What the Hell! Why are police in city of Atlanta directing traffic everywhere. (Auburn: disposal, authority)

[Atlwarrior]

Okay I can understand directing traffic after major events that have thousands of people leaving, but seriously parking lots, one of two people crossing for a church service, and other small events is just too much. In some cases the police officers are making traffic worse when the light could do a better job.

[ATLTJL]

Police directing traffic seems to always make everything much worse.

When they have events at Gwinnett Arena, instead of directing traffic, police just manually control the traffic lights. Things seem to flow much smoother that way. I'm not sure if that's why or just because things are generally designed better around that venue.

[flyonpa]

Most of them are "Extra" duty (Overtime) jobs.

The Event, Church, Company Parking lot is paying them to be there.

They know who is ultimately paying them, and will favor the Event/Church/... as they direct traffic to get them out faster easier etc.

[CCATL]

Originally Posted by Atlwarrior

Okay I can understand directing traffic after major events that have thousands of people leaving, but seriously parking lots, one of two people crossing for a church service, and other small events is just too much. In some cases the police officers are making traffic worse when the light could do a better job.

Agreed, too many cops stopping traffic on roads to help people leave parking garages in midtown, and especially in downtown. If you drive, you wait your turn to get out like everybody else - no need for a cop to stop traffic. If it really is needed, then a stop light should be installed. Cops seem to make traffic worse when they are directing it.

[atler8]

Originally Posted by CCATL

Agreed, too many cops stopping traffic on roads to help people leave parking garages in midtown, and especially in downtown. If you drive, you wait your turn to get out like everybody else - no need for a cop to stop traffic. If it really is needed, then a stop light should be installed. Cops seem to make traffic worse when they are directing it.

Yes, I absolutely agree that it often makes a traffic situation or traffic flow worse which in and of itself is pure aggravation.
But, note flyonpa's comments above. It's the city policy that allows OFF DUTY police to be hired to handle parking lot or special event traffic that is the culprit. To compound it, they wear police uniforms & have police authority to enforce their will even though they are doing the directing at the behest of whichever private employer has hired their services.
Be clear in understanding that it is not the City of Atlanta that has sent them out to do this directing that we are complaining about here.

[CCATL]

Originally Posted by atler8

Yes, I absolutely agree that it often makes a traffic situation or traffic flow worse which in and of itself is pure aggravation.
But, note flyonpa's comments above. It's the city policy that allows OFF DUTY police to be hired to handle parking lot or special event traffic that is the culprit. To compound it, they wear police uniforms & have police authority to enforce their will even though they are doing the directing at the behest of whichever private employer has hired their services.
Be clear in understanding that it is not the City of Atlanta that has sent them out to do this directing that we are complaining about here.

Yeah, I've found that out when I'm biking in the Peachtree Center Cycle Track downtown. There were cars using the cycle track as a turn lane, and a cop about 500 ft away helping pedestrians cross the street. He was in an APD uniform, so I asked him if he was going to do anything about all of the illegal driving just ahead, and he said he couldn't because he was not on duty. To say the least, I was PO'd, and told him if he wasn't going to enforce laws for the City of Atlanta, he shouldn't be wearing a City of Atlanta uniform. Very aggravating.

[atler8]

Originally Posted by CCATL

Yeah, I've found that out when I'm biking in the Peachtree Center Cycle Track downtown. There were cars using the cycle track as a turn lane, and a cop about 500 ft away helping pedestrians cross the street. He was in an APD uniform, so I asked him if he was going to do anything about all of the illegal driving just ahead, and he said he couldn't because he was not on duty. To say the least, I was PO'd, and told him if he wasn't going to enforce laws for the City of Atlanta, he shouldn't be wearing a City of Atlanta uniform. Very aggravating.

[flyonpa]

Originally Posted by CCATL

Yeah, I've found that out when I'm biking in the Peachtree Center Cycle Track downtown. There were cars using the cycle track as a turn lane, and a cop about 500 ft away helping pedestrians cross the street. He was in an APD uniform, so I asked him if he was going to do anything about all of the illegal driving just ahead, and he said he couldn't because he was not on duty. To say the least, I was PO'd, and told him if he wasn't going to enforce laws for the City of Atlanta, he shouldn't be wearing a City of Atlanta uniform. Very aggravating.

The Bike Collation can hire a "Extra" Duty cop to enforce it...

[CCATL]

Originally Posted by flyonpa

The Bike Collation can hire a "Extra" Duty cop to enforce it...

Right, because they have the same money at their disposal as the Hyatt, GP, and Suntrust We shouldn't need to hire off-duty police officers in APD uniforms to enforce city laws.

[JPD]

It is annoying to get delayed, but in many instances the folks leaving the parking lots would never get out of there if the police weren't assisting. I drive by some decks on Auburn, and depending on the day of the week and GSU class schedules, traffic control is needed or the people leaving the GSU deck would be trapped.

Of all the things to bellyache about. It's Friday. Quit whining.