15 speeding tickets issued on Cooper St.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Traffic violators on Cooper Street in Youngstown didn’t get off easy on Wednesday.

All drivers in the city can expect to see stricter enforcement of traffic laws in the near future, said Detective Sgt. Anita Davis of the Youngstown Police Department.

Drivers were targeted on Cooper Street after complaints arose from the area’s block-watch group.

The Lansingville Block Watch shared concerns regarding speeders on Cooper Street, which runs off the Shirley Road exit of Interstate 680, said Councilman John R. Swierz, D-7th.

“The reality is that people are used to going 55 to 60 on the freeway, and they continue that speed on residential roads,” he said.

In the span of an hour, 15 speeding-violation citations were given to drivers on Cooper, Davis said.

The speed limit is 25 mph, and police gave drivers a 10 mph leeway. Vehicles were clocked at 37 to 47 mph, she said.

“It’s a really small street,” said Davis, noting potential threat to residents.

“There was a lady out there waiting for the bus with her two small kids, and she was really glad to see us,” she said.

The woman told police she and her children have to take a few steps back from the street when cars pass in the morning, Davis said.

“I think it accomplished what it needed to and sent a message to the people,” Swierz said.

The traffic-enforcing efforts on Copper won’t be the last efforts of that nature in the city.

“We will be doing this in other areas,” Davis said.

In the near future, the police department is adding four to six units on neighborhood traffic detail. Those units will focus on smaller blocks and neighborhoods and focus on some roads such as Belmont, Fifth Avenue and Midlothian Boulevard, David said.

“Our expectation is simply to get people to obey traffic laws,” she said.