Montreal police will intensify their surveillance in the coming weeks at the corner of rue de Rouen and rue Parthenais as well as at several adjacent intersections, after speaking with a citizen who filmed about forty motorists there making a forbidden left turn. within one hour. This is where little Mariia Legenkovska lost her life on her way to school five months ago.
“We are going to bring back an increased police presence at this intersection and at certain others. We want to send a message, we want it to be very clear, ”says the head of neighborhood station (PDQ) 22 in the Center-South, Krisztina Balogh, in a telephone interview.
SATURDAY, The Press reported that a resident, Nicolas Marcotte, filmed in one hour some 44 motorists making a prohibited left turn at the corner of rue de Rouen and rue Parthenais. Last December, little Mariia Legenkovska was killed there by a driver on the way to school.
“This street corner, it would be supposed to be a sanctuary,” denounced Mr. Marcotte in particular. Resident of Rosemont, the 41-year-old man circulates every day in this sector of Ville-Marie to drive his child to school. He claims to observe that automobile crime is increasing, especially since the partial closure of the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel.
Kristina Balogh, she claims to have contacted Mr. Marcotte to “discuss with him”. “It was already part of the intersections we were monitoring. On the other hand, when we see such a recurrence of unacceptable behavior, we relaunch a truly increased presence. This drama has greatly shaken and affected our police officers. They are able to explain to people the importance of being careful,” she explains.
Patrol officers from PDQ 22 will be involved, but “other resources” such as motorcycle officers and awareness officers could also be called in as reinforcements to cover the entire turn ban period, which is in effect every day between 3 p.m. a.m. and 7 p.m. at several intersections.
On site “the necessary time”
In addition to issuing statements of offense to those who are recalcitrant, the commander is mainly pursuing the objective of “making drivers understand that it is crucial to respect the signs in place, especially in school zones with children, bicycles and vulnerable people”.
When asked how long this operation will last, the policewoman answers in one line: “the time necessary”. “In general, changes in behavior require presence over a certain period of time. There is no deadline and we don’t want to give any either. People must understand that no matter when they are there, they could have a ticket, ”she insists.
Mme Balogh also invites citizens to “denounce the problems they witness” in their neighborhoods. “We encourage everyone to do so. Each complaint is taken very seriously, a follow-up is done and we are able to take action,” she says.
Earlier this year, two national mobilizations were held in the wake of the death of little Mariia. On Tuesday, parents who denounce the lack of safe facilities for children were able to meet the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault. “We have a clear message: that the MTQ establish binding standards for the safety of journeys to school,” said Ann-Julie Rhéaume, one of the mothers mobilized for the safety of active transport and co-organizer of the movement. Not one more death, who organized the mobilization days.
With Lila Dussault and Nicolas Bérubé