Is Naperville state's No. 1 speed trap?

STATEMENT TO BE ISSUED BY THE NAPERVILLE CITY COUNCIL & CITY ATTORNEY MARGO ELY:

The Naperville Police Department has never, not once, issued a speeding ticket that was not 100% justified. They have never, not once, issued a parking ticket that was not 100% justified. They have never, not once, issued an order to tow a car that was not 100% justified. We are proud of our Naperville Police Department and offer our unquestioned support of all of their policies. In fact, if Chief dial were to resign today, we would give him a $250k golden parachute. And, if you ever dare to question a ticket, tow, or arrest warrant issued by the NPD, we will have the City Manager write a long nasty memo about you and circulate this memo to every newspaper in our fair city. And by the way, City Councilman Dick Furstenau is not allowed to comment on this issue as he has previously been really, really.... really mean to Chief Dial.

(I'm not sure this statement will be issued verbatim, but watch the City's response... if it comes... I think the preceding will be pretty close).

I don't really buy it. I've lived here all my life and the only speeding ticket I ever got was when I was 16 and given the circumstances, to say I completely deserved it would be an understatement. Like most people, I just drive the speed of traffic, which is usually right around or a little above the speed limit and I've never had a problem.

Before some upstanding citizen decided to liberate me from my radar detector and other things of little to no value I had in my car while parked in one of the Naperville parking garages, the only time I ever noticed "speed traps" (if you would even call them that) is when driving through subdivisions with 25-30mph speed limits. In my opinion, if you're going ripping through a neighborhood, you deserve a ticket. The difference in stopping distance when you're driving 25 compared to when you're driving 40 is substantial... and can potentially save lives if some kid decides to go darting in to the street to chase after a ball, falls off their bike, or a million other scenarios I couldn't even begin to list.

The overflowing court rooms in Dupage County indicate Naperville police are trigger happy for the smallest violation. I believe it is about making money more than enforcing speed limits.

Having this reputation will keep people from shopping in Naperville. Why shop in a town to save a few bucks and go home with a 100 dollar speeding ticket if you successfully avoided being towed???

Let us not forget Naperville is also the DUI capital of Illinois outside of Chicago with 800 DUIs annually. Just seems odd that they claim they care about our streets but allow 20 bars to open in the downtown district, converting it to a popular nightclub vice district in recent years, after formerly being a pristine shopping destination.

So again Naperville is only about milking money from drivers. Bring them in with bars and nightclubs....nail them on their way home with speeding if you can not get them for a tow or a DUI.

Makes no sense to me!!! If you are against drinking don't give out 20 bar licenses for a 3 block area dowtown area. Everything sounds so hypocritical about our police dept. and city officials.

I hope Mayor Pradel takes over as City Manager Peter Burchard has no vision...just money hungry as evidenced by his demand for a parachute on his way out has indicated.

I am sure he is telling them I made you guys tons of dough by being the speeding, towing and DUI capital of Illinois, so fork on some of the proceeds...lol..

Blake...

Blake, you forgot to mention the red light cameras which are going to be flipped on pretty soon in the downtown area. I can't wait for the inevitable drama tsunami which is going to follow their activation.

Eli Hodapp,
I am sorry!!! I did forget to mention that and the ensuing human Tsunami to follow at 505 County Farm Rd at the Courthouse.

Naperville does not learn. Bolingbrook tried it and failed. It was ticketing all kinds of vehicles that could not make the intersection during the green or yellow lights because they were stuck in rush hour traffic.

So of course Peter and crew have to have their own experiments and fail rather than learning from others mistakes.

I guess the ranking of best speed trap in Illinois is not enough. With this red light camera system, they must be going for the National Title in the entire USA. May God Bless Naperville!!!

Blake...

People, not NPD, choose for themselves to drive over the speed limit or with a BAC of .08 or greater.

Don't blame the police force for enforcing a law someone chooses to break.

I'm sure the same people would complain about NPD not doing their job if an officer witnessed someone robbing their house but decided to just 'let it slide' because it didn't look like they were carrying out anything that was 'too valuable'.

If you don't want a ticket, don't break the law. It's really that simple.

Joe,
It not so simple. A DUI instructor for 34 years stated last night while I was blogging on Gretawire.com, he was a little baffled that in 34 years he never had a police officer or a member of his family ever attend his DUI classes. He emphasized it has happened 0 times in 34 years. He stated to the 1000 bloggers, "Make your own conclusions."

Yes, enforcing the law is a great thing. But not when it is enforced selectively and the blue code of silence gives all cops passes on speeding, running stop signs, and DUIs. Just does not seem fair!!! This really is becoming a well known fact and Chief Dial allows such things to happen. Soon he will be facing the music of the media as his former employee Mr. McGury is facing in Bolingbrook.

It is a matter of time before these things blow up in the faces of those practicing them. Reading the Naperville Sun and the blogs, I think Chief Dial is shortly going to be held accountable for his police force and possibly asked to RESIGN. We will just have to wait and see but I sense the kitchen is getting a little hot.

I have observed police officers constantly going slowly thru stops signs on a consistant basis especially in the downtown area. However they ticket civilians if they dare pull such a manevor. It just seems there is hyprocisy combined with double standards. Enough said!

A speed trap is a street/road location where the speed limit changes abruptly and the PD takes advantage of motorists who don't slow down in time.

The police don't target areas like that in Naperville. Go to the website the Sun identifies and you will find that the target areas are roads where the speed limit is fairly constant. If you get ticketed for speeding at those locations it wasn't because of trickery by the PD but because people didn't pay attention to the posted limit or worse yet didn't care what the limit was and took a chance, then complained when they got caught.

The purpose of traffic citations is not to build revenue but to change the driving habits of the public ie. Follow the law.

To Blake: "A night club vice district"? Grow up! There is a police presence downtown to make sure that a "vice district" doesn't occur. The vast majority of people who frequent the bars downtown enter and leave without causing a problem. However there are a few who drink to excess, speed, park illegally etc. and deserve what they get if they get caught! I wish the PD could arrest every single intoxicated driver in Naperville. That would take many hazards off the road and make everyone else safer.

apparently joe is a cop. only kidding. but he probably is. jk again.

i don't blame the city for any dui's it issues. drunk driving is despicable, and the ones who do it and get caught deserve everything and more coming their way. (except of course, if you're a npd officer who gets caught driving on the wrong side of the yellow line with a BAC greater than .08. in that case, the other cops get you off the hook).

in terms of speeding,

the fact that the npd EARNED this recognition is an indication that they serve themselves more than the city. even if all the tickets they write are legit, and i doubt the are, but even if they are, this shows a complete lack of compassion. a good pd should not only issue a lot of legit tickets, but it should also be willing to offer a good share of warnings and "please slow downs". instead, they choose to stick it to the community every chance they get.

while the npd may do somethings well, and have officers who serve with integrity, this #1 ranking demonstrates how aggressive and heartless the npd, as a whole, can be. all they care about is driving up revenue at the expense of the citizens their paid and sworn to serve.

I think generating revenue is a big factor in both speeding and parking tickets. It would be interesting to find out if cops have a quota for the number of tickets/violations they are to give out over a certain period of time.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I am not an officer or any member of law enforcement.

If you want to hit them (NPD) in their revenue book, then don't commit a traffic violation. It's pretty simple.

Don't like speeding tickets? Don't speed. Don't like failure to obey a traffic signal tickets? Then obey them. Don't like having your car towed? Don't leave it where it will get towed per the posted signs. Don't like the nasty stuff that results from a DUI? Don't drive if you have been drinking.

