MILWAUKEE — The City of Milwaukee shared the results Friday of its updated towing policy to discourage reckless driving.
That policy, enacted in May, allows Milwaukee police officers to tow unregistered vehicles and other cars cited for reckless driving, excessive speed, fleeing from officers and drag racing.
Since May, the police department said they have towed 100 vehicles and made six arrests.
“Fatal crashes are down 8%, hit and runs are down 18% and all crashes are down 14%. I would like to believe that’s because of all the different ways that we are addressing reckless driving, there has been an impact as a result of that collaborative work,” said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffery Norman.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he believes that since only 10% of the offenders are repeat offenders, motorists are getting the message.
“I think the word is out there that if you drive recklessly in Milwaukee, you run the risk of having your vehicle towed, and if you do not come to the tow lot and present proper credentials, if you don’t get your vehicle registered or have proper insurance, your vehicle stays here for so long, then guess what? Your vehicle will be disposed of,” said Johnson.
And it’s not just public officials that are combatting reckless driving. Residents are also getting involved.
A few months ago, Jordan Morales wanted to slow the traffic in his Sherman Park neighborhood.
He and a few others took signs that were a part of a Department of Public Works project to create a makeshift traffic circle at one of the intersections.
“Cars really responded well to it. I mean, they slowed down on that intersection for the time that makeshift traffic circle was up,” said Morales.
While the city eventually removed the signs, Morales got his neighbors to sign a petition to bring more traffic-calming infrastructure to the neighborhood.
The city responded by installing a speed bump, and they are working on a traffic circle, among other projects.
“It forces cars to slow down where they slow down, whether they like to or not. So we are really happy that it is getting put in and I know that it will make the whole neighborhood safe as far as reckless driving,” said Morales.
Morales said he believes that putting in the right infrastructure will make the biggest impact on reducing reckless driving.
“It’s less likely you are getting hit on your bicycle, or it’s less likely that you are getting hit as a pedestrian. This type of infrastructure is what needs to be scaled city-wide and would save a lot of money on law enforcement as well,” said Morales.
For Morales, the most important thing is to make the neighborhood safe for the kids and families moving in.