Chief’s Corner
By Chief Steven J. Wojnar Dudley Police Department The topic of using local streets for recreation was brought up to me recently. Now that most of the COVID restrictions have been lifted, people will be out and about doing a variety of activities. It is important to remember, vehicle travel is the primary purpose for most roads. Where possible, sidewalks are laid out for pedestrians. Obviously, there must be rules in place to provide safety for all travelers. I was asked to provide information on our local laws and to remind people of the dangers associated with improper conduct on streets. As I mentioned, streets are designed for use by motor vehicles. Pedestrians, bicycles, skateboards, and other means of travel are generally restricted to the roadsides, sidewalks, and/or other authorized areas. Using the streets as a playground can be very dangerous and accidents can result. Dudley By-law Article 8 Section 5 prohibits various forms of game playing on Town streets. It states in part, “No person or persons shall in any of the public ways of the town throw stones, snowballs, sticks or other missiles, or kick a football or play at any game in which a ball is used, or engage in any other game or exercise, interfering with free, safe and convenient use of said street or highway by any persons traveling or passing along the same.” Based on this, any game or act which disrupts traffic flow is not allowed. The use of streets as a “playground” should be prohibited, especially by the parent or guardians of the children involved. Many dead end or lesser traveled streets, often cause people to take a more “relaxed” approach to these rules. Some may let their guard down and assume nothing will happen. This certainly is not the case. Vehicles can appear from anywhere. People in the streets may not be seen and items, such as skateboards, balls, bicycles, scooters, etc. in the road can be a hazard for drivers. Accidents or injuries can occur at any time when there is this unsafe mix of people and cars. Please make every effort to prevent these from occurring by engaging in activities in a safe manner. |
The regular Memorial Day Ceremonies and the Parade were cancelled this year. hanks go out to the local Veterans’ organizations for taking the time to hold some brief but fitting remembrances in both Towns. This provided some appropriate recognition for the sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces. For those still seeking vaccination information, it can be found at www.dudleyma.gov or by calling 508-949-8036. Please continue moving forward with the “re-opening” of our state in a reasonable manner. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. This has been a challenging year plus for everyone. We, at the Dudley Police Department, greatly appreciate the support we receive from our community.
Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St. Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at swojnar@dudleypolice.com. Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen. |
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