One thing this town is full of are people who can't seem to take personal responsibility for their own actions. The police do not make anyone break the law. You chose to obey it or break it. It's your own fault, no one else's. Even my kids understand that concept in life.

how about if the cops are towing in a TEMPORARY tow zone and failed to put the signs out with proper notice.

what if the city requires those signs to be posted before dawn the day the temporary zone is in force, but they failed to put out the signs until the afternoon 15 minutes before they started towing. is that legit. hardly.

Hey Ameena, ever consider getting an eye exam? The cab stand is clearly marked!! Doc Smith

Posted by: Dr. Smith/Eye Doctor | December 10, 2007 01:01 AM

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Dr. Smith,
Thanks for your kind remarks! Yes, I have regular eye exams and my vision is 20/20 with my corrective lenses.

Once again there are 3 cab spots that are clearly marked by sidewalks signs and all 3 of these spots are between the 2 sidewalk signs. A 4th cab spot was behind the Western sign and parking spot is only indicated by white paint writing on the street. When backing into that spot, it is impossible to see the writing on the street. My vehicle even has a rear view camera and I could not see this writing. Upon getting out of the vehicle, I double checked the signage and it indicated I was parked legally. Of course since my vehicle was parked over the writing on the street I could not see that or even know it existed.

There are only 2 possible scenarios to your letter. That in the last month or two after my numerous verbal complaints to the police dept. they moved the sidewalk sign to cover the 4th spot or your eyesight is in need of correction.

The policeman even agreed with me that the situation was unfair and asked me to appear before the city council. He pretty much stated he was only enforcing the law even though he understood the trap situation of that spot. I guess it is an easy way for him to get his quota of tickets so when I asked him to appear himself before the city council he stated that was not his duty. He said it was my duty even though he is a paid servant of the public and I am not. Since this became a heated argument right in front of Features(no touching involved by either party...thank God!), everyone who witnessed the argument with the officer, agreed the 4th cab spot was not labeled properly.

I will visit the spot tonight to see if the police did something about parking spot since my car was towed a few months ago. If they did, that would explain the confusion between what you are saying and what I am saying.

If it is still as it was as I suspect, I have to assume it is a CASH COW for the police and city. I also would have to suspect you are a phony eye doctor trying to protect the city even when it is commits mistakes if not deliberate fraud.

Yes, I also miss the Napergate Ads in the Sun of the past like many others have mentioned. In those days the Napergate man would have run a picture in his Napergate ad showing the scam, and the citizens would march to the polls booths to elect new councilmen. I was shocked when in one election he was able to get all his 4 endoresed councilmen elected which I believe(rather sure) Dick Furstenau was one of them. One blogger on another Sun thread, stated he will be reviewing these ads so hopefully he will be able to come back with some information for us on this issue and others.

I am going to hold judgment on you Doc, until I visit the parking spot in question tonight, just in case of the slight possiblity the city took corrective action in recent days or months. In that case, I would understand why you mistakenly thought I had to come see you for a new pair of glasses.

It may not be as easy as you think to get a new customer!!!

Ameena

Posted by: Ameena | December 10, 2007 08:27 PM

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Dr.Smith/Eye Doctor,
I visited the above parking "trap" last night per my promise to you. Nothing has changed! There is a 4th cab spot outside of the designated sidewalk street signage only labeled with faint street paint that is impossible to see if you are backing into the parallel parking spot. In addition an employees at Features indicated that cars are constantly being towed out of that one spot on a rather consistent basis.

Basically there is nothing wrong with my eyesight. You are probaby one of the police officers who are towing out of that spot to meet your quota while pretending to be an Eye Doctor in a frivilous attempt to take heat off your police dept. by fooling the good citizens under your veiled disguise!

I think the light is shining bright nowadays and there will be a change in our city council and administation shortly.

Ameena
PS. This was posted on another blog but seems to fit here more appropriately.

Ameena,

Can one read the paint in the space as they are slowly creeping past the spot before they make the 'stop' prior to backing up?

It would seem that one can 'see' it before they decide to stop and back up. One would hope that a driver would actually physically LOOK in the spot they are trying to park in prior to deciding to start moving their vehicle to park there. If a child was standing in the spot would you see them or would you run them over because you do not have a backup camera?

Hey Joe,
I think you live in a fantasy world. The Naperville cops have many weapons in their arsenal. Their revenue will not be cut.
If everyone stops speeding, they will nail you for not putting your turn signal on 100ft. before you turn even if you are lost or confused. Happened to me recently!

I agree with Blake's post above regarding revenue. "Let them open all the bars they can and we will nail their customers on the way out." If you are against drinking and driving, why would you and the city support all these bars downtown. There may be 3000 people drinkng in downtown Naperville on a Friday or Saturday night. Less than 10% of them take cabs. The rest are driving home with plenty of alcohol in their bodies. The city administration and city police are behined this unique development to our BEDROOM COMMUNITY. The city must take responsibility for all DUIs and related injury and deaths for promoting such an extraordinary nightclub district. No other suburban town has done anything that matches this in magnitude in their downtowns. We are not only attracting local drinkers but drinkers from all over Chicagoland.

When one of my kids is injured by these drunk drivers, I know who to hold responsible and I will.

In the meantime, Joe, keep living in your fantasy world of the police can do no wrong until they slam you for not putting your turn signal on 100ft. before turning. I am sure your kids are different then the rest of our kids and put their turn signals a 100ft in advance. Smell the coffee Joe and leave your nonsense in your home. Don't assume the readers on this blog are ignorant. Most seem very well educated and full of wisdom!

McFarland,

You are blaming the police for people breaking the law.
Use your turn signals. If they are broken, fix them. I understand someone may have to put their coffee/makeup/phone down to use it but really, it's a pretty simple concept. Drive properly, obey the law.

People who obey the law are not having the problems everyone is complaining about. Do you think perhaps there is a correlation?

joe is obviously a cop and fails to see the point about the difference between a cop enforcing the law and being a jerk.

McFarland,

You are blaming the police for people breaking the law.
Use your turn signals. If they are broken, fix them. I understand someone may have to put their coffee/makeup/phone down to use it but really, it's a pretty simple concept. Drive properly, obey the law.

People who obey the law are not having the problems everyone is complaining about. Do you think perhaps there is a correlation?

Posted by: Joe | December 12, 2007 02:08 PM

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Joe,

Answer me this simple and direct question??? Do you always put your turn signal on 100 ft before you make your turn???

If you answer is yes, I am 100% sure you are lying. If your answer is no, than how would you feel if one of Naperville's finest pulled you over and ticketed you because you only put your turn signal 50ft in advance.

This is the ridiculous of Naperville police behavior we are complaining about. If you approve of this behavior you are a Naperville cop enjoying these lousy laws that enable you to get your monthly quotas. And because of the Blue Code of Professional Courtesy they don't apply to you so you have nothing to worry about like us ordinary citizens.

Case closed!!! Address the 100ft and try not to ignore it or you will lose your credibility as a blogger who evades the facts.

PS. And do you think what the police did to Ameena above is fair. I visited that spot and agree with her, it is a TRAP that police need for revenue and not LAW and ORDER!!!

McFarland,

Yes, I always use my turn signals and it is generally more than 100 feet before the turn unless there is another prior turn that having it on before that turn would give the wrong impression to other drivers because I intend to drive beyond an opportunity for the direction for which my vehicle is signaling.

It's called safe driving. I also stop at stop signs even when no other cars are around instead of just pretending they don't exists. Again, it's still a stop sign regardless of traffic and regardless of the time of day. If I happen to make an infraction (and I have many times) and get popped for it I take the spank for what it is because I did the wrong thing. It's called owning up for my CHOICE to break the law or not and accepting the responsibility and subsequent consequence of my CHOICE.

Why do you think laws apply to others and not to you and somehow you should get a free pass when you make an infraction? What makes you think you're entitled to have your infractions overlooked. If you choose to break them and you are caught, own up to the fact that you broke the law. Don't like taking that chance? Don't break the law.

