Don’t ‘block box’ is great but will police enforce it?

I read with interest that Baltimore is planning on enforcing the “don’t block the box” law and will fine drivers who block intersections causing traffic backups and other issues (“Get in the way and you’ll pay, city warns,” April 19). The article also refers to the campaign to include safety messages such as pedestrian and bicycle safety, speeding, etc.

This causes me to wonder. While I greatly appreciate any attempts to make life safer for its citizens, how will the changes be enforced? I rarely see police officers near an intersection monitoring traffic flow. I hope the city recognizes that these backups and unsafe driving also occur outside the Inner Harbor. Yesterday, as I was driving north on the Jones Falls Expressway, a car passed me doing at least 90 miles an hour. How would I know this? Because I was going 60 and he passed me, almost nearly sideswiping me, and was around the next three bends and out of sight within five seconds!

Imagine my surprise when as I made the turn I found that one of Baltimore’s finest was in his patrol car driving north on the same stretch of road. There’s no way he did not notice that this car passed him at breakneck speed. Yet he continued down the road, apparently oblivious or not caring, to exit at Cold Spring. At no point in his journey did his speed exceed 58 miles an hour. Apparently, he didn’t care that someone was whizzing by him.

So, yes, while the desire to enforce these laws may be great, until this city gets a police force that is either staffed enough to enforce the intersection laws or cares enough to enforce the laws, I’m afraid that I don’t believe there will be any changes.