Drag Racing on Claiborne

Friday after Isabell around 11:30 PM I hear the noise of revving engines and screeching tires. I look out the window and see a car idling on Hunter's Green waiting. Two cars come back down the parkway from the direction of the tollroad, turn around at Vestal's Gap and stop right at Hunter's Green. Then they take off again. They do this over and over before I get fed up and jump in my car.

I pull behind the guy who was waiting for his turn and take down his plates. I then start yelling at him to get out of the neighborhood. At that time his two buddies in two cars come down Hunters wondering what's wrong. I get good looks at em and tell then in no uncertain french that they need to get lost. They do without so much of a word.

I call the cops and they actually get here within 15 minutes for a change and patrol. I doubt they found them or followed up on the plate though.

This is a huge problem and is not a one time occurance. This happens at least once a month at Sunday 2AM when some yahoo and his bike likes to drag up and down Broadlands blvd. But now it's spiraling out of control b/c these kids know they wont get caught and the word is spreading.

There are not enough cops in Loudoun. When is Ashburn going to get it's own station? When is Loudoun going to wise up and move from a rural police structure towards one much more like Fairfax's? On a side note, have you noticed the gang tag (graffitti) on the Greenway overpass on Claiborne? I think the Neighborhood watch needs to be enacted now.

 

When you see or hear such activity, call the Loudoun County Sheriff's Non-Emergency number immediately with a description of the vehicles and any details about their activities (direction, habits, etc.). It is not safe to deal with this yourself.

The non-emergency number is 703.777.1021.


A Neighborhood Watch Petition is at the Nature Center for signatures.

Jan

 

That may be true but there aren't enough cops in Loudoun and I'm sick of it. If people stand up for themselves may be we wouldn't have so many problems.

 

Homer-----you da man!!!
I agree that residents need to get involved, and the best way is through the Neighborhood Watch program.
Everyone that reads this please stop by the Nature Center and sign the petition. It does not obligate you to particpate, but just states you want the program established. Once we reach that point we can get volunteers to do the patrols.
Cliff

 

Count me in on the watch. I'm really concerned about the "creep" from the east coming into Broadlands. The gangs have noticed this area and if we don't act this could be another nice neighborhood ruined by thugs. I for one won't stand for it.

 

Anyone have nightvision on their video camera? Perhaps if we provide some recon proof of the activity, the police will step up. (non-confrontational proof).

 

I wish I had one of those but they are expensive!

 

Jan is right. You are putting yourself and possibly your family at risk trying to trail or harass these kids. There is a formal traffic complaint form at http://www.co.loudoun.va.us/sheriff/complaint.htm
that you can fill out. (I know, you're shaking your head...)I actually did that with my complaint about school buses being passed, and the next morning there were numerous squad cars patrolling the area I complained about. There will NEVER be enough police officers for any county or area to keep most of you happy...a factual, informative, e-mailed form or letter sometimes works better than a high-pitched whine over the phone...and trust me, you don't want Ashburn police turning into Fairfax's...when it does, I'm moving to Russia.

 

And where are they now? I don't see any cops there and people are flying down Claiborne doing 65 mph. I don't want a police state but I do want a police station in Ashburn. It takes about 15 to 30 minutes for a response by that time it's too late. In addition, the cops are too busy harrassing the speeders on the toll road to be doing their job on the not for profit public roads.

 

I agree with Homer. There are always plenty of cops on the toll road. I think with the large - very large buildup of housing in Ashburn, that there needs to be a police station much like the new fire house they are building to accomodate the growth. I wonder what it takes to make somenthing like that happen. I know money, but what else.

 

The State troopers on the Greenway are paid for by the operators of the Greenway. It is patroled most times by 2 cruisers. As far as getting a station here, don't hold your breath. This is a small community with very little crime. "Speeding" alone does not merit a station. If that was the case, then there would be police stations in EVERY community in Loudoun. Speeding is not unique to Claiborne Pkwy.

 

Small compared to what? Herndon has one and Ashburn is way bigger! Ashburn is a very large community compared to most counties in Virginia.

Also there is a lot of non-traffic crimes here but they don't make the news or the loudoun easterner. You have to look for the reports. There isn't a week that goes by w/o one of the following happening in Ashburn:

Home Invasion
Gang Activity
Car break in
Arson

And Ashburn isn't even close to being done in growth.

No, speeding isn't unique to Claiborne but Claiborne is a 35 in which people do upto 70 - Double the speed limit!!!!!! AND there is an elementary school on it in which many children walk up and down Claiborne.

 

There is a question on the ballot Nov. 4 regarding building Fire/Sheriff stations at Brambleton and Lansdowne. Don't know how they got lucky, but Brambleton is pretty close to us. Here is the exact wording:

QUESTION: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of fourteen million five hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($14,525,000) to finance in whole or in part, the cost to design, construct and equip Brambleton Area Fire/Sheriff Station ($8,630,000); and Lansdowne Area Fire/Sheriff Station ($5,895,000)?

--Joy

 

<entire post deleted by moderator>

Joe00134 - Be kind, please follow the rules. We don't have many, but we will enforce them.

-Moderator

 

JenTimC:

This is a good test. If the moderators are out there, Joe's comment should be deleted very quickly! If not, I have found it best to ignore rude rants.

 

Thank you, moderators!

 

Does that mean the the fire station on Ashburn rd is also a sherrif station? If not why does Belmont get one? It's close to broadlands but not so close to the village.