I can't believe some of these whiny, juvenile posts. I see lots of people speeding on residential streets, going through red lights, parking right next to fire hydrants, making illegal turns, etc. Blame yourselves for getting caught. And who says you can't be in a downtown restaurant without getting plotzed? Who put the drink in your mouth? I 'd like to see the police really crack down on these drivers. If you break the law, then pay the ticket. What the heck is the problem here? Quit blaming the cops who are doing their jobs.

McFarland said: they will nail you for not putting your turn signal on 100ft. before you turn even if you are lost or confused.

He didn't say his turn signal was broken. He said he didn't turn it on 100 ft before the intersection (because he was lost?). And frankly, who can judge 100 ft accurately? Maybe we should put signs up all over Naperville 100ft before every intersection to help motorists. THEN if you don't do it, you've broken the law.

Joe said: People, not NPD, choose for themselves to drive over the speed limit or with a BAC of .08 or greater.

And you are right, but I don't think that's what everyone is talking about. I think we all agree drinking and driving is just plain wrong and we all want the people who do so off the streets. But what DOES it say about a community that so willingly sets the stage for the DUI's to happen? If you don't want hundreds of DUI's, stop making liquor so readily available at every bar and restaurant downtown. THAT is the message I believe is being conveyed.

Ameena has obviously been wronged. And Joe, "look as you pull slowly forward before backing in"? Ameena, can I ask, is the paint on the road florescent? Does it glow in the dark? Or is it at least a clearly, freshly painted, bright color that is visible and noticeable both day and night? I am assuming Ameena is not just parking her car in a spot she has not viewed prior and is truly looking to see that it is clear of obstruction (such as a child). But if you are the driver of a car, can you clearly see over the passenger's side of the car and your trunk onto the street (the actual pavement) to see what is painted on the road? NO. I guess you should crawl under your car and check next time.

It is true, those who have never been ticketed "unfairly" are not complaining. Does that mean they are better drivers? That only they obey the law? No, it simply means they have not yet been "picked".

I was ticketed only once in which I would say it was completely unfounded and unfair. It was several years ago and I was in my car with my children. I had young boys who liked motorcycles and we saw an officer in the parking lot of a business. I slowed down and pointed out the bike so the boys could see it. The officer was facing away from us as he placed something in the seat compartment.

Minutes, later, I was pulled over and ticketed for speeding. The officer claimed he had caught me on radar. 1) He wasn't even looking at me as we passed. 2) I had slowed my car (considerably) so the boys could have a longer look at his motorcycle.

Several cars had passed me as I slowed in the right lane and I believe his radar picked them up, not me, but when he turned, my car was all he saw.

Was that fair? Absolutely not. Should I have been ticketed? No. Should I have been given a warning? Yes, especially considering the officer had not been facing the street only moments before. I of course tried to explain this to the officer and was abruptly cut off. It was a nice lesson for my young children to learn, NPD.

Not everyone who gets ticketed deserve it. Most of us try to follow the law at all times. Sometimes we make innocent mistakes. A police force that tries to follow the law and still use a bit of common sense would be a welcome change in Naperville.

I did not think Joe would have enough time to be out driving, with the 24 hours a day he needs to keep his kids in line, and all.

Anonymous, that was pretty low. You're trying to be funny but to me you come across as mean.

All of you, keep it civil, please. You're free to disagree with people making other comments, but please at least show respect for people making those remarks.

Kelly,

If you make an infraction and get a ticket for it, that is 'fair'.

Does that mean you will or should get a ticket for every infraction? No. We would all be broke if we did. Know that you run the risk each time and drive accordingly. Most of the time you are lucky and there is no one around to nail you for each and every one.

I would venture a guess that everyone complaining has gotten away with driving infractions more times than they have been ticketed for them if you add it all up.

So, what is there to really complain about? Imagine if you received 22 tickets each day for each direction of travel to and from work. Next time you take a car trip, count the number of stops you do not come to completely to make your tires stop rotating. Count the number of times your speedometer goes 4mph or over the limit. Count the number of times you change lanes improperly without the use of a signal. Count the number of times you cut in front of someone or fail to yield when turning left to those turning right to go the same direction as you. Now, count how many tickets you get.

Come back and whine after the tickets received is equal to the number of infractions you commit.

As for 'Anonymous': I'm sorry that you feel so low that you have to stoop to that level and attempt to tear someone down who has a good healthy relationship with their children. I'll pray that conditions improve for you so you no longer feel the need to lash out at people like that.

I think all of you are living in your own worlds and forgetting that the NPD and other DuPage revenue squads have a reputation of profiling minority and young drivers because they know these folks are often an easy way to run up the arrest and ticket tally to give the "voting" public the illusion that they are tough on law breakers; just go on over to Wheaton or one of the other DuPage traffic courts and note the class/race/sex of those making appearances. So few of those there are answering charges that they were speeding or DWIs, they are there because they are viewed as despised powerless poor, young, and/or colored; cause we all know that there are no male, middle income, white people driving around the county without insurance, without driver's licenses, etc.(RIGHT)! Check on these people and I bet you too would discover that without these revenue charges many would have had no rap sheet cause there would have been no cop contact.

Viewing those in traffic court would cause one unaware of the population break down in the county to erroneously draw the conclusion that the county has a large minority population. These are not your speeders and not your drunks, they are just often the poor who have been drawn into the almost never ending cycle of the traffic court machine because a whole lot of somebodies make it almost impossible to move around the county without access to an automobile, and the last expense many struggling poor need is the cost of having a car to just make it to those places necessary.

Thank God a few of the judges in Wheaton have finally gotten it and have begun to separate those caught up in these revenue earning scheme from those who are truly menaces to the public safety. Time for the good people of Naperville to open their eyes and hearts for real.

how about Knock Knoll road where the speed limit drops to 25 mph- and that is where they are waiting to ticket you?? 10 years ago I was taking that road in a mini van full of kids to a birthday party. I was not familiar with that road, and was ticketed for going 40!! Yes, that was speeding- and I would have slowed down as soon as I SAW the sign. I am not a speeder- and did not get off with just a warning.

How about stopping the speeders who are intentionally out there to break the law.

Ameena has obviously been wronged. And Joe, "look as you pull slowly forward before backing in"? Ameena, can I ask, is the paint on the road florescent? Does it glow in the dark? Or is it at least a clearly, freshly painted, bright color that is visible and noticeable both day and night? I am assuming Ameena is not just parking her car in a spot she has not viewed prior and is truly looking to see that it is clear of obstruction (such as a child). But if you are the driver of a car, can you clearly see over the passenger's side of the car and your trunk onto the street (the actual pavement) to see what is painted on the road? NO. I guess you should crawl under your car and check next time.

Posted by: Kelly | December 12, 2007 10:12 PM
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Kelly,
Thank you for your kind words and understanding. I did revist the spot and it had very faded paint that was not florescent. A passenger car(not cab) was pulling out of that spot as I was arriving so I pulled forward enough to allow him to pull out. Then I backed into the spot after he pulled out. I had no way of knowing anything was written on the street unless as you indicated I had crawled under my SUV. I even had a rear view camera which automatically activates when I go into reverse, which very few drivers have, and that did not detect the faint white paint on the street.

I had installed that camera at a great expense because I am a caring driver and never wanted to be in the predicament of running over a child or a dog since my SUV is rather high and can not see short objects or people, let alone FAINTED WHITE PAINT.

Upon getting out of the vehicle, since I know signs are confusing in downtown Naperville(at times changing depending on the hour of the day), I read all the appropriate signs and even studied them for a while. Even asked a couple of pedestrians their opinion. They all told me I was legally parked. The 2 sidewalks signs designating the cab spots cover only 3 of the 4 spots and not the 4th.

