Hampton Police Department

This is not the fault of the Hampton PD but today’s backup (13 Jun 2022) through the entire downtown of Hampton due to an afternoon crash in the tunnel (and follow on crash in Norfolk) was the worst I have ever seen. The police could help by strict enforcement of not blocking intersections, not running red lights, and not cutting around the barrier in which people who follow the law line up to enter I-64 East.

There are several places people jump the line for I-64 and, at this point, about 25% of the people entering 64 jump the line. The most obvious place is cutting across to the on ramp from the left lane on Settler’s Landing Road (beyond the barrier). Today I sat about 20 cars back and watched as our lane did not move through five light cycles as a timid driver in a white car let people to the left speed in front of him every time the light turned green. He may have been disabled, but God bless him, he let five cycles go by before he moved across from the front of the line. Granted, every time the light turned green, at least one car ran the red light from the other direction, too. It was like we were *never going to move ahead!

Then, even when we entered the on-ramp, people came to the alternate entry (for those coming up Settler’s Landing the other way) and blocked it by turning *right into it because they missed the on-ramp by being in the left lane, beyond the barrier.

I know the city is considering shutting down that on-ramp to local traffic but I believe you should first try enforcing the law as it is. Today, the intersection at the on-ramp was full of red light runners and people blocking the intersection for more than one light cycle. A few tickets should get the word out that we need to actually use the barrier lane the way it was intended and obey all the other traffic laws, too.

I would like to send a big Thank you to Officer Sanders of the Hampton City Police Department. I had a concern of a neighbor that I could not get to answer his phone or answer the door. Lights had not been on for couple nights. He came out to investigate and after speaking with him about my concerns, they decided to enter the home, with the help of the Fire and Rescue Department also of City of Hampton. They found my neighbor deceased after entering the home. They all showed me such compassion. Respect was shown to my neighbor, as they used his first name while speaking about him and the Officer told me, he would stay there with him until everything was taken care of and he was taken away.
I have never been in such a situation before and appreciated the care and concern that was shown to me last night. Thank you, City of Hampton Police and Fire and Rescue!
Please take notice of your neighbors, show some compassion and love to each other.