Wednesday, September 22, 1999
Why is that police officer parking on the grass?

To Peachtree City Manager Jim Basinger:

I have no idea to whom I should address my concerns/complaints, so I decided to write you and let you pass them on to the appropriate person.

Every Sunday I drive north on Peachtree Parkway past Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church where an off-duty police officer directs traffic. This is good because that is a congested area on Sunday morning due to worshipers parking in the old A&P parking lot and walking across the parkway to church.

I have noticed, however, that frequently the off-duty officer parks his car on the grass between the parkway and the A&P parking lot. I have also noticed that usually the car is not a police vehicle and usually the officer who parks on the grass is a man.

What exactly does he expect is going to happen at Christ Our Shepherd that will necessitate him leaping into his vehicle and giving chase? An old lady in tennis shoes pilfering from the collection plate? A teenager jaywalking?

My point is: Why can't the officer park in the A&P parking lot like everyone else? After all, it's just an additional 10-15 feet, a distance I'm sure our macho men at the police department can handle with ease.

My second concern is golf carts. I have spent much of the summer training for the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day walk and, as a result, I have racked up lots of miles on lots of our paths. I have yet to hear a bell, horn or voice signaling that a golf cart is on my heels.

Isn't there an ordinance to the effect that golf cart drivers are suppose to make themselves heard by pedestrians? If such an ordinance is on the books, why isn't it enforced? If there's not one, why not?

I might also add that not once this summer have I seen a police officer on the cart paths. It would seem reasonable that if we had more police visibility on the paths, we might also have a few more warning bells.

Thank you for your time and consideration in these matters.

Viki Brigham
Peachtree City







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