The proper designaton would be to put the signs on the sidewalk from the beginning of the cab spots to the end with an arrow on the first one facing west and an arrow on the last sign facing east designating the 4 and not the 3 spots. There is an arrow on the first sign POINTING WESTWARDS but no arrow on the second sign.

Since the city is very slow moving and has done nothing about this "trap" parking spot in months, the bloggers who have questions should get out there and check it out. Maybe some heat on the city will get this corrected. Little heat coming from only me, one lady, is not going to affect them as nothing has happened since my car was ticketed and towed this last summer.

Of course I suspect if the city admits error, it will have to refund all the money owed for this illegal ticketing and towing that I assume has been going on for years at this one spot. I personally have observed many others being towed from this spot since I was towed, while walking my dog but have not dared to interfere, as Mr. Furstneau has, due to my knowledge of the arrogance and hostility of SOME NPD officers.

Once a few bloggers verify that my sight is OK and agree with me, I plan on filing a CLASS ACTION suit against the city on behalf of all those who were wronged. Yes, I took many digital pictures of the sight 2 nights ago so I can have my evidence as I expect the city to do something shortly due to the heat others and I are putting on the city.

I suspect easily a 1000 cars could have been towed from this one spot. At $195 dollar per tow, ticket is only $15 dollars, cab fare is about 15 bucks to get your car back, we are talking $225,000 dollars the city stripped from residents pockets. I am sure the Judge may tack on some punitive damages and reimburse for lawyers fees. I estimate this may be $400,000 or an additional $8 dollars per home in RE TAX.

And please don't blame residents for this increase. Blame your city and police! I had my confrontations with the police in a non-touching manner, and they refuse to do anything about it. Chief David Dial is at all city council meetings and he refuses to do anything about it. It is a CASH COW source of revenue that the police dept. wants. Unless, we can reverse this CASH COW on the city and hold it responsible, it will continue to be BUSINESS AS USUAL.

It just reminds me of the 90s during Napergate years when nothing was done, until the Napergate Man finally headed to the courts. Sadly, his hundreds of Napergate ads could not change the BUSINESS AS USUAL operation in the city. Only his litigation had some succeess. So I am going to learn from him and file a class action suit. If any of you have a similar experience at this specific spot, please leave your e-mail and I will contact you in order that we enter you in the class action suit. For all those who do not blog and were towed, we will get all the information thru a Freedom of Information filing on the NPD, and since they have great records, hopefully we will recover all this money fraudulently obtained from the citizens despite many warnings to the police dept, and return it to the CITIZENS.

It is really time to act. Napergate ads of the past and all this blogging of the present, indicates to me the CITY does not care. It will only act if ORDERED to ACT by a COURT of LAW. Otherwise it has been established thru history, that is will be BUSINESS AS USUAL!!!

Ameena

Ameena,

When was your parking ticket in this stealth cab spot? Recently?

Good to Be Gone: "I think all of you are living in your own worlds and forgetting that the NPD and other DuPage revenue squads have a reputation of profiling minority and young drivers"...

You can say that again. When I was younger I had a bright yellow sports car and worked near downtown Naperville. To get home I had to drive through downtown Naperville, or go far out of my way to avoid it. I couldn't even tell you how many times I got pulled over for being suspected of "cruising".

I'm fairly certain the cruising laws exist only to give the NPD reason to pull you over and snoop around inside of your car with their flash light through your windows. Every time I got harassed by the NPD for "cruising" I explained that I worked on Washington street and was driving home. Nearly every encounter ended with a "Well, I'll let you off, this time." I was always respectful of the police officers that pulled me over, regardless of how ridiculous the situation was becoming. What did I get in return? The stereotypical hard-assed "I've spent entirely too much of my life watching COPS and detective movies" attitude.

When I finally traded my car in and bought a black car which blended in with other traffic I went from being accused of cruising nearly once a month to never. Regardless, the reason people have these terrible attitude towards the police is because of the terrible attitude most police officers have towards people.

Another example- I was in the passenger seat of a friend's car when he got pulled over driving on Route 59 with a tail light out. Instead of pulling us over, asking for a drivers license and insurance to check and make sure we're driving legally, and then saying: "Hey, you've got a tail light out. It's not safe to be driving around at night with lights out on your car... please get it fixed ASAP!" the cop decided the better way to approach the situation would by being a huge jerk about it.

He kept mentioning how "lucky" my friend was that this was all he was getting ticketed for and the whole time he was at the driver's window the cop had his hand poised and ready to reach for his gun... as if two scrawny white boys in a Camry posed some type of threat to a kevlar bound fully armed police officer. Overall the attitude the cop had was "HAW HAW! YOU ARE SO F-ING BUSTED... And it's too bad I don't see anything fishy in your car so I can shoot something!"

Were we braking the technical definition of the law by operating a motor vehicle after dark with a light out? Of course, but regardless of what a massive police apologist Joe is, he'll never be able to convince me that this was the best way to handle the situation.

A couple years ago when someone broke in to my car at one of the Naperville parking garages to steal a radar detector from 1995 and a broken iPod the NPD had my car towed to the impound lot. I can understand that, you don't want a car with a window broken out of it sitting around in a parking garage. What I don't agree with is how I was treated by the first bike cop I could find to ask them if they could help me find my car because I thought it was stolen. What was the first thing he accused me of? Being too drunk to find my car. He also made some witty remarks about how he should just write me a DUI now to save time for when I finally found it. After pleading with the cop and explaining that I'd blow a breathalyzer right now if it would mean he'd help me find my car he decided to call my bluff and after doing a "sweep of the parking lot" he finally called in to discover my car was towed. Oh, and to make it better I was wearing swim trunks, sandals, and had a towel draped over my shoulder. Obviously the first logical conclusion to come to is that I was totally drunk and figured I'd go swim it off at the gym.

Sadly, we don't live in a world anymore where most (and I keep saying most because of course there are always exceptions) police officers treat anyone with dignity or better yet, treat people how they would like to be treated. The reason people have such animosity towards police officers and will rant about what jerks cops are at the first opportunity is because the days of "Officer Friendly" are long gone. I'd bet anything for every story someone has about a police officer helping them get their cat out of a tree you could find 100 people who have stories about un-needed attitude or situations otherwise poorly handled by the police.

Have I had positive experiences with the NPD? Of course. Recently, I've been left in a near state of amazement that the NPD has people like Vincent Gortner working for them. In my dealings with him, he's everything a police officer SHOULD BE- Understanding, willing to help, and just generally destroys absolutely every negative police officer stereotype which has ever existed. I also clearly remember Mayor Pradel when he was still a police officer when I was a child. And as much as I hate to say it, regardless of how great Officer Gortner is and how great Officer Pradel was... the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions the NPD isn't Officer Friendly teaching kids how to cross the road in safety town, it's the police officer who was inches away from drawing his gun on me, or being accused of being intoxicated when I looked to a police officer for help.

Hell, look at the near-daily fiascos taking place with tasers now. It seems like every day there's a new video up on YouTube or LiveLeak of someone being tasered to death. America is quickly turning in to a cleverly disguised police state. What can you do about it? Nothing, basically. The fraternal order of Police protect their own more than the Freemasons.

Ameena,

You know, if you use google maps and choose 'street view' you can see the paint on the street for the 4th taxi space.

It is not the officer's duty to 'argue' or even lobby for you to Council. Further, Council is not the proper venue to bring this up, the Traffic Advisory Board is. Go to one of their meetings and request better signage like you stated above. It's really simple, you just have to care enough to show up and state it.

