Hillsboro removes signs that prohibit cruising

The city of Hillsboro has removed the street signs that prevent cruising in the uptown area. Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings said that while he is not initiating an organized movement to bring cruising back, should it happen "organically" and bring patrons to local uptown businesses, it may be positive for the community. 

The Hillsboro Street Department began removing the signs around Feb. 28, according to superintendent Steve Pence. Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Rick Giroux said the signs were removed "by mayoral order." 

The signs stated that no left-hand turn was permitted between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

Hastings told The Highland County Press that he ordered the removal because he was "just cleaning up. There's a lot of sign pollution. Part of the problem is if you have signs, they want you to keep them in excellent condition and adhere to new reflective regulations. There are always new regulations for this kind of stuff. It's expensive, and sometimes it's just easier to take them down." 

Both Hastings and Giroux said they were not familiar with why the signs were initially installed in the 1990s or that it was related to a past cruising issue. 

"I wouldn't say that I am proactive in trying to bring cruising back," Hastings said. "I would say my stance is, I'm not disallowing it. All I've done is take down some signs. If people choose to start turning left, that's fine. If there is excessive turning late at night and it becomes a problem, then I'll look at the issue. I don't like unnecessary regulation. There has been a lot more inquiry from people about bringing cruising back to this town than there have ever been people not wanting cruising." 

Giroux said that the signs were a "special purpose sign because no such signs exist in the traffic code." 

"I don't know how much cruising people are going to be doing with gas at $4 a gallon," Giroux said. 

Hillsboro City Council President Lee Koogler said that while he was not in office when the city prohibited cruising with the installation of the signs, he believed the signs were installed in the mid-1990s, with the intent of prohibiting traffic from moving in a circular pattern through the uptown around High Street, West Street, Walnut Street and East Street. 

"They were installed because there were some issues with cruising uptown," Koogler said. "Buildings were vandalized in that time frame, and there was traffic congestion, and that caused some other issues. That was the basis in the city going forward with the signs at that time. There was bumper-to-bumper traffic around High, Main and West Streets. They would park at the old high school lot, so there were things going on in that lot. It gave kids something to do on weekend nights, but I don't know how productive it was."

Koogler said that the matter was not brought before city council, and he has not discussed the issue with Hastings or Giroux. While the removal may not immediately result in a resurgence of cruising, should similar problems result as the city had seen historically, Koogler said he would have some concerns. 

"I know the city worked hard to end (cruising) because of the problems," Koogler said. "My take would be that if that occurred again, if that started again, I'd have to take a look at the situation. I do have some concerns, if this could get to be out of hand in the city." 

Hillsboro Police Chief Nick Thompson said that he was not aware the signs had been removed, but that cruising was a problem for law enforcement. 

"Having been involved with the law enforcement issues in the past with cruising-related issues, I have a concern for citizen safety, the downtown businesses and the (HPD's) ability to be able to respond to calls through the city," Thompson said. "The traffic was such before that it impeded emergency vehicles and through-traffic, there were fender-benders and traffic gridlock. I do have concerns if that would happen again. But maybe with gas prices, it won't be quite as bad. I just have concerns if it comes back because it can be costly with our overtime budget. I always want to look at the positive, but this may be a 'wait and see' situation."

Hastings said that he would hope that should cruising come back, it would be a positive thing for uptown businesses, but should it become a problem he will take another look at the issue. The location of his uptown Hillsboro home is on the old cruising loop, Hastings said, so he would be affected, as well, should it become a problem.

"I didn't do a proclamation that we're allowing cruising. All I did was take down some signs that weren't really unnecessary. If it becomes a problem, we still have them and can put them back up. My approach to it is low-key. If there are some people who want to try and get cruising and young people back, and if it beings young people to our uptown restaurants and contributes to an active night life a little, that's great. If it turns into some hellish problem I don't foresee, then I'll look into it again. I tried to remove them quietly and let whatever happens happen organically."