Police crack down on cruising on Miracle Mile

Mansfield: Last summer, the city took steps to tackle speeding and improve safety on Miracle Mile. They added speed bumps and increased police patrols on Park Avenue West.

The city council voted to ban cruising in that area, with only one council member opposing the decision. Councilman Aurelio Diaz expressed concerns about limiting cruising as long as drivers followed the speed limit.

Cruising had been a popular activity since the 1950s, but recent years saw a rise in dangerous driving and accidents, including fatal motorcycle crashes. The police reported other issues like fights and weapons violations, especially during late-night hours.

To enforce the new rules, police set up checkpoints during specific hours. The crackdown led to a significant drop in accidents and incidents over the summer.

In a report to the city council, Safety-Service Director Keith Porch shared that there were only 13 crashes during the enforcement period, none serious. Calls for service and incidents also decreased dramatically compared to previous years.

Porch noted that police issued only a few citations, emphasizing that enforcement was still active despite the speed bumps. Temporary speed bumps were placed on weekends, which some residents found unpopular but effective.

Certain groups, like emergency responders and residents heading to specific destinations, were exempt from the cruising ban. Overall, the measures seem to have made a positive impact on safety in the area.