It is with great interest that I’ve read the recent articles in the Great Neck News about the numerous fee increases, parking fee changes, etc.
Most recently, the increased fee for booting cars.
I have no issue with an increase in that fee, if someone is parked illegally — they should be booted, and charged a fee that is enough so that they won’t do it again.
I do disagree with the doubling of the cost for metered parking though.
One thing that I haven’t seen addressed at all, is something that has bothered me for years, and I wanted to voice my thoughts on it — jaywalking in Great Neck.
I’ve lived in other areas of the country, Los Angeles, San Diego, etc. and even in the most upscale areas of those regions, Beverly Hills in LA, La Jolla in San Diego, jaywalking laws are strictly enforced with fees and fines.
It is a clear deterrent, and makes the streets safer for both the pedestrians and the drivers.
What prompted me to want to raise my voice about this is that just yesterday, a woman, holding her little daughter’s hand with one hand, and talking on her cellphone with the other, literally stepped out from between cars to walk across the street on Middle Neck Road, mid-block.
Had I not been paying attention, and slammed on my brakes, she would have been hit.
I’d like to see the all of the villages of Great Neck step up, and start enforcing jaywalking laws. In other words, if the code enforcement personnel see jaywalking — give them a ticket.
In Los Angeles, the current fine for a jaywalking ticket is $190-250.
That amount would certainly also help the village coffers, in addition to acting as a deterrent, and as an incentive for pedestrians to “cross at the crosswalks.”.
Lastly, and this has been a problem in Great Neck since I was a child: Double-parking.
I’m sure many of your readers have experienced the logjam of traffic on Middle Neck Road due to inconsiderate drivers who feel its their privilege to stop and double-park anywhere they want on Middle Neck Road.
I think its rare to head north on Middle Neck Road and ’not’ see a car or two double-parked.
My suggestion again, is step up code enforcement and issue tickets. Period.
Don’t give warnings to those inconsiderate enough to double park.
Teach them a lesson with their pocketbook.
D. Scott Meyers
Great Neck
