Ramsey County Sheriff Steve Nelson is fully aware of the economic benefits Devils Lake provides.
But it’s his job to protect the safety of Ramsey County residents, as well.
And an increasing concern with traffic and safety issues along the Woods-Rutten Road and elsewhere have him completely frustrated.
An influx of out-of-state fishermen along that road, parking problems and general congestion have him pondering solutions to the problem.
“We have to obey the traffic signs, too,” the sheriff says. “Just because these people are fishing doesn’t mean they don’t have to abide by traffic signs.”
Nelson says there were between 100 and 120 cars parked along the road over the weekend at various times and possibly over 400 people on hand.
He’s hesitant to get “tough” with offenders, realizing the economic implications fishing carries in the Lake Region.
But he also wants people to know his department is in a tough spot over the issue.
“We just don’t have enough guys in our department to have somebody sitting out there 24 hours a day,” he adds.
“We’re going to have road work starting this week which will make the road nicer, but there still is a safety issue.”
While towing offending cars is an option, it is a time-consuming alternative, too, so the effectiveness of that idea is open to question.
Nelson says it really iritates him to see people driving around “road closed” signs and he says he knows of instances when traffic signs have been thrown into the lake.
It’s not just out-of-staters in the offending group either, he says.
Issuing tickets can prove to be problematic, too, for various reasons. And he says he doesn’t want to issue tickets unless he’s sure he can make them stick.
“If we need to, we will tow vehicles,” the sheriff added. “But our main goal is safety.”
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Ramsey County Sheriff Steve Nelson is fully aware of the economic benefits Devils Lake provides.
But it’s his job to protect the safety of Ramsey County residents, as well.
And an increasing concern with traffic and safety issues along the Woods-Rutten Road and elsewhere have him completely frustrated.
An influx of out-of-state fishermen along that road, parking problems and general congestion have him pondering solutions to the problem.
“We have to obey the traffic signs, too,” the sheriff says. “Just because these people are fishing doesn’t mean they don’t have to abide by traffic signs.”
Nelson says there were between 100 and 120 cars parked along the road over the weekend at various times and possibly over 400 people on hand.
He’s hesitant to get “tough” with offenders, realizing the economic implications fishing carries in the Lake Region.
But he also wants people to know his department is in a tough spot over the issue.
“We just don’t have enough guys in our department to have somebody sitting out there 24 hours a day,” he adds.
“We’re going to have road work starting this week which will make the road nicer, but there still is a safety issue.”
While towing offending cars is an option, it is a time-consuming alternative, too, so the effectiveness of that idea is open to question.
Nelson says it really iritates him to see people driving around “road closed” signs and he says he knows of instances when traffic signs have been thrown into the lake.
It’s not just out-of-staters in the offending group either, he says.
Issuing tickets can prove to be problematic, too, for various reasons. And he says he doesn’t want to issue tickets unless he’s sure he can make them stick.
“If we need to, we will tow vehicles,” the sheriff added. “But our main goal is safety.”
