Anti-drag racing measures in Maspeth

A little more than two months ago, Edwin Fernandez, 23, died after he tragically wrapped his car around a telephone pole at Page Place and Maspeth Avenue while drag racing.
Now, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey announced that the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) will place &#8220No Standing 9 PM to 5 AM” signs along Page Place between Grand and Maspeth Avenues as one deterrent to prevent tragedies like Fernandez's from happening again.
&#8220The illegal street racing that has plagued Maspeth for years needs to be dismantled,” said Assemblywoman Markey. &#8220Using all possible techniques to fight this issue is a must.”
After Fernandez's accident, which occurred on April 16, 2006, Markey wrote a letter to Queens Borough DOT Commissioner Maura McCarthy at the urging of Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together (COMET) President Rose Dario calling for the organization to install signs.
The signs are to be used as a law enforcement tool to help the 104th and 108th Precincts, enabling them to issue additional summonses to any potential illegal street racers and spectators.
&#8220I'm glad that DOT is taking this first step to address this problem,” said Rose Dario, President of COMET. &#8220There are still more prohibitive measures that need to be taken.”
Vincent Arcuri, Chairman of Community Board 5, told The Queens Courier shortly after Fernandez's accident, that the high-speed thrill sport has been a problem in the area for years.
&#8220It [drag racing] has always been a problem,” said Arcuri, who said he remembers drag racing occurring in the Maspeth area as far back as the 1950's. &#8220You try to get them to learn that they are going to kill themselves, but young people think they are invincible.”
In Assemblywoman Markey's April 21st letter to Commissioner McCarthy, requests were made for the No Standing signs along with the milling of the street surface, a lowering of the speed limit on Page Place and the installation of a minimum number of rumble strips to dissuade the use of Page Place for illegal street racing.
&#8220I look forward to continuing to work with all government agencies and members of the community to make our streets safer,” said Assemblywoman Markey.