University Park officials are standing behind their ban on cell phone use in school zones, despite a researcher’s assertion that such tactics are ineffective.
Last week, Speed Measurement Laboratories, a Fort Worth-based traffic research company, released the results of a month-long study on cell phone use in school zones. The study focused on one school zone in University Park and two in Dallas, where use of a hand-held cell phone is banned, as well as four school zones in Texas, Illinois, and Colorado where no ban is in place. Observers watched for drivers using a cell phone when the school zones were both active and inactive.
Their findings show that the percentage of University Park drivers talking on their phones in school zones barely dropped when the zone was active, from 9 percent to 8.1 percent. They found similar results in both Dallas school zones.
Carl Fors, president of Speed Measurement Laboratories, said the research proves that bans like those in University Park and Highland Park aren’t enough to deter drivers from using their cell phone in an active school zone.
“We are going to have to do something as a society,” said Fors, who believes an outright ban on cell phone use in vehicles should be enacted. “We must do something to stop it. We can’t rely on public good will." University Park’s enforcement of the cell phone ban began in January 2008. Officer Lita Snellgrove, a spokeswoman for the University Park Police Department, said a learning curve is to be expected when implementing a new law.
“It’s like any new law or city ordinance. It’s going to take some time to educate the public,” Snellgrove said. “I think that as we continue to monitor the school zones and give more tickets, people are going to become more aware of it.”
Steve Mace, a spokesman for the city of University Park, said the City Council is in no hurry to change their ordinance.
“The council is still very much behind it,” Mace said. “They are still supportive of the measure.”
University Park Real Estate
Monday, February 23, 2009
Park Cities Police Blotter
By Anaka Johnston / People Newspapers
Of The Week:There Goes His TipAt 12:45 a.m. on Feb. 14, a couple reported being verbally abused by a vulgar cab driver in the 3400 block of McFarlin Boulevard. They said he was upset because they paid with a credit card instead of cash.
HIGHLAND PARK CRIMES
TUESDAY
At 2:40 p.m., a Honda Civic with an expired registration sticker was pulled over in the 4000 block of Oak Lawn Avenue. The driver, Richard Carrasco of Mesquite, was arrested after Dallas police confirmed the car had been reported stolen.
At 6:06 p.m., a silver Apple MacBook Pro was reported stolen from a bag left in a chair inside the Starbucks in the 100 block of Highland Park Village.
At 6:45 p.m., $200 was reported missing from a fanny pack left in a chair outside the Starbucks in the 100 block of Highland Park Village. 11
WEDNESDAY
Around 2:10 a.m., a purse containing a wallet, an iPhone, nine credit cards, a driver’s license, an insurance card, and keys was stolen from a home in the 4400 block of Belclaire Avenue.
Between 2:45 and 3:15 p.m., a chain saw, a backpack blower, and a hedge trimmer were stolen from a landscaping company’s trailer parked in the 4900 block of Eastern Avenue.
Around 6:20 p.m., a purse was found behind a house in the 4300 block of Belclaire Avenue. It is believed that the purse was stolen from a house across the street and disposed of after cash was removed. 12
THURSDAY
At 2:15 p.m., a woman was bitten on the top of her foot left in the 4000 block of Lexington Avenue. She described the suspect as a black and white cat with white paws, long hair, and a long snout.
At 4:33 p.m., the glass panes of a back door were reported damaged by a prying tool in the 4500 block of Beverly Drive.
Between 8 p.m. on Feb. 12 and 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 13, someone dented a rental car parked in the 3400 block of Harvard Avenue, causing $1,500 worth of damage.14
SATURDAY
Around 4:04 p.m., a 19-inch Sony computer monitor was reported stolen from a home in the 4400 block of Lorraine Avenue. 15
SUNDAY
Around 1:57 p.m., Brian Neal Walker, a homeless man, was arrested at the Whole Foods Market in the 4100 block of Lomo Alto Drive for theft of $13.72 worth of groceries, including food from the hot bar, a small pint of milk, and nuts from the bulk aisle.
UNIVERSITY PARK
TUESDAY
Between 5:45 and 6:30 a.m., a $300 Porsche key was stolen from a locker in the men’s dressing room of the YMCA in the 6000 block of Preston Road.
At 9:14 a.m., lawn equipment, including a $200 blower and a $200 weed eater, was reported stolen from a garage in the 2700 block of Milton Avenue. The items were recovered the next day from Cash Plus Pawn in the 9100 block of East R.L. Thornton Freeway.
At 11:20 a.m., a $450 refrigerator and a $1,500 ice machine were reported stolen from a house in the 3300 block of Southwestern Boulevard.
Full Story - Park Cities People
Of The Week:There Goes His TipAt 12:45 a.m. on Feb. 14, a couple reported being verbally abused by a vulgar cab driver in the 3400 block of McFarlin Boulevard. They said he was upset because they paid with a credit card instead of cash.
HIGHLAND PARK CRIMES
TUESDAY
At 2:40 p.m., a Honda Civic with an expired registration sticker was pulled over in the 4000 block of Oak Lawn Avenue. The driver, Richard Carrasco of Mesquite, was arrested after Dallas police confirmed the car had been reported stolen.
At 6:06 p.m., a silver Apple MacBook Pro was reported stolen from a bag left in a chair inside the Starbucks in the 100 block of Highland Park Village.
