Macungie Mayor Gives 'Fair Warning'

When Rick Hoffman campaigned for the office of Macungie mayor in 2009, he promised residents he would slow down the traffic in the borough. 

At the Oct. 3 meeting of Macungie Borough Council, now Mayor Hoffman announced he will act on his promise.

“I am tired of seeing people ignore the laws,” he said.  “I have seen cars totally disregard the flashing lights in the crosswalk at Salvatore’s, nearly running people over when they are crossing the road.  People don’t stop for others in the crosswalk.”

Hoffman referred to the crosswalk at at 174 E Main St.  It is equipped with lights that flash as a person crosses the street, giving drivers ample warning that someone is in the crosswalk. 

“In Macungie, we are going to start to enforce crosswalk laws,” Hoffman announced.

“We are also going to look at the speeding situation on Cotton Street, Lehigh Street and Church Street,” he said.

Hoffman said he is concerned about the number of cars exceeding the 25-mph speed limit on those roads.  There are a lot of children who live on those streets, ride bikes and play near the road, he said.

“We will have officers on duty to make sure that the speed limits are observed and that [drivers] stop at the crosswalks,” Hoffman stated.

“The reason I’m letting this out early is — I’m not out to break anybody’s wallet, so this is fair warning to let [people] know this will be done,” he continued.

Hoffman said the enforcement will go into effect soon, but did not want to release the exact date it will begin.