I'll start you off:

"Hi, my name is XXXXXX I reside at XXXXXXXX. I kindly request that you upgrade and improve the signage used to designate the short-term parking / taxi spots on east bound Chicago Avenue between Main and Washington. I've received a ticket and subsequent tow for parking in the 4th spot and I have observed many others suffer the same fate. I believe there is a misunderstanding on which spaces the taxi spots refer to. Signs along the sidewalk indicating each space as well as special color paint on the curb would avoid this confusion in the future, especially for people who come from out of town to shop in downtown Naperville. Towing someone's vehicle due to this misunderstanding and confusion is a certain way to ensure people do not return to shop with our downtown merchants. I'm fairly certain the Downtown Naperville Alliance and Chamber of Commerce members will agree. Thank you for your time and consideration."

It's really not that hard to make it happen. You just have to go do it. Take your pick. Keep complaining or do something to fix what you think is broken.

I would like to support both Virginia's and Eli's post. What we are trying to do is expose to the general public[chicagoland] that we all NEED to STAY out of naperville. Yes,im saying BOYCOTT NAPERVILLE. several reasons exist,but the cautcha drink'in gig played so well by NPD is disgusting and perhaps illegal. Is the little bus still operating eli??? you know the LITTLE bus that takes the local drunks from high target area downtown,safely to QUIET ,safe parking spaces AWAY from the long arm of our people in blue. Is that program still in place? Nice work if you can get it . Drink up, get plastered,do not worry the city bus will carry you away from getting BUSTED over an imaginery equipment infraction.Locals; would you be alright with a BOYCOTT NAPERVILLE campaign? Alot of the unwashed would not have to bother spending money here and you could have more of the city to yourselves.

Mr. Quigley,

Are you suggesting a campaign that will keep the irresponsible people from downtown Naperville?

Count me in!

Joe,
That was a nicely written letter. Thank you!
I went in and paid my $15 dollar ticket in person. And I complained to both personal who were at the cashier's window
collecting the money at the police department. I pretty much said what you said in different words.

They promised me that they would pass my complaints on to the proper authorities in the police dept. I believe they did as they seemed sweet, innocent and very honest. However, nothing has happened!

No one investigated!! No one called me!! I left my number with the cashiers and asked that I be called. And nothing was done!!

So it is never as simple as you state. I wish it was! I still believe they want the vagueness in that spot to collect revenue.

And the bottom line whether google can see it or not, I could not see it when I backed into the spot even though I had a rear view camera. I did not have access to Google right before I parked. So please give me a break, Joe!!

And honestly myself and probably most citizens woould have never known that a Traffic Advisory Board exists. You seem to know so much, Joe. I am really wondering who you really are? You must be someone with some capacity with the city!

Do tell! And thank you for that very well written letter. I am assuming the Traffic Advisory Board follows these blogs and will take corrective action soon!!!

Ameena

Ameena,

I moved here almost a decade ago. I do not work for the city in any capacity. I did have a dad that drilled into me at a very early age that it's no one's job to inform you of things. It's your job to find out what you need to know in life and be responsible for yourself. Yes, he hated the "No one told me!" excuse because that's all it is... an excuse, not taking responsibility for your actions or lack of actions.

Naperville has a website: http://www.naperville.il.us

Amazing amounts of information exist there including meeting times of the various city government bodies. I've said my piece many times at council meetings and traffic advisory meetings as well as planning commissions. People do listen if you present yourself logically, calmly and respectfully.

Again, your lack of action will result in no action. Take your grievance to a TAB meeting. Don't expect anyone else in life to be your secretary or do your homework for you.

I misquoted the name, it's Transportation Advisory Board. http://www.naperville.il.us/tab.aspx

"Overview
The board reviews, informs and advises the city on transportation matters--pedestrian safety, traffic, speed limits, parking, etc. The 11 members serve staggered, four-year terms. Of the members, four have professional expertise, four represent the overall citizenry of Naperville and all must be residents or live within one and one-half miles of the city."

If you think more needs to be done around the city to make sure people no longer get 'trapped' by 'stealth tow away zones' that serve as 'cash cows' for the city, then consider joining the board itself and you can ensure that no one out there ever has such a dastardly injustice thrust upon them. Being that Naperville is full of large SUV's with limited visibility, I would think that someone with such a crusade would have no trouble getting elected to right the wrongs of the city.

I am sure that many people who get pulled over for speeding in Naperville are actually speeding. I am also sure there are people who get ticketed for speeding that aren't.

My daughter was pulled over on Jefferson, near Fort Hill Drive. She was driving my van. Her boyfriend was in the passenger seat. They had just turned onto Jefferson when a policeman going the other direction, made a U Turn and pulled her over. She pulled over immediately after the officer made his UTurn with the lights flashing. She thought he was heading to an emergency and was pulling over to let him by. She was shocked when he pulled up and stopped behind her. His first question to her when he got to the window was "How old are you?"

My daughter was 17 at the time, and had just gotten her license. This is a young girl who doesn't particularly like driving, and did not run out on her 16th birthday to get licensed. She waited until after her 17th birthday when she felt more comfortable. Honestly, if we lived in Chicago, she probably never would have gotten a license since the public transportation system is so much better. But as a young girl involved in two varsity sports, working part time, volunteering with a children's program at Hesed House, and serving as a senior leader with Young Life, it was necessary for her to get her license.

She and her boyfriend are still convinced that she was not speeding. They don't understand how a police officer could have clocked her as speeding when she had just turned the corner and he was coming toward them. Having looked at where they were pulled over, I am certain that she hadn't had time to build up speed from the time she turned until she pulled over to the side of Jefferson. Why do she and her boyfriend think she got pulled over? Because both of them are teenagers who look younger than their ages and were in a minivan. They still believe he thought she was not old enough to drive, hence the age question. They also think that he thought there might be too many people in the vehicle. Other cars were driving faster than she was at the time. They feel he gave her a ticket because he thought he had to give her something since he pulled her over.

How did she respond at the time? Calmly, with dignity, despite how confused and upset she was. According to both kids, the officer was quite rude to them. (Maybe it was the same one who pulled over Eli?) She called me immediately after he pulled away to let me know the situation. (How many teenagers would do that?) Although they had been heading to see a movie, they came home because she was upset. She paid the fee to receive court supervision, and after the allotted period of time, has had the ticket removed from her record. She has not been stopped by any officer anywhere since that time.

Do I think she was speeding? No. Why? Because I know how she feels about driving. When she was learning, she actually drove slightly under the limit. The examiner who gave her her license told her she drove like his grandmother. The people she has driven around on occasion have said she is a good, careful driver, who get passed constantly because she is going the speed limit. She has followed all of the rules with the graduated licensing system. She drives because she needs to in order to get to all of her activities, not because she really wants to drive.

What did she learn from all of this?

TM,

If one feels a ticket was issued in error that is why there is the option to plead Not Guilty and have it contested; putting the burden of proof on the police. Assuming everything about the situation that you wrote is true, that should have been a slam dunk not guilty. If I do the infraction, even in the slightest, I pay it. If I know I did not, I contest them. Contested 3 in my life, was found not guilty on all 3. The system does work if one uses it.

Yes, suggesting a program that all illinois citizen stay the heck out of naperville, you guys do not need the revenue. imagine the money dupage lawyers make defending dui's at the place you guys call a court house .Basically im asking feds to come in and review conduct of NPD over last decade. I HATE the actions of crooked cop. Joe, we want to indict your crooked cops and put them in prison. Are you still in?????

Joe,
I think you are full of hot air like an inflated ballon. Do you really expect anyone to believe you contested 3 tickets and you won all 3? Did you have a trial by jury for each one? Were you willing to pay thousands of dollars to attorneys to fight 75 dollar traffic tickets or were they DUIs???

Something does not add up to what you are saying to all the people you are condemning for daring to say they were mistreated by police.

But in trying to be the smartalic you are, you finally slipped up and made a major confession. You admitted that the police you love so much wronged you 3 times by giving you unwarranted tickets. Thus you are admitting and confirming the police give erroneous tickets while vehemently disputing they do...how ironic!!!

