DMV working to spread deadbeat detection

Residents continue to be frustrated with motorists who move into Nevada and fail to pay their registration to secure Nevada plates.

Here is the latest from Bill: I was very happy to see the article about flaky drivers that are not paying their fair share in registrations. I was equally disappointed when I called to report several "deadbeats" in Henderson, only to find out that the number you gave in the article was only for Las Vegas Township. When is the rest of the valley or DMV going to enforce registration?

Bill is correct. The Las Vegas Township constable started the Fair Share program in August, allowing residents to call 455-FAIR to report motorists who move to Nevada but never register their vehicles here.

No other jurisdiction in the state has followed suit. However, Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman Tom Jacobs said his division is negotiating with the city of Henderson to implement a similar program.

"It's a work in progress," Jacobs said.

The program requires a commitment on behalf of jurisdictions. They must have the funding and the employees to staff the hot line. It also requires intensive training because the municipalities that take part can tap into the DMV's computer system to flag a motorists who hasn't registered their car in Nevada. The DMV will not allow that motorist to register until the fine is paid to the jurisdiction, Jacobs said.

Pete asks: Is it true that crosswalks that cross Las Vegas Boulevard, such as the one between Harrah's and The Mirage, are being taken out in favor of mid-block pedestrian overpasses?

Although the state maintains Las Vegas Boulevard, it turned over responsibility for its crosswalks to Clark County in 2003. Soon after, they became controversial as the county and properties fought over who would pay for the pedestrian bridges. Properties also battled over where the escalators would deliver pedestrians.

The county has since kept the pedestrian bridges mostly at major intersections. But I digress.

To answer your question, any construction of a pedestrian bridge and removal of a crosswalk involves agreements and contracts between the county and properties. There are no plans on the books to construct any mid-block pedestrian bridges, county spokeswoman Jennifer Knight said.

Greg isn't a fan of roundabouts: Are you familiar with the stretch of Serene Avenue between Eastern and St. Rose? On that stretch, Serene is seldom used, and for good reason: There are no businesses there, aside from the one block east of Eastern. The remainder of Serene east to St. Rose is nothing but large, rural-style houses on large lots. That stretch now contains three roundabouts, erected sometime in the last few months. Do you have any idea why they're there?

Serene once was one of those secret back roads that only locals knew about. It provided an easy way to travel between Eastern and St. Rose. Greg is correct, the street remains a largely rural area. But apparently too many motorists found great fun in flying down the hilly little road. Uh, I only know this because I witnessed it once or twice. Anyway, the three roundabouts were added in the last year with hopes of slowing down traffic. Roundabouts are also known to prevent T-bone accidents on quieter roads where motorists might not be looking for stop signs.

Ken is curious: I recently I drove onto Highway 215 about 8 a.m. on the Valle Verde onramp in Henderson. I observed a motorcycle officer parked on the onramp perpendicular to the road. The motorcycle was all white. I drove Highway 95 and I noticed a second officer parked on a white motorcycle as I approached College Drive in Henderson. Were these police officers members of the Henderson Police Department? Does the Nevada Highway Patrol have responsibility for traffic enforcement on the freeways, or do they share this responsibility with the Henderson Police Department?

First off, Ken, it looks as though those motorcycle cops were from the Henderson Police Department. Their motorcycles are mostly white, while the Nevada Highway Patrol bikes are dark blue. By the way Ken described the motorcycles positioned on the ramps, it sounds as though they were searching for speeders, according to Henderson police. Henderson works jointly with the Nevada Highway Patrol on the freeways that run through the city. Henderson police also take part in multi-agency task force operations that focus on specific problem areas about once a month.

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at (702) 387-2904, or send an e-mail to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Include your phone number.