Police React to Port North Stop Sign Controversy

One local family's problem with a stop sign outside their Port Washington North home was a hot topic at the village's most recent Board of Trustees meeting. The couple, Elaine Abramson and her husband, Vinnie Terraferma, said the issue wasn't the actual sign but the lack of drivers obeying the law. They voiced their frustration about the stop sign in front of their house on Sandy Court at Marlin Lane and were told that contacting the Port Washington Police Department would be their best bet.

While Port Washington North Mayor Robert Weitzner suggested that the residents send a letter to the police department about the stop sign outside their home, police officials said they were never consulted about the sign the first place.

"It has been standard practice that the police are consulted with when it comes to the placement of traffic signs," said Ronald Demeo, Deputy Chief of the Port Washington Police Department. "And at no time was the police department asked to conduct a survey or give its safety input in regards to the installation of that sign."

Deputy Chief Demeo added that the department will be following up with a written letter to village with its opinion on the sign.

"Subsequently, we have reviewed the placement of that sign and we feel that it is inappropriate and that the sign should be removed," he said. "We hope in the future that when traffic signs are installed that we would be consulted with prior to them being installed."

Demeo said that when too many stop signs are placed within a small area that it causes more problems then it solves. He pointed to this case where there are six signs within a four-block radius in the neighborhood.

"When they put that many signs in it doesn't help with the safety," Demeo said. "It actually seems to make it more of a traffic hazard."

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Port Washington North will take place on Monday, March 22, at 8 p.m. in Village Hall.