Loud Muffler On Cone Boulevard
Dear Editor,
There were gun shots on Cone Boulevard this afternoon (Monday, March 21) about 5 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m.? Whoops, my bad. It was just a car that had modified its muffler system or engine so it would make it sound like gun shots. I was with a 20-year veteran of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department that knows what he hears. We dove for the dirt both times.
This is just one of the many crimes Greensboro Police Chief Brian James and GPD don’t enforce. I believe an improper muffler is a violation of law? Unfortunately, you hear them all over town. Did they change this law, Chief James?
In my opinion this is an absolute dereliction of duty by GPD Police Chief Brian James. He is a sworn officer that swore to enforce all laws. It is very apparent he has failed to do his sworn duty. Furthermore, I suggest this a criminal offense.
My goal is to post each day for 30 days one instance and example of laws GPD doesn’t enforce. Might not make it, but it will be close.
Am I the only one in Greensboro that recognizes how important this issue is to your safety and wellbeing?
Speak up law abiding citizens of Greensboro. Your once loved city is getting away from you.
Jim Donaldson
Just start enforcing th we speed limits, no tags and safety issues with cars not to mention reckless driving and road rage
Sorry GSOMan, but I chronically and consistently exceed posted speed limits by a large margin, and have always done so. I drive about 30,000 miles a year and have NEVER had a wreck of any kind in 38 years.
If “speeding” were dangerous, that would not be possible. The truth is that speed limits here are set at ridiculously low levels, often indicating the political clout of a neighborhood rather than a traffic engineer’s assessment.
And that’s why nobody obeys speed limits. They’re absurd (like the “55” that Jimmy Carter imposed).
Jim, sadly the city is gone. Certainly is not what it once was. The many years of poor or self serving “leadership” have left the mess we now have. I can hope but I do not think it will get better.
Greensboro (Nancy Vaughn) calling the shots doesn’t stop cars for minor traffic violations. High Point does and High Point gets guns, drugs, wanted people, people not supposed to be driving, etc. etc… which has reduced violence in the City of High Point. Since Greensboro City Council put that restriction on the PD, crime has risen. Guilford County Sheriff Dept. does more traffic enforcement in the City of Greensboro than Greensboro PD, which is wrong. The Sheriff’s office should be out in the County protecting and Patrolling the County residents. Republicans come out and vote in a new Sheriff on May 8th. Greensboro, you are just out of luck as the violence continues.
Law enforcement in this city has been so bad for so long, I don’t see how we can ever get a handle on the situation!!!
Although i applaud Mr Donaldson’s enthusiasm in enforcing all the laws I would respectfully disagree that Chief James and the majority of Greensboro Police Officers are to blame through dereliction.
I would consider the fact that they are going from call to call answering the basic needs of the population (ie public safety). These calls include domestics, mental health, community disorders, drug overdoses, traffic accidents etc etc
The uniformed patrol officers you see answering the 911 calls, protecting the schools, walking the housing neighborhoods and involved in various other assignments are working their best to keep Greensboro safe. They do it undermanned and in a complex, ever changing society.
I thank Mr. Donaldson for his 20 year service and all those who continue to carry the torch.
Stay safe GPD.
A vehicle with a “gun shot” muffler used to regularly drive down I-840, often late at night. Haven’t heard it, recently; may have moved over to Cone.
The number of loud Illegal mufflers have increased tremendously in recent years; mainly because idiots know that they will not be stopped.
The other day, I noticed that there were two (2) marked police cars waiting with a stalled motorcycle ; tow truck finally arrived. At many accidents (even minor fender-benders) a bunch of police cars show up. Most of the officers should be stopping law-breakers, rather than hanging out where they are NOT needed.
I may be wrong, and probably am, but I’d be willing to bet that the reason you’re seeing more incidents with multiple units responding could be because there’s a greater number of inexperienced or rookie officers, who may need or request supervisor assistance with some.
Just throwing that out there for consideration. Any LEO reading this who would like to correct me, please do.
You are right, but I think you are wasting your time.
The GPD doesn’t have enough staff to do their job. And it will continue to decline in numbers, as there aren’t enough people in training now to maintain the attrition rate; much less increase the officers on duty. Considering the pay and working conditions, why would anyone want to work for the GPD?
After taxes and junk deductions, a new officer would be lucky to take home $3,000/mo., prob more like $2,500/mo. Support yourself on that? Get ahead? Not likely, and inflation destroys that PDQ. Get shot at or assaulted? Yeah.
Pay these men & women $55,000-60,000; and you’ll get more applicants, and better ones. Certainly more affordable that all this money our council throws away.
In Venezuela, officers on the street don’t make much. They get access to a few “deals from the political bosses, and regularly shake down the population to add to their “take-home”. They are able to do this because citizens are not allowed to defend themselves.
The Democrat Playbook is in play here. You can search for the Playbook online. If we don’t turn our local & Federal govt around soon, our Republic is finished. Kaput. Finito.
When ever in a city the size of Greensboro has EVERY crime, infraction, or ordinance violation been policed?
Never! Maybe in a town like Mayberry. Sounds like you want personal police protection so can through rocks at those pesky kids. lol
You do know that GPD is missing 100 officers, or roughly 18% of its force, right? That does not include anybody who is hurt, on vacation, out sick, etc. I think they have bigger fish to fry while shorthanded than loud mufflers. The officers on the street aren’t perfect (they only get paid $20 an hour after all), but they are out there slogging calls as fast as they can and probably don’t have too much time to deal with nuisance issues.
If you want to gripe about something, how about griping to council about the lack of pay and benefits which led to our 100 officer shortage?
The current police academy is down to 16 officers or less. Not going to make much of a dent in the numbers when they get out on their own this fall. (and yes, that’s how long it will take for them to get to call answering on their own.) Heck, I think the GPD has lost almost that many officers from the force this year already.
Don’t panic everyone. I hear the chief has a great plan. Target implementation date is roughly 2025 apparently though. No rush, Chief.
Your data is a little inaccurate. The academy only has 15 people left in it. Those numbers to change quickly though.
If you think that a loud muffler is not being enforced let’s look atEXPIRED 30 day paper tags. I’VE seen them that are over one year old yes had been EXPIRED for a full year. Chances are they have cancelled their insurance on the vehicle as well. Come on let’s start getting these off of these cars off of pur streets and highways.
High Point is just a hop skip and jump from here
or Winston Salem , but it’s the same there I am sure . And different police chiefs too.
Get Jim some cheese to go with his whine.
Lake she I’ll bet you’re driving one of those cars with no insurance and expired tags with kids in the car with you and a baby daddy or two letting the kids get a contact high
Mr. Donaldson, would you like some cheese to go with your whine?
I see expired tags at traffic lights all the time. How much enforcement is being done
Is beyond me.
I agree with all the comments above reminding everyone that GPD is very short on available officers. Also take into account their hands are tied on a lot of these types of calls, expired tags, etc., due to the current city council. Certain council members do not like for law enforcement to stop cars due to invalid tags or simple violations because it comes across as profiling or racist. How about a dose of reality; some, of course NOT ALL, of these vehicles are carrying drugs, weapons, etc. If they were allowed to make stops like this, assuming there were more officers available, then perhaps some drugs and weapons could be taken off the streets. Do not blame Chief James for any of this.
I can remember when it was illegal to have “Glass Packed Mufflers” What happened to that law?
If the police will not enforce laws about expired tabs, what else are they ignoring? Maybe our interim governor “Roy” will ask the legislature to do away with tags.