One on One with Newport Traffic Agent

By: Kate Ober
Posted In: News

Working at a desk is a fairly new position for Traffic Agent David Meyers. Though he now spends his days behind a computer, he also has ample experience patrolling the crowded streets of Newport.

As of the 2000 Census, there were 26,475 people residing in the city of Newport. These residents, along with thousands of seasonal tourists, students, and employees, are all looking for the same thing: a place to park. According to the Newport Police Department website, ‘Traffic in Newport [is] a common source of complaints among Newport Residents.’ Parking is an unavoidable issue, as well. Officials at The Police Department are aware that there is ‘no universal solution,’ but they are doing their best to enforce the laws that help to regulate the situation.

Meyers certainly contributes to this cause. After a long career in the Army, Meyers was able to fulfill his life-long dream of working with a police department, and as a Rhode Island native, he is overjoyed to be employed here in Newport. He is a personable and enthusiastic individual who loves his job and takes it very seriously.

After following proper procedure by receiving clearance from his sergeant, Meyers was more than willing to answer a few questions.

Q: For how long have you been with the Newport Police Department?

A: This is going to be my fifth year.

Q: Are you originally from Newport or around here?

A: Providence, Rhode Island. That is my hometown, and I am retired Army by trade, and also Federal Civil Service.

Q: Do you enjoy being outside patrolling or would you prefer to be here inside?

A: I am the type of person; I am happy where I am assigned. I like being outside, and I also like being inside.

Q: When you were out doing the patrolling, which blocks did you typically patrol?

A: I was all around. Newport is divided into four sectors, and I have done all four.

Q: How often are each of the sectors patrolled?

A: Okay. During the day we have two watches, a first shift and a second shift, and it is patrolled that way.

Q: If you could guess, how many tickets have you given out in your lifetime?

A: Oh. That is a good question. That is tough. I could give you an educated guess. I’d say maybe over two thousand.

Q: When you are patrolling, is there an instance when you may make an exception for someone?

A: Yes, I do that, providing that it is legitimate.

Q: Can you think of an example of this?

A: Okay. One would be for example, if a person accidentally parked in the crosswalk. And here I am in the process of writing a ticket. That individual comes back and [it depends] on the answer I get back from that individual. I like to work with the people. I get the facts on their side. I weigh my own personal facts, and then I make a decision.

Q: Have you ever had an on-site confrontation?

A: No.(He knocks on wooden table.) Never. I like to work with the people. Nobody has ever sworn at me. Nobody has ever howled at me.

Q: What happens if you do not pay a ticket?

A: At the end of 30 days the ticket doubles, and if the person still refuses to pay a ticket, and it accumulates up to one hundred dollars, then the vehicle is subject to be towed and impounded.

Q: Okay, here’s the big question, have you even gotten a ticket?

A: Nope. Seriously. What I do is if the speed limit says 25 mph, I go a little under it. That’s how I do it.

Q: Is there anything about the parking situation in Newport that you would like to change or do you think it is at its best?

A: There is always room for improvement, that’s the way I like to word it, for example if I go out and I see a sign that is not readable than I report that, I come back to my sergeant and inform him.

Q: Is there anything that I have not covered or is there anything that you would like to add, perhaps directed towards Salve Students?

A: Okay. I have patrolled the Salve area. In some cases I have seen vehicles ticketed for parking in the crosswalks and too close to the corner, things of that nature.

Q: Finally, if you could choose anywhere in the world to be, doing any job whatsoever, no limitations, where and what would it be?

A: Right here, right here with the police department. What I did was, I put 33 years in the army, and I went to two academies when I got out, and I always wanted to be involved in the police department. So here I am. They are a good bunch of people here. That is the first thing I look for, professionalism, that type of thing, and they have that here.