Merchants Say Deputies Take the Low Road on High Street : Moorpark: Shopkeepers say the officers have turned the road into a speed trap, driving away potential customers.

Motorists driving along High Street in Moorpark these days are getting accustomed to seeing something new along with the 90-year-old pepper trees that line the avenue and such familiar local landmarks as Whitaker’s Hardware store.

More and more, according to some local business owners, Ventura County sheriff’s deputies are pouncing on drivers who violate the speed limit.

Some merchants have complained to city officials that deputies have turned High Street into a speed trap, driving away potential customers.

“They’re passing out tickets like popcorn,” clothing store owner Joy Cummings told the City Council on Wednesday. “I feel that just because the speed limit is 25 miles per hour, they’ve made it a kind of speed trap.”

The council lowered the speed limit to 25 m.p.h. from 35 m.p.h. March 21, Assistant City Clerk Dot Vandaveer said. Since April 1, deputies have issued 424 speeding tickets on the five-block historic avenue, sheriff’s spokeswoman Joyce Carroll said.

That comes to an average of 53 tickets per month, which is nearly double the monthly average issued in the three months before the speed limit change, according to Sheriff’s Department figures.

Cummings, who owns The Gas Station clothing store, and other shop owners said officers on motorcycles or in patrol cars often hide on side streets or behind parked cars.

“The motorcycle cop will probably pull over four or five people in two hours time,” said Abdul Barakat, who has run Barakat’s Market for 20 years. “I’ve seen that on a consistent basis over the last three months,” he said, adding that the deputies often stop motorists in front of his store.

“That’s not good for business,” said Laurie Acio, owner of The Children’s Hour clothing store.

City officials lowered the speed limit to protect pedestrians, Deputy City Manager Richard Hare said. And Sheriff’s Department officials said they see no reason to change their tough enforcement policy.

“People need to keep in mind that we’re not going to write them a ticket for 27 miles per hour,” said Lt. Geoffrey Dean, who heads the sheriff’s Moorpark patrol unit. “Generally, they’re 10 to 15 miles over the speed limit before we’re going to write them a citation,” he said.

Each driver caught going 35 m.p.h. in a 25 m.p.h. zone is given a ticket for $51, and drivers caught going 46 m.p.h. will get tickets for $106, said Linda Finn, a spokeswoman for the Ventura County Municipal Court.

“To ask us not to enforce a street I think is very shortsighted personally,” Sgt. Marty Rouse said. He said if residents believe the speed limit is too high, they should ask city officials to change it.

Councilman Scott Montgomery said Wednesday that the City Council will reconsider the speed limit.

Many business owners say they believe it should be returned to 35 m.p.h.

“I welcome the police on this street,” said Peggy McLaughlin, owner of Sweet Cinn’s Bake Shop & Catering Service. “But I don’t think 25 (m.p.h.) is realistic.”

The problem is that drivers can’t slow down fast enough when the speed limit changes from 40 to 25 m.p.h. at the Spring Road intersection, said resident Pete Peters, who added that he received a ticket Sunday for driving 42 m.p.h. on High Street.

“When you’re coming down 118 (Simi Valley Freeway) onto High Street, you’re doing 40 to 45 miles per hour,” Peters said. “You can’t stop in the intersection or someone will kill you.”

“People are afraid to death to go down that street,” Peters said, adding that he believes city officials don’t want to change the speed limit because they get “a kickback from the fines.”

City Manager Steven Kueny said the city receives 43% of all traffic fines. But those revenues will not influence a decision about changing the speed limit, he said.

In the meantime, Acio said she has found a way to keep patrol officers from parking in front of her store.

“What we do is we get my little girl to go over and ask him 9 million questions,” Acio said, referring to her 4-year-old daughter. “They leave. They leave real fast.”