Police to increase traffic enforcement in four Manhasset villages

Max Zahn
Pictured (from l to r) Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, Flower Hill Mayor Robert McNamara, Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Plandome Mayor M. Lloyd Williams, Plandome Manor Mayor Barbara Donno andThird Precinct Commander Daniel Flanagan.

Nassau County police will increase traffic enforcement in four Manhasset villages over a two-week period in May to stem what village officials perceive as a dangerous disregard for pedestrian safety.

“It’s a two-week blitz,” Flower Hill Mayor Robert McNamara said. “Get the word out we’re trying to get people to slow down and not kill our dogs or our kids.”

The plan was determined at the Flower Hill Board of Trustees meeting on Monday night, when acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter spoke on how to combat reckless driving.

“The best way to handle these issues is consistent enforcement,” Krumpter said. “Persistent enforcement.”

Plandome Mayor M. Lloyd Williams, Plandome Manor Mayor Barbara Donno and Munsey Park Mayor Frank DeMento were also present and will be involved in the plan.

Krumpter said Nassau County’s approval of new radar laser guns in the last few weeks will improve enforcement.

“It’s the first purchase of those devices in at least the last 15 years,” he said. “The stuff we’re using I remember using in 1992 when I was on the force.”

He also said education is an important part of preventing reckless driving.

“Does anyone not know how dangerous texting and driving is?” he asked. “People still have not recognized how dangerous texting and driving is.”

McNamara acknowledged that the increased enforcement could only be sustained for two weeks due to limited resources.

“We will come up with a plan for increased enforcement and proactively, sporadically after that,” he said. “There are only so many police and cars.”

“It’s better than doing nothing” he added.

McNamara had not determined over which two-week period in May the enforcement increase will take place.

Village officials are set to meet with 3rd Precinct Commander Daniel Flanagan on Friday at 3 p.m. to discuss further details.

The Flower Hill Board of Trustees also passed a law prohibiting vendors from selling cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products to customers under the age of 21.

The law comes on the heels of successful efforts to pass such an age minimum in the Town of North Hempstead in November and the Village of Williston Park in March.

Suffolk County and New York City also have the age minimum in place.

The seven Democrats in the Nassau County Legislature filed such legislation on April 24.

“The county has been doing it,” McNamara said. “We’re just following with the county.”

The law calls for a fine on a vendor between $200 to $500 after a first offense and a fine between $500 to $1,500 after a second offense, village Attorney Jeffrey Blinkoff said.

“Tobacco is a health issue,” village Administrator  Ronnie Shatzkamer said. “We should do this right away.”

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