At 6:45 p.m., $200 was reported missing from a fanny pack left in a chair outside the Starbucks in the 100 block of Highland Park Village. 11
WEDNESDAY
Around 2:10 a.m., a purse containing a wallet, an iPhone, nine credit cards, a driver’s license, an insurance card, and keys was stolen from a home in the 4400 block of Belclaire Avenue.
Between 2:45 and 3:15 p.m., a chain saw, a backpack blower, and a hedge trimmer were stolen from a landscaping company’s trailer parked in the 4900 block of Eastern Avenue.
Around 6:20 p.m., a purse was found behind a house in the 4300 block of Belclaire Avenue. It is believed that the purse was stolen from a house across the street and disposed of after cash was removed. 12
THURSDAY
At 2:15 p.m., a woman was bitten on the top of her foot left in the 4000 block of Lexington Avenue. She described the suspect as a black and white cat with white paws, long hair, and a long snout.
At 4:33 p.m., the glass panes of a back door were reported damaged by a prying tool in the 4500 block of Beverly Drive.
Between 8 p.m. on Feb. 12 and 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 13, someone dented a rental car parked in the 3400 block of Harvard Avenue, causing $1,500 worth of damage.14
SATURDAY
Around 4:04 p.m., a 19-inch Sony computer monitor was reported stolen from a home in the 4400 block of Lorraine Avenue. 15
SUNDAY
Around 1:57 p.m., Brian Neal Walker, a homeless man, was arrested at the Whole Foods Market in the 4100 block of Lomo Alto Drive for theft of $13.72 worth of groceries, including food from the hot bar, a small pint of milk, and nuts from the bulk aisle.
UNIVERSITY PARK
TUESDAY
Between 5:45 and 6:30 a.m., a $300 Porsche key was stolen from a locker in the men’s dressing room of the YMCA in the 6000 block of Preston Road.
At 9:14 a.m., lawn equipment, including a $200 blower and a $200 weed eater, was reported stolen from a garage in the 2700 block of Milton Avenue. The items were recovered the next day from Cash Plus Pawn in the 9100 block of East R.L. Thornton Freeway.
At 11:20 a.m., a $450 refrigerator and a $1,500 ice machine were reported stolen from a house in the 3300 block of Southwestern Boulevard.
Full Story - Park Cities People
Park Cities Foreclosures on the Rise
By Krista NightengaleAssistant Managing Editor
People Newspapers - Full Story 2/20/09
Christina BaranyRavi and Uma Kalielindi walk arm in arm during a foreclosure bus tour led by Debbie Sutton and Gary Bilpuch.About a month ago, Debbie Sutton and Gary Bilpuch, agents with David Griffin and Co. Realtors, did something they’d never thought they do. They took a group of 30 people on a home tour in the Park Cities. But it wasn’t just any, old home tour — it was a look at 10 foreclosed homes.
Although the Park Cities and Preston Hollow have held off the devastating toll of the economy on the housing industry for quite some time, it looks like these two areas are finally being touched.
“It’s affecting the area,” said Terry Smith, Realtor with Jerold and Terry Smith Realty and owner of dallashomescenter.com. “It’s happening.”
According to a report released by Addison-based Foreclosing Listing Service, the first quarter in Dallas isn’t looking so good.
“Setting a new all-time quarterly record high, 13,259 postings were filed on homes located in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metro during the first quarter of this year,” said FLS president George Roddy Sr.
And it doesn’t look good for the Park Cities and Preston Hollow, either.
According to FLS, in the first quarter, the percentage of foreclosures in all our ZIP codes except 75225 have increased. And when comparing 2008’s foreclosure totals to 2007, one can see an increase in all areas, except 75220.
Where are the foreclosures coming from?It’s obvious foreclosures, even in the bubble, have increased.
But why? Ben Coats, a Realtor with Allie Beth Allman, started his career with a very specific group of people: homebuilders in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.
Looking for Preston Hollow Homes? Contact Bernice Edelman today! http://www.berniceedelman.com/
People Newspapers - Full Story 2/20/09
Christina BaranyRavi and Uma Kalielindi walk arm in arm during a foreclosure bus tour led by Debbie Sutton and Gary Bilpuch.About a month ago, Debbie Sutton and Gary Bilpuch, agents with David Griffin and Co. Realtors, did something they’d never thought they do. They took a group of 30 people on a home tour in the Park Cities. But it wasn’t just any, old home tour — it was a look at 10 foreclosed homes.
Although the Park Cities and Preston Hollow have held off the devastating toll of the economy on the housing industry for quite some time, it looks like these two areas are finally being touched.
“It’s affecting the area,” said Terry Smith, Realtor with Jerold and Terry Smith Realty and owner of dallashomescenter.com. “It’s happening.”
According to a report released by Addison-based Foreclosing Listing Service, the first quarter in Dallas isn’t looking so good.
“Setting a new all-time quarterly record high, 13,259 postings were filed on homes located in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metro during the first quarter of this year,” said FLS president George Roddy Sr.
And it doesn’t look good for the Park Cities and Preston Hollow, either.
According to FLS, in the first quarter, the percentage of foreclosures in all our ZIP codes except 75225 have increased. And when comparing 2008’s foreclosure totals to 2007, one can see an increase in all areas, except 75220.
Where are the foreclosures coming from?It’s obvious foreclosures, even in the bubble, have increased.
But why? Ben Coats, a Realtor with Allie Beth Allman, started his career with a very specific group of people: homebuilders in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.
Looking for Preston Hollow Homes? Contact Bernice Edelman today! http://www.berniceedelman.com/
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