Yes, you have admitted that they have done it to you not once but 3 times!!! But when others like TM or Ameena say they have been wronged, you go on the attack like the police can do no wrong.

Well, the police apparently have wronged you and them. And no one should be required to hire a high powered attorney to fight a wrongful speeding ticket before a jury. And for practicality reasons, almost no one does! And the Judge always sides with the cop if it is your word against his word. Almost always! Citizens don't have a chance in TRAFFIC COURT!!! This is rather well known!!!

So please Joe, cool it with your rhetoric! You finally contradicted yourself in a big way with your nonsense. You can not have it both ways when arguing cases on this blog. In a court of law you would have no credibility. I would be willing to bet that you're not being found guilty on the 3 of 3 cases is just a fabricated story. No one is found not guilty on 3 of 3 tickets unless he was sleeping with the Judge. Trust me on that one!!! Were you sleeping with the Judge, Joe??? For arguments sake I will assume she was a female and you are a male...

Blake...

Joe, I do believe that she would have been found not guilty if sh had contested the charge. But the court appearance fees if she contested the ticket were higher than the cost of mailing the ticket in and asking for court supervision. She knew that she could meet the requirements of the court supervision and have it expunged from her record, so she chose that route. She also would have had to miss a day of school to go to court. As a student taking 3-4 honors and AP classes a semester, she doesn't want to miss class if at all possible. She feels she misses too much, especially as an auditory learner who learns more from hearing the teacher lecture or instruct than from reading a book.

Anonymous,

You are now making things up.

I never said I never got tickets. I said previously I paid the ones I know I deserved because I broke the law (Accepted the spank for what it is I believe was the phrase I used). I also fight the ones I felt were issued in error. 2 in Aurora, 1 in Naperville. 2 times the ticketing officer did not appear. One time they did and I presented my side of the story with respect to the incident w/ photographs of the area, distances, etc. The judge sided with me.

Back to your fabrications: I never said police do not make mistakes. They are human just like you and they do make mistakes just like you.

What I have said is that people WHINING on here (yourself included) are not owning up to their responsibility for the CHOICES they make. There seems to be the apparent belief that you do not deserve a speeding ticket FOR SPEEDING or that it's somehow the city's or the police's fault that you chose to break the law by drinking and driving or by being parked in a Tow-Away zone.

That is YOUR OWN FAULT. If you broke the law, you broke the law. DUI, Speeding and parking in a tow away zone is breaking the law and each person makes a choice to do or not do that. Now please, go crawl back under whatever rock you crawled out of.

Joe,

You sure seem to be getting a lot of tickets for a guy who claims to be law abiding!!

It seems like you are a danger to the public.

Instead of owning up to your tickets or fighting them, I would like to see you become a better driver and not risk us citizens who drive on the same streets you drive with your numerous infractions.

Thank you,
Blake...
PS. And to claim you were vindicated of your tickets and later confess the cop did not show up on 2 of them, is a little bit of distortion. Something you are becoming known for on these blogs...

Anonymous/Blake/Maryann,

I pled not guilty for my cases and was not found guilty on them. That's not a distortion. I'm sorry, are you being a-retentive and want to read the technical term of 'dismissal' for 2 of the cases? Perhaps they did not show up because they knew they were BS tickets. No, that would be too obvious.

Again, I don't claim to obey every single traffic law. I do own up to breaking them if I do. That is something people like yourself can not seem to admit to. Somehow, it's someone else's fault you were driving 5-25mph over the speed limit or had an elevated blood alcohol level. Yes, those nasty downtown business owners are out to fill the police treasure chest by serving unsuspecting law abiding citizens alcohol, forcing it down their throats them putting a gun to the head forcing them to go driving so they can get busted by the police waiting to spring their trap down the street.

Your pathetic attempts to save face are just that; pathetic.

Re-read the blog. You complain about the cops and don't own up to your own actions. I don't complain about the cops and do own up to my own actions. I think the readers can figure out for themselves who has more credibility.

Now, Joe can write the following without getting in trouble?

"Now please, go crawl back under whatever rock you crawled out of."

And Blake can egg him on at will?

Let's call everyone on their antagonistic blogging, not just some of us. This kind of rhetoric get's us nowhere, and Joe's comments do seem to prompt uncontrollable antagonistic response from some of us, whenever he participates in any blog here, I will just stop reading, when he shows up, if he can't be brought in a bit. I don't want any more reprimands by Ted, myself!

I'm allowing Joe's comments. Yeah, he's pushing peoples' buttons but for the most part his comments stick to the topic/issue at hand and he's not overly disrespectful toward people.

You tell 'em, Ted. I think you're doing a great job moderating this forum and keeping a degree of civility and sanity to the discourse.

Joe,
Now you are saying perhaps the cops did not show up for your 2 tickets because they were BS tickets.

Somehow you seem to want to argue for the sake of arguing. Many of the bloggers have been saying they have received BS tickets. Suddenly you are admitting you also received at least 2 BS tikcets.

So you proved everyone right while trying to prove everyone wrong. You have no logic, Joe! My guess is you flunked Logic 101 somewhere along the lines.

Try to be creative and orginal in your writings as opposed to constantly bashing everyone else just for the sole purpose of trying to win an arugment to feed your undernoursihed ego!

And you continue to distort by saying the city passed a resolution and had a right to tow. DF is not stating the city did not have a right to tow. He is stating the city was required to post signs up at a reasonable prior time before towing. He is stating they did not! Can you prove they did with evidence instead of innuenda? DF apparently was there! I was not! Were you there Joe? If I recall correctly you did not even know the month in question. So you must have not been there! If so, stop arguing nonsensically since you have nothing better to do.

I believe the more nonsesnse you write the more you will allow your fellow bloggers to knock off your credibilty. It is my deep desire that Ted keep you blogging with us. Censuring you is not proper! You should be able to continue until you stick your foot so deep in your mouth you decide it is better to exercise some restraint.

Blake...

Joe indicates he does not complain about the cops but claims they issued him some BS tickets. If that is not a complaint I don't know what is! Get a life Joe! You can not be on both sides of the argument just for the sake of arguing. You need to have principles of which you appear to have NONE! Sorry, Joe but you have no principles!!! You are nothing more than a TRASH TALKER!

Ameena/Blake,

There is a difference between 'getting a BS ticket' and 'complaining about it'.

You took the stance that parking in a tow away zone was somehow not your fault. You parked there and got towed. You chose to park there and also chose not to look for any street markings to see if it was a legit parking space. Street View on google shows paint in that spot and when I drove by it on Friday at lunch time headed west one could look over and see the paint on the spots. Sorry to disagree with you, but the paint is there whether you saw it or not.

Blake complains that it's the City's fault for allowing 20 businesses to open up down town that serve alcohol and then implies that this somehow forces people to drink and drive, making the DUI count so high. Blake, if people didn't drink and drive they would not ever get a DUI.

Again Blake, I never said BS tickets never get issued. That is something YOU made up claiming I said. (Again, why you choose to lie repeatedly about that fact, I have no idea)
I didn't say every ticket ever issued it legit. I said if you think the ticket was issued in error, fight it. I also shared my experiences with fighting such tickets. Still, I'm not here complaining and whining on about how the cops are oh so unfair and wild and out of control.

Blake, as far as the DF stuff, keep that in the appropriate blog. I gave you two links in the other one that were published on Dec 14, 2005 stating that downtown streets would be closed starting between 2 and 4 PM on the parade day. That's about 18 days before the 'event' that transpired and also 8 days after the approval by Council to close the streets and establish temporary tow away zones not only for the parade route but also the other closed streets.

I wasn't there and neither were you to determine exactly when localized notice went up, but the documents on the city site I posted were available for everyone to see more than 2 weeks in advance of the closures. I wouldn't have had to go downtown to see any sign to know towing was going to happen, it was published 2 weeks in advance.

