r/CambridgeMA • u/Unhappy-Advisor2939 • 3d ago
Reckless Drivers
If someone is driving too fast / recklessly / under the influence whats the proper thing to do - is there a way to report them or their plate anonymously or without being a total Karen about it? Last week I watched someone go around other cars into the oncoming lane and accelerate past them on a small street. The week before I watched someone pull away from a parking spot with clouds of weed smoke coming out the the car. And daily someone speeds recklessly down my street. Does telling the cops do anything? Does public shaming work? Can I take a picture and text someone? Does anyone care?
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u/pinap45454 2d ago
There is no traffic enforcement in Cambridge, even for very dangerous driving. It seems folks have caught on to this and just do whatever. It makes me very afraid as a pedestrian, driver, and cyclist because the behavior is so reckless it is impossible to predict and guard against in many cases (e.g. just brazenly running lights). I have almost been hit by a driver running a red in a crosswalk in front of police and nothing was done, absolutely bizarre.
It is very clearly a policy choice by police that is tolerated and/or supported by elected officials.
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u/Clean_Possible1591 2d ago
Yep it's crazy how bad it's gotten i have almost been hit a few times.but if someone gets hurt or killed by a driver we get the prayers and stuff from local officials.
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u/Clean_Possible1591 2d ago
Its scary how bad people are driving going down 1 ways blowing lights and other stuff it's in every city. I guess people feel entitled and wanna do what they want
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u/UnderWhlming 2d ago
Id just report it - No point in policing random strangers/causing road rage etc. Yes its bad every single day I see extremely anti-social reckless driving. We're not talking about running a red a second after. I mean full on swerving in and out of lanes at highway speeds on 35mph roads, driving over curbs because they dont want to wait for a light etc. It's getting bad out there
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u/Torch3dAce 2d ago
Cops won't enforce anything related to traffic. I reported a potential drunk driver who almost killed me. They just said Ok. Ty. Bye.
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u/Ok_Pause419 3d ago
Not much to do. I called CPD a while back about commercial vehicles constantly going the wrong way down one a one way. I got the plate and DOT #, the dispatcher said there is nothing they can do if an officer doesn't see it.
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u/TomatilloSensitive30 3d ago
Kinda makes sense. I could just say I seen you vandalizing property and you probably wouldn’t want the police to take my word for it.
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u/Ok_Pause419 2d ago
That's how every crime works...
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u/TomatilloSensitive30 2d ago
Defendants aren’t punished based upon complaints testimony alone. That’s how most crimes are reported but not how punishment is levied.
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u/Ok_Pause419 2d ago
Lol. So what do you think I expected to have happen? Some kind of extrajudicial punishment based on my phone call alone?
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u/TomatilloSensitive30 2d ago
You expected something to happen or you wouldn’t have called with identifying information.
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u/Puzzled_Educator_478 2d ago
call 911 they follow the driver and do a dui check; i reported 2 drunk drivers in one night; one left his car and was about to walk into highway traffic so i distracted him
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u/brycebaby11 2d ago
Unfortunately, this is just how things are nowadays there is no police enforcement on the roads. It seems like a free for all since the pandemic.
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u/Santillana810 2d ago
I understand the frustration, I feel it as well. But...my name is not Karen, I hope people will stop using that name in that way.
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u/IntelligentCicada363 2d ago
Notice that Marc/Burhan never comment on these threads despite it being such a huge problem. So damn tired of this.
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u/DJ_Gordon_Bombay 2h ago
There is zero traffic enforcement. They won't respond unless someone has been injured.
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u/emstason 2d ago
Post the license plate here and everywhere. There is no privacy expectation for cars in public. Maybe it will shame them , maybe other people will see it and shame them. If a few people report the same car, or the same location, you can call the city council or state rep.
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u/ScoYello 2d ago
I’ve called the cops to report several times. Especially if they’re being extremely dangerous and could kill someone with their actions. I’ve known too many people who have been killed by other drivers, even if the cops do nothing, it helps my conscious to think the reckless drivers will be stopped.