The Cupertino Courier

City makes a U-turn on trafÞc sign

By Pam Marino

Now you see 'em. Now you don't.

Such was the case with the "No U-Turn" signs on Stevens Creek Boulevard at Saich Way, next to the Target store. The signs had a lifespan of exactly one week, after more than 100 people received moving-violation tickets from the Sheriff's Department and numerous residents called City Hall to complain.

Without any fanfare, the Department of Public Works installed the two signs at the busy intersection on Oct.3, prohibiting eastbound traffic from making a U-turn. Anyone who wanted to get to the Good Earth Restaurant, Davidson Chevrolet or an office building located on the same stretch had to continue to Bandley Drive, which has a traffic signal.

The manager of the Good Earth Restaurant called the city after a number of regular customers showed up flustered from receiving tickets.

"They were pulling people over left and right," manager Steve Doo said. "There was no notice given about the signs--that was the main complaint."

Cupertino City Councilwoman Lauralee Sorensen brought up the issue at the Oct. 6 council meeting, asking, with a laugh, why the signs were making it more difficult for her to get to her favorite breakfast spot.

Public Works Director Bert Viskovich told the council that the intersection was a potential safety hazard because of a pedestrian intersection located there, and cars attempting left turns from all directions. He said the city had a responsibility to do something to make the intersection safer.

Four days later Viskovich found himself making a U-turn of his own on the decision; thanks to the hue and cry over the signs, they were removed.

Viskovich said last week that his department will continue to study how to improve the intersection's safety.

In the meantime, the city has told the Sheriff's Department to retrieve all the tickets issued that week. The exact number of tickets has not been tallied yet. No one will have to pay a fine, and the violation will not show up on driving records, Viskovich said.

The fine foran illegal U-turn is normally about $115. The cost goes up if a person has a prior record of moving violations.

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