Posted by: Joe | December 16, 2007 11:28 PM

Blake, as far as the DF stuff, keep that in the appropriate blog. *****************************************************************
Joe,
Besides being a moron as another blogger stated on another thread, now you show your arrogance by deciding to take over Ted Slowick's role as a moderator. If Ted tells me to take it to another thread I will. But you are simply a nobody trying to be a somebody. You absolutely are ignorant and you are showing it.

You state the police issued you 3 BS tickets but you are not whining about them. Then may I ask why bother to mention them and refer to them as BS.

Joe, everything about you is hyprocritical and illogical. I can see why many bloggers have criticized you. But sady you seem to be thriving on it. Again, get a real life Joe! Go out on a date once in a while.

Join match.com if you like to bulls**t so much. These blogs in my opinion are a serious discussion of politics and serious issues in Naperville.

Blake...

Blake,

Again, you confuse having experienced something with complaining about it.

I mention the 3 tickets to provide context (and actually agree with part of your statement) that sometimes, yes, things get issued in error and our system of justice has a process of dealing with them and that the system works if you take the time to go through the process. No one up until that time, or since, has even made a mention of using that process on this blog. Instead, they 'complain' that the police are 'out to get people' as if there is some systematic conspiracy methodology to their actions. They make errors like everyone else. There is a process of dealing with those incidences (it's the same process you can go through even if the ticket was appropriately issued).

I'm sorry that the fact that I don't come join you in your "Oh poor us, we're all oppressed by the man in blue, boo hoo hoo" pity party somehow makes you even more angry, even if I agree with some of what you said. Perhaps you should go find out why that is. Do you seem to feel that if someone isn't 100% with you that the only other possible explanation is that they must be 100% against you? If so, you've really tainted your own view on things; which is another point I've demonstrated many times on here by pointing out where you make an statement (a straw-man's argument) and then attempt to knock it down by implying someone else said it, when it was *you* who said it. (example: The police don't make mistakes, etc)

But in trying to be the smartalic you are, you finally slipped up and made a major confession. You admitted that the police you love so much wronged you 3 times by giving you unwarranted tickets. Thus you are admitting and confirming the police give erroneous tickets while vehemently disputing they do...how ironic!!!

Again, I never said they don't give wrong tickets... but you said I did (straw man), then attempts to 'win' that argument (but you are only fighting your own false claims here).

No one is found not guilty on 3 of 3 tickets unless he was sleeping with the Judge. Trust me on that one!!! Were you sleeping with the Judge, Joe???

Seriously, WTF is this garbage?

In the meantime, Joe, keep living in your fantasy world of the police can do no wrong

Was this from another one of your alter-ego handles on here? It sure reads the same. I would love it if the moderator could confirm if they were posted from the same location or not.. but I certainly understand and can respect their desire to 'not go there'.

you go on the attack like the police can do no wrong.

That one was from you.. sounds familiar doesn't it?

Now, Blake.. please post where I say the police can do no wrong or even say that the police don't make mistakes. If you find them, I will own up to them. Now, go find the evidence to back up your 'claims'. I suspect that you are the one full of BS on here.

I wouldn't even waste your time responding to Joe, not only is he a terrible troll but a backseat moderator as well. If everyone would stop feeding the trolls on here they would go away. Haven't you noticed that no matter what the issue is, Joe disagrees with everyone and will use whatever ridiculous argument he can come up with to "prove" his point? The only reason he does it is to get a rise out of people.

Actually, Eli, you and I both agree that most people (not all, but most) who get tickets deserve them because they broke the law. You posted so yourself on 12/11 in this blog.

What I disagree on is the dumb stance that some have taken in here to say that The city must take responsibility for all DUIs and related injury and deaths for promoting such an extraordinary nightclub district.

and

But what DOES it say about a community that so willingly sets the stage for the DUI's to happen? If you don't want hundreds of DUI's, stop making liquor so readily available at every bar and restaurant downtown. THAT is the message I believe is being conveyed.

Personally, I think it speaks more of the irresponsibility of the Patrons than it does the city or the police force.

The recurring theme around here by some is that their bad choices are somehow someone else's fault.

Eli,
Notice when you say Joe disagrees with everyone, he suddenly wants to say he agrees with you to prove you are wrong in his silly manner.

I AGREE WITH YOU WE SHOULD IGNORE HIM. HE IS A SICK PUPPY THAT AGRUES FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE. SO OBVIOUS AND SAD!

Blake makes some good points and he just taking what he says compeletly out of context. I could not beleive he was arguing with Ameena and Blake about a cab parking spot that is obviously improperly labeled. I did visit the spot and agree with them! I honestly had to laugh when he implied they should check the Google satellite. How ridiculous!!!

And he thinks all residents are required to read the local paper and log on to the city web site to see if there will be any towing on any specific day. Personally, I think JOE is INSANE!

It is just a matter of time before Ted the moderator tires of him as we all have. Actually he will be doing Joe a favor when he bans him.

He seems addicted to arguing and can not control his impulsive behavior. The only therapy he will get is when Ted bans him.

Maryann,

Unfortunately, you are suffering from the same affliction, claiming people said things they did not say. If you want to talk about taking things out of context how about:

(in response to Ameena claiming the paint is very faint and nearly impossible to see)
Me (12/14) "You know, if you use google maps and choose 'street view' you can see the paint on the street for the 4th taxi space."

Ameena said she did not have access to google right before she parked it. I only stated it's visible on the 'street view' (not satellite view, because it actually is not visible on the ariel shot, not enough resolution) because she said it was not visible at all and had to be almost right on top of it to see it, not that she should have checked google before she parked. Now both you and Blake seem to think I told her to check it before parking.. Again, a false statement.

I also did not say residents are required to read the paper or log on to a website to find notices for towing, but the fact is that the information was there and people could check it if they chose to.

Thank you again for illustrating the recurring theme though: That one's bad choices is somehow always someone else's fault and a lot of people do not like to take personal responsibility for their choices or actions, especially in the town of Naperville.

Also, I personally don't care what you think of me Blake/Maryann/Anonymous. You like to fabricate claims just to knock them down because you can not seem to stick to what people actually say, so you paraphrase incorrectly, change the meaning then try to claim some sort of 'victory'. You've even gone as far as posting under at least 3 (though I suspect at least 5) and probably more 'handles' to 'praise yourself'. I believe there is an insane person on here, but I also believe you've come to the wrong conclusion about who exactly it is.

Joe,
Why don't you visit this cab spot and try to back into it and see if you could identify it as a cab spot from the paint on the street WHILE BACKING INTO IT! Ameena backed into it and could not see the paint. You are always asking people if they were there. Were you there! I hope I don't sound like you and you will suddenly hallucinate I am you.

You are the one that can't comprehend a simple point and blows everything out of proportion.

And now you are hallucinating about all the people that have complained about you as being the same person. That is so laughable! Even the moderator indicated you were sitting on the edge. Is he also the same person?

I am sorry Joe but you just want to be argumentative for the sake of being argumentative as I mentioned in my earlier e-mail that I wrote using my own handle which is my first name. I am the same person who wrote earlier under the same name. However, I should not be writing and ignoring you as readers have noted.

Sorry Maryann, I'm not about to go park in a tow away zone downtown.

I already said I drove by there last Friday heading west bound on Chicago Ave and saw the paint out the driver's side of my vehicle.

Do this:

http://maps.google.com

Enter in: 30 W Chicago Ave Naperville, IL 60540

Now, zoom in and hit STREET VIEW and look SOUTH. See the 4th spot and the white paint? Yup, that's it right there.

If someone can't see this from a vehicle they are driving then maybe they are driving a vehicle that is not safe to operate with so many blind spots, especially in a 'Kid Friendly' town such as Naperville.

