North Woodbury Township Installs Warnings to Deter Stop Sign Violations, Hires Part-Time Officer

If you've driven through North Woodbury Township lately you may have noticed something a little out of the ordinary attached to some stop signs.

To encourage drivers to come to a complete stop, the signs (shown right) point out that stopping costs nothing, while a rolling stop, which is when a driver slows down but doesn't come to a complete stop before proceeding through the intersection, will cost the driver $158 and three points on their driver's license.

North Woodbury Township Officer in Charge Lance Morris said the signs were suggested by Township Supervisor Mark Ayers after seeing similar signs in Tyrone.

"I think it is a good deterrent with a sense of humor," Morris said. "It is a good reminder that not coming to a complete stop can cost you."

Morris said rolling stops have become an issue in the township and are a hazard to public safety. He is hoping the signs will make people think twice before going through an intersection.

Morris said drivers tend to become complacent, especially at intersections they frequently drive through and tend to slow down just enough to see if it is clear.

"It's when they get very complacent and it goes beyond a rolling stop and that's when accidents happen," he said.

Morris said the township has 12 signs and currently has six installed.

"We can move them easily to different intersections if we want," he said.

Morris, who was appointed officer in charge in November, said his first two months on the job have gone well as he gets to know the community.

In other department news, North Woodbury Township has another set of eyes watching the community as Nathan Claycomb, police chief of Freedom Township, was hired to work as a part-time officer.

"Nate is someone I know I can trust and brings a lot of experience to the department," Morris said. "It is a great thing to have someone of Nate's caliber to work with."