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Residents press Auburn Hills council for action on speeding, police say targeted enforcement underway
Summary
Residents of Taylor Road told council members they face frequent speeding, near misses and litter on a one-mile residential stretch with a posted 45 mph limit; Police Chief Gannon said state law requires engineering studies to set enforceable limits, reported roughly 20 citations in the past 30 days, and councilmembers discussed speed trailers and longer-term intersection fixes.
Residents of Taylor Road urged the Auburn Hills City Council on April 21 to do more to curb speeding and make the neighborhood safer.
Karen Johnson, speaking on behalf of neighbors including a disabled resident, said Taylor Road (between Jocelyn Road and Giddings) is a residential stretch with curbside mailboxes and frequent high-speed traffic. "The speed limit is not monitored nor enforced on a regular basis," she told council. Other residents described drivers regularly exceeding the 45 mph limit, tossing liquor bottles and using the street as a shortcut.
Police Chief Gannon told the council that Michigan law changed in 2006 and now requires engineering studies and traffic counts to set enforceable speed limits. He said those studies use percentile-based measurements of how drivers actually operate a road and that changes made in 2014 led to a 45 mph limit for Taylor Road. "When our officers are out there, that's what we're primarily targeting is between Joslyn and Giddings," the chief said, adding that officers issued about 20 citations on Taylor Road in the last 30 days and three today.
Residents described repeated near misses and at least one hit-and-run that killed a dog. Daniel Hazen, who lives at 1570 Taylor Road, recounted a recent close call with an 80-foot trailer and said the current conditions feel dangerous: "I would have actually died to an 80 foot trailer going 45 down the street," he said.
Council members said they heard residents' concerns and discussed short-term and longer-term responses. Councilmember Rebecchi said she supports measures such as roundabouts or other calming options at the Giddings intersection; others suggested short-term enforcement steps, speed-feedback trailers and additional signs. Chief Gannon said the department would continue targeted enforcement and the city is budgeting for more digital speed-feedback signs.
The council did not adopt an immediate change to the posted speed limit at the meeting; members said they would pursue further study, targeted enforcement and signage in coordination with police and DPW.
The public-comment period closed after the council acknowledged residents' concerns and committed to closer enforcement and engineering review.
