By: Lydia Crawley
Tucker County has not been wanting for parades of late. With all the parades lately, some drivers have begun to disregard safety and traffic barricades.
City of Parsons Police Chief Kevin Keplinger said that he and his men have been detailed out for several events lately that have included parades and sporting events in town. All of which, have required disruption to the normal flow of traffic in the City.
“We’ve been detailed out quite a bit lately,” Keplinger said. “Home football games. Of course the Firemans’ Carnival, several parades and I understand that people are maybe a little parade tired.”
Keplinger said that during the Firemans’ Parade for the annual Parsons VFD Firemans’ Homecoming Carnival all went smoothly. Howver by the time the Homecoming Parade came around, drivers were not as accommodating.
“Traffic control for the Firemans’ Parade worked wonderfully, the exact same plan for the Homecoming Parade, not so much,” Keplinger said. “I understand there is a difference between Saturday afternoon and 5:30 on a Friday. I get that.”
Keplinger warns drivers that moving of a traffic control device such as a traffic cone or barricade is a criminal offense. West Virginia code 17C 3-4 gives the penalty for the misdemeanor act to be a fine of not more than $100, upon a second conviction with one year thereafter, shall be fined not more than $200; and upon a third or subsequent conviction, shall be fined not more than $500.
“People need to understand that when we put out a barricade, we put out a traffic control device …it is a criminal action to move that device,” Keplinger said.
During recent events, Keplinger said that individuals were committing such acts as opening barricades and waving drivers onto the parade route while the parade was in motion, as well as running over and through traffic cones.
“Its common sense, folks,” Keplinger said.
Keplinger said that should the behavior continue, he will have no choice but to return to the use of wooden barricades during events. The goal of the traffic control is the safety of the children and other spectators of these events, he said. Keplinger said he wishes to minimize disruption to people’s lives as much as possible, which is why he began using less invasive barriers. He said he understands people have lives and things they need to do.
“If I can set up two pylons with a piece of barrier tape that at the end of the parade, gets broken and traffic is open, that’s great,” Keplinger said. “Take about five minutes to set up, five seconds to take down, but if people don’t honor that, don’t respect that, we’re going to be back to the wooden barricades that take 20, 25, 30 minutes to set up, the same amount of time to set down and it adds a real inconvenience to people.”
Keplinger said he asks the public to be more safety minded in the future.
“Please, be civic minded and safety minded and understand that we’re not trying to keep you from your home, we’re not trying to inconvenience you, but we do need to lean to safety,” Keplinger said.
