Editor,
After reading the article in the Daily Lobo on Thursday about how the UNM Police Department was going to start ticketing for breaking the new 5 mph speed limit near the construction sites, I decided I would try slowing down and obeying the law. After all, going my normal 18-20 mph would soon be resulting in a nearly $300 ticket.
After doing that for an afternoon - crawling for nearly a half mile, slowing traffic and nearly getting mugged by angry drivers passing me - I decided to write in and complain. I will be the first to admit that we, the drivers on campus, need to watch our speed, but 5 mph is insane.
First off, my speedometer in my car zeroes out at about 5 mph, so this is obviously slower than the makers of my car intended for it to go.
Second, I think the guys who are making motorists travel this slow did not put much practical thought behind that new number, since most people late for class travel nearly 5 mph on foot.
Why didn't they just close the road if they are going to punish us for going faster than we can walk?
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Finally, I might still be OK with the new enforcement policies - if they were going to be enforced for everyone at all times. I still see people blowing by at speeds of nearly 30 mph without getting stopped. I feel it is unfair to get a ticket for going 15 mph - an insanely costly one, too - just because a cop feels like pulling someone over at the time I drive by.
Please rethink this new speed limit. There has to be a more practical way of ensuring the safety of pedestrians and construction workers.
Anthony Garcia
UNM student
