Arkansas doesn’t officially use the “Star-55” system that so many other states have for their highway drivers using cell phones, but that’s about to change.
It became evident when Fort Smith resident David Backlin saw it on the back of the new state highway map, and The Guru has all the details about what’s ahead.
Afterwards, The Guru offers a bit of help to a Fayetteville man accused of speeding.
Question: “I’ve seen a preview of the 2011 Arkansas state highway map,” Backlin writes. “There is a notice in it to call *55 in case of emergency. I wonder if this means we’ll finally see signs along the highways, too?”
Answer: The Arkansas State Police asked the Arkansas Highway andTransportation Department to put the *55 logo on the highway map published a few days ago.
State police are just about ready to announce that Arkansas has a Star-55 system like the one used in many other states.
“There are people who pass through this state who don’t know 911 works in this area (with a cell phone),” said state police spokesman Bill Sadler.
“People from other states are accustomed to *55.”
The *55 system, which already works in Arkansas even though its existence hasn’t been announced, connects callers to the nearest state police troop headquarters.
For emergencies, callers should still dial 911. The *55 is for people “who have no clue about where to turn to,” Sadler said.
“It’s an information or non-emergency line that can’t be transferred to the local police jurisdiction,” Sadler said. “We’ve got some educating to do.”
There’s no plan to put up signs to encourage *55’s use, said Highway Department spokesman David Nilles.
Q: Faiz Farazi said he was stopped for speeding on Mount Comfort Road.
He said he was going 40 mph in a 40 mph zone, but Fayetteville police “rewarded” him with a ticket that indicated the speed limit was 20 mph.
Farazi said he verified the speed limit was really 40 mph the day after he received the ticket.
“I have a court date June 7,” Farazi writes. “I don’t know what to say about police or court?”
A: The Guru, who’s received speeding tickets in his life (gasp), won’t give legal advice. He did encourage Farazi to verify his trial date because the city says it’s Wednesday, June 8.
Fayetteville police say Farazi at 10:23 p.m. on March 15 was driving 46 mph through a Mount Comfort Road construction zone where the speed limit was 20 mph. City Prosecutor Casey Jones wouldn’t talk about Farazi’s case, but he did say construction zones are considered active during the day and at night, even if construction workers aren’t around. So, it’s 20mph in that zone.
There’s apparently a police video showing Farazi driving through the area.
The Guru has just one other thing to say: Good luck.
Robert J. Smith, aka The Guru, writes on traffic issues in Northwest Arkansas on Fridays. He can be reached at nwaonline.com/guru or [email protected].
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 06/03/2011