Traffic, Noise Woes Top Midville Meeting
Cracking down on disobedient drivers and noisy neighbors were the focus of a joint meeting of the Middle Village Property Owners/Residents Association (MVPORA) and the Committee of Organizations of Precinct 104 (COP104) last Monday night, May 14, at St. Margaret Parish Hall.
Capt. John Travaglia-executive officer at the 104th Precinct, who filled in for Capt. Michael Cody, commanding officer-told residents that the command made 15 DWI arrests over the previous four-week period, up from just four collars during the same time a year ago.
Year-to-date, the captain stated that the command made 40 drunk driving arrests in regular traffic stops-which, Travaglia noted, accounted for a 71 percent increase from 2011-and another 30 arrests related to motor vehicular accidents.
Even though the number of car crashes is “slightly up” for the last four weeks, the executive officer stated that the precinct has seen a drop in injuries to both pedestrians and bicyclists involved in traffic ac- cidents.
Police have also made an increased effort to stop drivers who disobey stop signs, the captain noted, pointing out that 104th Precinct officers have issued over 400 stop sign violations in the last 30 days.
Drivers who also use hand-held cell phones or text while behind the wheel are also being stopped by the 104th Precinct, Travaglia said. So far in 2012, the command has issued 80 summonses for texting while driving and another 120 tickets for using a hand-held phone while operating a vehicle, he added.
Civic member John Schell mentioned that, based on his own observations, many drivers on Juniper Valley Road at 74th Street tend to speed up when the signal flashes a yellow light.
“They see it [as yellow], and they’re still at least a 100 feet or more from the intersection. Instead of slowing down, they do the reverse,” Schell said. “They go through the intersection at 40 mph.” He noted that there have been “numerous accidents” at the location over the years.
While noting that the precinct would look to beef up its enforcement efforts at the location, Travaglia pointed out that it recently conducted a speeding crackdown along Juniper Boulevard North near Juniper Valley Park, resulting in 11 speeding tickets issued to drivers.
Salvatore Candela, MVPORA president, told police that a number of tow trucks have been spotted speeding on thoroughfares such as Metropolitan Avenue and 80th Street and committing other infractions such as driving into lanes for oncoming traffic and going through red lights.
Travaglia stated that the precinct has conducted enforcement operations with the Department of Consumer Affairs against tow truck operators who break traffic laws, and that additional action would be taken to prevent further reckless driving.
Candela added that commercial trucks continue to be parked illegally along 74th Street near Metropolitan Avenue. Travaglia noted that the precinct, after initially issuing summonses to the offenders, has begun towing away vehicles of drivers who refuse to comply with the law on the block.
Turning to noise, a Glendale resident asked police to take action to quiet a next-door neighbor who throws loud parties on a regular basis. The resident claimed that the neighbor lowers the volume when police arrive, but turns the dial back up moments after the officers depart.
“I can’t live with this noise,” the Glendale resident said. “It plays music through the whole house and into the backyard. … You cannot think because of the pounding. It’s really bad.”
P.O. Thomas Bell of the 104th Precinct Community Affairs Unit sought to explain how the command handles noise complaints, which remain the top quality-of-life gripe in the entire city.
“There’s no time when unreasonable noise is acceptable,” Bell said, pointing out that it is as the responding officer’s discretion to issue summonses to individuals at residential locations for loud music or other extraneous noise.
“Most of the time, people know we’re coming and they lower the music. It’s a cat-and-mouse game that we get with a lot of noise complaints,” he added. “The officer has to witness the noise as to what he heard, as to why he believed that sound was unreasonable at that time” in order to issue a summons.
Regarding the situation on the Glendale resident’s block, Travaglia indicated that the precinct would investigate the situation.
Overall major crime is down nearly two percent for the year and four percent over the last four weeks, Travaglia announced. Recent declines were reported in robberies and auto thefts, while felony assaults, burglaries and grand larcenies had increased for the 28-day period.
The captain also told residents that 15 new officers have been assigned to the 104th Precinct.
Other news
Candela stated that he would invite State Sen. Joseph Addabbo and his presumed challenger in the November general election, City Council Member Eric Ulrich, to the civic group’s June meeting to speak with potential voters.
Members of the MVPORA also voted to offer a $250 donation to the Queens Veterans Day Parade Committee to offset expenses for the display of the Moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall at Juniper Valley Park between June 29 and July 2. Candela noted that the committee is seeking volunteers to help assist with the setup of the monument and the opening and closing ceremonies which will bookend the moving tribute’s stay in Middle Village.
A moment of silence was observed in memory of Bill Schoenmuller, long-time MVPORA sergeant-at-arms, who recently died. Candela asked that the group’s assistant sergeant-at-arms, Rick Metzger, be promoted by vote to take Schoenmuller’s place at the next meeting.
The civic president also announced that Zina Sisto has stepped down as assistant corresponding secretary, and that the position would not be filled.
The next Middle Village Property Owners/Residents Association meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday night, June 11, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Margaret Parish Hall, located on 79th Place south of Juniper Valley Road.
For more information on the next COP104 meeting, call 1-718-651- 5865.
