Uniontown Speeding

UNIONTOWN, Wash.- With a low crime rate, stopping dangerous speeding through the town's 30 mph zone prompted Uniontown Washington's police department to increase traffic enforcement.

"Just because you see a 60 mph sign doesn't mean you can speed until you get there," Uniontown Town Clerk Treasurer and Municipal Court Clerk Cheryl Waller said.

State Highway 195 runs right through the heart of Uniontown. The speed limit drops from 60 mph to 30 mph once drivers reach the city limits. A counter installed by the state recorded about 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles passing through town per day, Waller said.

Although Highway 195 is state run and technically not the responsibility of the town, everything that can be done to increase safety is being done, Waller said.

"People need to recognize that the 30 mph zone starts as far out as it does because that's the city limits," she said.

Police have increased the number of stops on the road and handed out tickets to get people to slow down. The crossing guards wear the proper gear and basically follow all state procedures, Waller said.

Scott Ellsworth, one of two Uniontown police officers, described the departments work towards fixing the speeding problem. Although there have only been a few fender benders on the side streets and no accidents on the main road, speeding is still a problem, he said.

There have been a number of complaints about cars speeding through towns and at 3 p.m. parts of the road become a school zone, he said. In the fall, enforcement steps up because school starts, Ellsworth said.

Most police departments hand out five to ten tickets a night, Ellsworth said. The Uniontown Police Department takes a different approach to dealing with the speeding problem.

"Our main focus is education. As in can you slow down a little bit please?" Ellsworth said.

The officers stopped 320 cars this year. However, they have only given out 63 tickets, which is less than a quarter of the number stopped, he said. That’s an average of 5 ½ tickets a month, Ellsworth said.
Uniontown is usually lenient on people going five to ten over the limit. Hitting 15 miles over the limit is when people are stopped, Ellsworth said. Yet even then, the officers only will give the offender a ticket for going ten miles over because it’s cheaper for the person, he said. The highest ticket Officer Ellsworth wrote was for 32 mph over the posted speed limit at around midnight, he said.

Barbara Jacobs, owner of Green Cottage Antiques, said that the crime rate in town is relatively low but speeding is a big concern for residents.

Her store sits right along the highway, with antiques and other items lined in front of the shop. A sign on the door reads: "If you find something outside please put money in door drop box." A trusting message for a business owner but Jacobs has reason to trust her community.

"I've never had anything stolen in the six years I've been in business," she said.

Nothing has ever been taken, not even the stuff along the highway, Jacobs said. The biggest concern she has is the speeding problem. Trucks don't slow down and justzoom through town, she said. Cars are going too fast through town and don't slow down unless a police officer is present, Jacobs said.

Officer Ellsworth said that Uniontown has regular crimes like any other area. This year there have been 21 cases total, ranging from theft and trespassing to harassment,Ellsworth said.

Uniontown Police Department has only two officers and the Fire Department works on a volunteer basis. However, Barbara Jacobs believes that they do their job and work to fix the main concerns of the town. They do a great job, she said.

Sources:
Cheryl Waller(509) 229-3805

Barbara Jacobs(509) 229-3622

Scott Ellsworth(509) 229- 3290

Outline:
1. Lead: speeding problem and crime rate
2. Lead quote: Cheryl
3. Cheryl’s comments about school zone and main focus
4. Scott Ellsworth: speeding and tickets
a. Numbers
b. Average
c. Sitting on the highway
5. Barbara: her store
a. Stuff outside the store
b. Her main concern
c. Police volunteer?