Thanks for the clarification. I have copied your response to Nextdoor as requested so that people are informed. Clearly, as a
cyclist, I would be hard-pressed to be able to get to my phone out of my bicycle bag, particularly as I was very shaken. Since a
large number of drivers are using their cell phones, I would expect that they are in a much better position to report.
I will send my request for traffic enforcement to the link you provided.
Regards,
Catherine McMIllan
On Tue, Jan 22, 2019 at 11:08 AM Bertini, David C wrote:
> Good morning Ms. McMillan.
I am in receipt of your email regarding a traffic complaint posted on “Nextdoor.” Unfortunately you are mistaken in that we arenot
able to access information being posted by different neighborhoods on Nextdoor. In this specific case we are not able to view the
video you referenced nor take any action.
In the future, if you or your neighbors are witnessing reckless driving, please call the police departmentimmediately at
650.330.6300. If the driving is endangering life or property you may also call 911 to report the emergency. In either case, please
give vehicle descriptions and license plates (if possible) to the dispatcher so that officers can be sent to the area in an effort
to take enforcement action. It is very difficult (and many times not legally possible) to investigate traffic violations after the
fact when we are provided with video or complaints as many of these violations are infractions which limits our ability to take
any police action at all.
Also, for routine requests for traffic enforcement, please visit our website which has a specific traffic unit page:
https://www.menlopark.org/345/Traffic-unit [https://www.menlopark.org/345/Traffic-unit]
I would be grateful if you could advise your fellow neighbors and users of Nextdoor of the above information. I am sure if must be
frustrating for them to be under the mistaken impression that the police department is monitoring posts but doing nothing.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Regards,
[cid:1687878395f5817f0141]Dave Bertini
Police Chief
Police Department
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6321
menlopark.org [http://www.menlopark.org/]
From: Catherine McMillan [mailto:gregandcat@gmail.com [gregandcat@gmail.com]]
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2019 9:07 PM
To: Bertini, David C
Cc: _CCIN ; Catherine Ariès-McMillan [gregandcat@gmail.com]>; Greg McMillan
Subject: Help stop stunts along Middle Avenue
Dear Chief Bertini,
I read Ray Mueller's lovely interview in InMenlo, highlighting your qualities as a committed community man, so I thought you might
care about this incident. A few days ago, I witnessed a horrifying situation which I described on Nextdoor in hopes it would
elicit camera footage to apprehend the offender. I limited the outreach because I avoid spamming people, but limiting it may have
had the unintended consequence of eliminating witnesses.
I posted this on Nextdoor, in the Crime and Safety area, as I was told that the police department is reading the posts. I invite
you to read them:
https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=100743234&comment=229005534&lc=1023&ct=LWla6OZc16_tXy51PCOjEnGabGcWoNwKFjoJviYvdAy5QIzFWJGwG3wIgd9bSguM&ec=CUuITXfgC4y3JTZ2xRbYqsCEDVfj1pLaDEEEO8rW-uw%3D
[https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=100743234&comment=229005534&lc=1023&ct=LWla6OZc16_tXy51PCOjEnGabGcWoNwKFjoJviYvdAy5QIzFWJGwG3wIgd9bSguM&ec=CUuITXfgC4y3JTZ2xRbYqsCEDVfj1pLaDEEEO8rW-uw%3D]
There is corroborating eye-witness testimony of what I described but no photos or video footage. However, many people have similar
stories, along that same corridor, and there seems to be people that neighbors have reported. People have private-messaged photos
of offending cars; they may/may not be the right one in this case. Several people have reported high-school aged drivers driving
to school down Middle (the time was 8:20 am on a Tuesday, coincidentally) Would you consider having an officer posted between
Cotton and San Mateo Drive @ Middle now and then on that day, for a relevant half-hour, to witness those incredibly dangerous
stunts? Obviously if the offender is a student, the bell schedule is relevant, as is the day.
I am not advocating driving at 15mph, installing all kinds of expensive traffic impediments: Would a double yellow line down the
main arteries suffice (in most cases?)
If the offender doesn't kill or maim anyone on Middle, he/she will move on to drive recklessly on other streets. Lives are at
stake.
Thank you!
Catherine McMillan
680 San Mateo Drive
