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Mamakating takes action against speeders

By Samantha Montagna
Posted 9/21/21

MAMAKATING— Mamakating has been plagued with speeding cars and reckless driving. The board as well as the Highway Superintendent have had enough. During the August 3, town board meeting, a …

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Mamakating takes action against speeders

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MAMAKATING— Mamakating has been plagued with speeding cars and reckless driving. The board as well as the Highway Superintendent have had enough.
During the August 3, town board meeting, a resident, Daphne Hodgson, expressed her concern about speeders on Route 56 saying that her neighbors are afraid to walk their dogs because cars treat Rt. 56 and surrounding roads like a “national speedway.”
Highway Superintendent, Rob Hufcut, said he would look into what could be done. He announced at the August 17 meeting that he asked Ed McAndrew, the commissioner of Public Works for Sullivan County, and it turns out something can be done.
Hufcut said that if the town wants a lower speed limit for a county road, then the board must pass a resolution for the request to the county.
Jean Dougherty, Mamakating’s Town Clerk, confirmed Hufcut’s statement. She said there is a form, and the request will go to the county, who will review it, and then send it to the state. The request will then be at the mercy of the state and their own surveys for the speed limit, she said. Dougherty also believed that it could be a few months before the state even reviews the request.
Town Supervisor Janet Lybolt put the resolution to lower the speed limit of County Route 56 to 40 MPH on the September 7 meeting agenda, and it was passed by the board unanimously. Hodgson said she was happy to have results to address the problem because speeders pose a real problem to Mamakating.
Before the meeting started, Councilman Jim Carney told the Democrat about the recent hit and run accident on Route 209. According to a New York State Police press release, Raymond Anderson was struck and killed while walking on the side of the road just across from Town Hall on September 4 at around 10 p.m. Shirley Bowens of Walkill was later arrested and charged with a felony charge for leaving the scene that resulted in death and taken to Sullivan County Jail.
This is the second hit and run accident to occur in Mamakating this year, something that Hodgson said she and her neighbors are well aware of. The first hit and run resulted in Tamika Zambrano’s death in Bloomingburg in May.
In addition to lowering the speed limit, Hufcut announced during his highway superintendent’s report that he started working with the sheriff’s department to get people to slow down in work zones. He said he had patrol cars posted in areas with work zones, and many tickets were issued. “Go ahead and speed through,” Hufcut said, “You will get a ticket. I’ve had it.” He also stated that work zone tickets are not the same as regular speeding tickets. He warned that work zone speeding tickets will not be brought down in court.
According to New York State’s website, there are different fines for different speed offenses, but speeding in a work zone will result in double the amount of the original fine. In addition, points will be added to the offender’s license, which could result in more fines, license suspension, and an increase in insurance premiums. Two or more offenses in a work zone will result in license suspension.

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