall suggested speed bumps that would “jolt cell phones loose from drivers’ grips.”

Get local news in a daily email from Patch. It's like getting a free newspaper. Learn more. Then "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.