Left Turns!

Q: Why does the state of Indiana have so many different left turn arrows.

They are from what I can see the follow:

1. left arrow
2. left arrow with the word only
3. no sign just a light
4 left arrow with words left turn on arrow only.

Do they all mean the exact same thing or does the last one in that list mean you can only turn with a green arrow and the rest are a stop and yield until it is safe to go (provided there is a green light for through traffic)?

A: I would refer you back to the Indiana Operators manual, but in short, turns designated by lights are to be made when allowed by light and safe to do so. A quick excerpt:

The lights indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
(1) Green indication means the following:
(A) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless a sign at the place prohibits either turn.
(B) Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent sidewalk at the time the signal is exhibited.
(C) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by the green arrow or other movement permitted by other indications shown at the same time.

"Left on Arrow Only" means just that. You may NOT make a turn left at any other time.

More Loud Noise

Q: I have read some previous questions, and just need some clarification. I have a neighbor, not in the apartment next to me, but next to that apartment, and he plays his music extremely loudly at all hours of the night and morning, weekdays and weekends. However, I'm not sure if it would be loud enough for the police to even do anything about it, or if they would do anything regardless. I have contacted my property manager, and the music still is continuing on a nightly basis. Is there anything I can do to get a good nights sleep?

A:I see your address that you appear to be a Roseland resident. I am not sure if the town has a specific loud noise ordinance like South Bend does, so I encourage you to call RPD and checkk, or to report this noise. Since you live in an apartment, the property manager does have some obligation to ensure peace for all residents. I would encourage you also to report this and handle it with the manager as well.

Getting Hired

Q: I was looking for a job with the department in the future and I saw once I am hired I am to the acdamey (ILEA). I was wondering if there was any fee's that I had to pay?

A:Correct. Our jobs page outlines this for you, but once hired as part of state requirement you are sent to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy for basic training. Thsi is paid by the department, as is the issued and required equipment you need for this, once you are hired.

Disregarding a Stop

Q: Can I get a ticket if there is no posted erected stop sign, just a stop on the ground before the stop?

A: You live out of state so I can only answer for Indiana in this case. Depending upon how the intersection is marked, yes. IC 9-21-8-32 states that " A person who drives a vehicle shall stop at an intersection where a stop sign is erected at one (1) or more entrances to a through highway that are not a part of the through highway and proceed cautiously, yielding to vehicles that are not required to stop." If a sign is knocked down for example, but is typically in place, you could be cited for failure to stop, I suppose.

Truck Parking

Q: What are the regulations of semi-trucks parking overnight in the former Target store lot on Hickory Road. There were nine partial and/or complete trucks parked there one recent evening. It looks like a trucking business is being operated from that location. Anything the police can do to stop this?

A: Semi parking is restricted by law in residential areas, but commercial or private property is exempt from this. If trucks are being parked in this lot it is zoned commercial and is privately owned property. As such, any enforcement of no parking on provate property in this case is the responsibility of the property owners.

Department Internships

Q: I am currently a student at IUSB, majoring in criminal justice, and was wondering if your department had a any opportunities for internships.

A: Contact our training and recruiting division. Typically we do not have internship programs as far as officer training is concerned, but other opportunities exist. Contact then for more information!

K-9 Body Armor

Q: Do the dogs in your K9 unit wear bullet proof vests?

A: Our department K9 officers do have body armor issued to them just as the rest of the officers do. It is the discretion of the K9 Handler officer as to when the dogs will wear the armor.