Check one? Not on this ticket.
Think people were mad at the beginning of January, when the Montclair Police Department started issuing tickets because of new parking rules around Montclair High School? Guess what? Nobody’s figured out yet what the violation will set you back, so if you got one you can’t pay it online and can’t pay it at the counter at the police department. You have to actually show up in traffic court.
So we learned today from Montclair resident Corky Siemaszko, who got a ticket while dropping his kids off in front of the high school last week, and we’ve confirmed it from the Montclair Municipal Court. “We don’t have an amount yet. It’s court appearance required,” a clerk told us.
“So I have to go to court, all because these guys didn’t think this through,” a seriously irritated Siemasko told us. “Oh and by the way, people were back to dropping off kids in front of MHS — and the cop directing traffic was oblivious.”
Any lawyers in the house? If the policeman didn’t check a box, it’s not a valid ticket — is it?
So read all posted signs, and obey them. Traffic Court avoided.
All the new rules have done is move the traffic from Park Street and Chestnut, where there is a traffic light and a semblence or order, to Midland and Chestnut, where there is no light and a crossing guard who is trying to do his best. It has become totally chaotic. If you are traveling north on Midland, you can make a left onto Chestnut but it is confusing when traffic is stopped for pedestrians and the cars traveling south are trying to make a right onto Chestnut and cars traveling east on Chestnut are trying to turn whereever! Have I confused you yet? I have seen a number of close calls where drivers are just not sure who should be turning. Traffic now backs up from Valley all the way to Chestnut – it is just madness and poorly thought out. Park now is a breeze – but if you live in the south end of town and drive on Park, you have to continue all the way to Watchung before you can make a legal turn. North Fullerton is also busier because you can turn onto Chestnut either way. The poor crossing guard at Midland is doing his best but you need someone in the middle of the street to direct the traffic. Not such a great plan to make it safer – it actually made Midland much, much worse.
I meant, traffic backs up from Valley to Midland….
Another swift move by the “ready, fire, aim” crew.