Re: Cost of a Traffic Signal ??

"Mike" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 08:26:51 -0700, Jim Thompson wrote:
>
>
> > I'm going to suggest that the family sue the city for 100X the cost of
> > a traffic light.
>
> Isn't there a presumed assumption, in a legal sense, that roads and
related
> infrastructure are inherently dangerous, and that safety is the
> responsibility of the driver?
>
> -- Mike --

Absolutely, but let's take an extreme example of a sinkhole opening up in
the middle of the street. In most local jurisdictions, once they have been
officially notified, and that usually requires it to be sent snail mail
registered return receipt (no e-mail need apply), any injuries that accrue
due to the localities negligence in performing a timely repair, become
actionable.

In this particular case where an improvement is being sought  for safety
reasons, I suspect that  you would have to have sufficient documentation as
to a  history of previous accidents or near accidents. Then it should
probably be presented to the Planning Board for their consideration. They
forward their findings to the village/town/city board who give it a thumbs
up or down and then pass it on to the Department of Transportation for their
consideration. They are normally very cooperative when a proposal has the
imprimatur of  local government.

Proper procedure (and I'm sure it varies somewhat from jurisdiction to
jurisdiction) should be followed so as to allow a minimum of wiggle room for
the bureaucrats to two step their way out of.