On March 19,2011 Winnipeg Free Press columnist Gordon Sinclair reported that Mayor Sam Katz has yet to receive a traffic ticket for sliding through a Red Light and causing a collision.
Mayor Katz had been driving on January 21, 2011 around 8:00am at the corner of Carlton and York when he failed to stop for the Red Light and hit another vehicle coming through on the green. Winnipeg Police Officers attended quickly and apparently decided at the scene, that Katz would not be ticketed.
After a photo of the wreck was received by the Free Press, an investigation was done and it was found that it was common knowledge about City Hall that the Mayor had slid through the red light and that it seemed no big deal to anyone. Sinclair attempted to find out more details through the Police but was stonewalled and then told he would have to request the information through FIPPA.
The Mayor and the Police Chief also did not respond to Sinclair’s request for an interview. He was however reached by Central Traffic Sgt. Jim Poole who advised that the officers had made the decision at the scene not to issue Katz a traffic ticket for going through the red light.
This writer would speculate, (having attended thousands of collisions) that the officers likely did not have a witness that came forward to say that Katz had entered on the red light. Therefore it is one word against the other and there would not be evidence enough for a conviction.
Did the Mayor receive preferential treatment? Likely not, there are plenty of street cops who do not like Katz and many of them would gladly ticket him if they had the chance.
The ir
ony comes in what the Mayor has always said when there is criticism about the Red Light Cameras and Photo Enforcement Program,…. “Just Slow Down!” That has always been his answer when confronted with issues on the program. It’s too bad that there wasn’t one of his precious ATM machines at the corner that day to witness his lack of ability to “Just Slow Down”, “Pay Attention” and “Drive For The Conditions”. What;s the matter Sam, didn’t you see the don’t walk sign for pedestrians flashing to let you know the light was changing? Or maybe he was on a cell phone and not paying attention?
Or maybe………just maybe he was caught in the dilemma zone due to his standard and “Adequate” 4.0 second amber light timing and had to make a split second decision to slide through the intersection. What was it Sam? Or has your memory faded due to time?
The man sure is lucky though when it comes to tickets. On November 16, 2005 Katz’s former wife Baillee drove his Lexus through a red light. The ticket was generated but never issued due to a problem with the electronic signiture machine. Several other tickets were tossed as well. Funny thing is though, they could have had an officer physically sign the tickets. But it was decided to cancel them instead.
Lucky Sammy should be his new nickname I think.
What do you think? Leave your comments below and what nick name you think he should have.
See you in the next post……and remember “Just Slow Down” then you won’t get a ticket!
Larry Stefanuik
Wise Up Winnipeg
Katz reminds me of someone I knew. Always told me, do as I say not what I do. I think this guy should be removed.
How can you tell when he lies? His lips move.
Winnipeg’s ticket scam program is not, and never has been, about safety. It i$ focu$ed el$ewhere a$ mo$t ob$erverS can $ee. Ticket cameras are a cynical means to make money with improper and/or unethical traffic management policies. Winnipeg deliberately uses improper engineering methods in order to maximize ticket revenue, sometimes at the expense of safety. Residents need to demand that the predatory scam be shut down, permanently.
Regards, James C. Walker, Board Member-National Motorists Association Foundation, http://www.motorists.org, Ann Arbor, MI
I’ve been hearing your broadcasts on 92citi on wednesdays and am certainly entrigued by what has been said. The “dilema zone” struck me under similar circumstances which resulted in a $406 speeding ticket recently. The scenario exists on the perimeter hwy. daily at intersections bisecting (which is rediculous in itself) where you are expected to reduce your speed from 100Km/hr to 80Km/hr whilst approaching these intersections. (st. Annes rd and St. Mary’s are the examples I know of) I pass through these “traps” 4 times daily on my commute into the city. I can tell you from experience that if you go under the “prepare to stop” flashing lights right when they start flashing at the prescribed speed of 80K you will be in the dilema zone right at the light and will likely just slide through with drastic potential for a collision. Why not add 2 seconds to that timing to allow folks to get safely through on a steady green? Instead you’re forced to either try and slow from the 80k to expect to stop which is tough on everyone behind you or maintain the 100K and make it safely through on the green causing no issues or decissions at the intersection.
Would you please consider this in your investigations, as daily I see people just trying to get to work (in really tough environmetal conditions) trying to not get creamed at these intersections.
You guys are doing great keep up the fight!
PS I consider myself to be an exceptionally safe driver and have driven worlwide including in London, France and Germany. it’s an insult to be considered anything else by law enforcement when faced with instaneous decisions like this due to Winnipeg’s inept ability to support proper road design. Where else in the world do you have a freeway with traffic lights and 90 degree intersections with lights? Have we not heard of cloverleaf’s? Overpasses?
Thanks for hearing me out on this. Good luck.
Keep up the good work!