"Sigh" I shouldn't be writing, because Joe has caused other members of my home to be reprimanded and I have decided to not participate while he is present. Yes, we should ignore him. I am not responding, only to say that "anonymous" and "ANN E" are separate people, we are not "Bob S, or Maryann or anyone else that has responded unfavorably to and are tired of dealing with Joe on this blog and other blog topics on this site, we won't compete for his space or time anymore, on any issue, it get's the subject at hand in such a turmoil there can be no productive conversation. (I haven't had a parking or traffic ticket for over 16 years, my kids have had a few as teenagers, I guess I need to take away their car keys, and not consider some of their actions as learning experiences, as we all have had in our past.)

*sigh* is right.

Ann, please accept my personal apology for somehow 'causing' some members in your house to type or submit postings to this blog for which they received a reprimand.

Joe...

Thank you , Joe, I appreciate the apology.

One short comment - The Naperville PD DOES "phish" for DUI's. As the bars close the likelihood of being stopped for some "infraction" increases geometrically. Follow anyone for one mile and there will be a perceptual "reason' to pull them over - crossing the yellow line as you make a left hand turn etcetera. Naperville field courts permit DUI fines to remain in Naperville. This really makes DuPage County MAD - THEY want the money. It's not exclusive, but the bottom line is it's ALWAYS about the MONEY!

Do you really think red light cameras are to save lives or reduce accidents? Those that exist in the real world where government is more and more greedy for power understand - it's about the MONEY!

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." –Edmund Burke

Blake, don't look now, but there seem to be reports of people sleeping with judges (your term) in the Naperville Sun every Monday.

It's called: Court Dispositions

Multiple times a week there are people and charges listed with many resulting in failed prosecutions, dismissals and not guilty verdicts for traffic offenses.

After being a resident of Naperville for the last 18 years, I can confidently say that this Blog's accusations are 100% true. Let me start out by saying that I am a well to do professional with a wife, kids, and a mortgage. Over the last 4-5 years, I have seen a significant increase in police presence all over Naperville. Ironically, crime is increasing in this city, but the police officers here are extremely efficient in issuing petty nuisances like speeding and parking tickets. My teenage kids used to come home with speeding tickets, and give me stories like "Dad, the police have quotas, or the police are just making more money for the city" and I used to get angry at them. I would tell them that they need to admit to their mistakes and stop blaming other people. Recently, however, I have had several encounters with the Naperville police that lead me to beleive that maybe, just maybe, there was some validity to my Kid's statement. I was pulled over in my neighborhood, on a Sunday morning driving to Church with my family. I was issued a ticket for driving 30mph in a 25. In another instance, the cop alledges I was going 47 in a 40. I respectfully asked the police officer to see his radar, because I knew I was driving my vehicle within a few miles of the speed limit. The police officer than goes to me "I don't have to show you s**t," and issued me a citation" I was shocked and completely infuriated with this man's behavior. In another instance, I was in downtown Naperville with my kid. He wanted to grab a drink from Jamba Juice, and I drove around the parking lot there, couldnt find anything, and told my kid to just quickly run in and get whatever he wanted, while I just waited in the car outside. Less than one minute later, there was not one, but two police officers on bikes, issuing me a non-moving citation. A simple "Sir, could you please move your vehicle" could have done the trick in this situation. A colleague of mine even told me how a local professor was given a DUI in downtown Naperville after having dinner with his wife. Apparently he stopped his car a little passed the white line at a red light, and blew a .05, which isn't even close to or over the legal limit.

Many strange thoughts have started entering my mind after living in Naperville for so long. I am now starting to beleive that this city is truly turning into a police city, and many actions I have seen have crossed the border into being corrupt. Naperville has extremely high property taxes, (Both residential and commercial), while property values decline. The city has always been very anti-business and pro tax. I could continue to go on and on about policies here, but I will stop. In short, I do not think Naperville is a good city to settle a family and raise your children. The city officials here are very arrogant and cocky, and act like Naperville is some sort of Beverly Hills. If you are thinking about moving here, I would advise against it.

If you are charged with a DWI, please seek a local law professional who specializes in those kinds of cases immediately. They are very helpful in helping you assess what actions are needed and can give you excellent legal counsel on how to minimize the penalties and punishments you receive.

I just wanna say one thing, joe your a jerk and obviously don't obey the law all the time, maybe if you feel we should be tickted for every infraction because it will make us safer, then you should count yours and go to the police headquarters and tell them all the laws you broke , no ones perfect, not me and not you, so stop acting like you try to be the "ANGEL" driver and stop being such an idiot and start thinking about what your telling people before you start typing.

Wow Jon,

I'm glad you slept on this and waited 10 months before posting. I hope all that sleep gave you a chance to really cool off... gosh knows how blistering your post might have been if you hadn't waited...

I have always loved Naperville. I grew up in southern Wheaton and now my husband and I are raising our kids Naperville. I have talked, for 15 years, about moving to Naperville because of all it has to offer. We decided to move to the area in August 2008. Upon reading the paper and listing to neighbors and their woes about how Naperville seems to 'bleed' it's good citizens for monetary purposes, I didn't believe it. Until this morning... I made a left hand turn from westbound Ogden Ave. onto Washington Ave. during the morning rush hour. I was taking my kids to school when I was pulled over. I was surprised b/c I had absolutley no idea what I had done. I assumed that I must have had a tail light out burned out and the police officer was going to tell me. The officer, very kindly, asked me if I knew what I did wrong. I was surprised because I honestly couldn't think of anything. I knew I wasn't speeding, I didn't run a red light, roll through a stop sign, etc... He told me that I pulled onto the 'yellow median' of the turning lane on Ogden. I explained that it was rush hour and the turn lane was full and others were filling in on the same median to get out of the way of traffic attempting to drive through the stop light at Ogden and Washington. I followed suit to get out of the way and to get in line to turn left. I didn't realize that moving out of the way of other vehicles, into an open median for a left hand turn, was a violation? My only other option was to wait in one of the moving lanes of traffic on Ogden and would therefore block traffic. THAT I thought was wrong. The officer asked me if I had received a ticket in the last 12 months and I had not. My last ticket was 20 years ago. He smiled and told me 'good'. I waited in the car with my children thinking that I obviously learned something new and would most likely get a warning. In the meantime, while the officer was back in his car with my license, my 4 year old was sobbing b/c she was so scared and my 6 year old told me that her stomach was hurting b/c she was so nervous (my kids have never had any experiences with the police). I told my children not to worry and that policemen/women are our friends and that I'm sure that I will just get a warning since I didn't believe that I broke any laws. The officer came back and gave me a ticket!! I was shocked b/c I was baffled that I did anything wrong! I was one of many people who, daily, get in line to make a left hand turn...and I was pulled over. I honestly didn't know that I was 'in the wrong'. In the goodness of my heart, I got out of the way of traffic stayed in the wide median along with a host of other drivers waiting to turn left...and still received a ticket. Actually, I'm not so upset by the ticket, but the principal behind the fact that I truly didn't know that I did anything wrong and very kindly expressed that, in addition to my squeaky clean driving record and was still given a ticket rather than a warning. I'm also upset b/c my children were scared out of their minds and have been talking about it all day. I could understand if I was speeding, running stop lights or stop signs, but I guess what I need to do next time is come to a complete stop, in the middle of Ogden Ave., back up traffic on a busy road during rush hour and risk a car accident, being pulled over for obstructing traffic or road rage from another driver. The next time the FOP calls me for a donation, I'll tell them that I donated 'friviously' and will NEVER give them another dime of my money. It's been 20 years since I have been pulled over so I hope to never give them a dime again. There are bigger and better violations to dish out rather than penalizing good drivers, for an extremely silly 'violation' (if you want to even call it that) with no previous records.