By BJ LEWIS

bvl001@latech.edu

 

Shortcuts across gas stations and parking lots may get motorists where they are going quicker, but drivers need to know the cuts are wrong and the police are keeping an eye on it.

“Cutting across private property to avoid an intersection [is] really bad in town,” Sgt. Curtis Hawkins, public information officer for the Ruston police department, said. “Mainly [cutting] happens at convenience stores on the corner. People go from one street across the parking lot to get to another street, when they should have to go around the block or go to the next street and turn.”

He said quite a few stores complain about that and police are issuing citations.

“A lot of people don’t think about that, and they just zip across the parking lot,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins said some of the major trouble spots in Ruston are on Trenton Street in front of the Texaco,  located at 1100 Trenton St., and the parking lot in front of True Value, located at 103 North Service Rd. E.

Hawkins said he sees a lot of fender-benders in that area, and a lot of people do not know that cutting is against the law.

“[Drivers] see everyone else do it and think they can do it,” Hawkins said. “They get caught, and people get upset when the officer writes the ticket.”

Muhammad Awan, owner of the Texaco, said there is a lot of trespassing on his lot.

“They drive through all the time, from the hotel and Pizza Hut,” Awan said.

He said some motorist will come from the next door BP gas station on Vienna Street to get to Trenton.

“Because [motorists] know they are breaking the law, they want to pass quick,” Awan said.

He said on some days where there is little activity at his store ,motorists will pass through driving at 40-50 mph.

Anthony Morris, a senior finance major, said he does use the infamous parking lot cut to avoid traffic.

“I knew you weren’t supposed to cut across gas stations to avoid lights,” Morris said. “I just never think about it.”

Morris said he does not do it necessarily because everyone else he sees does it; he just wants to save time.

He said the long way seems to be inconvenient to people, but that short cut can cost money when it comes to the ticket.

The ticket for cutting across private property is $146.

Morris said the offender can pay the fine or show up for traffic court.

“If you don’t do one of those two things, they issue an arrest warrant for failure to appear in court,” Hawkins said.

He said these warrants are good until served even if it is a year or two later when the person is arrested for the offense.

Sometimes students need to be reminded of this law and other lesser known ones to avoid the trouble, costs and embarrassment from them, Hawkins said.

“These are things they might want to consider before they do it,” Hawkins said. “[The students] get tickets but if you bring it to their minds and inform them, you usually have less of a problem.”