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A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
May 24, 2012
C
ANTON
- N
ORTHVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
Police plan special enforcement in Canton
Primary election filings draw incumbents, hopefuls
Canton police have one goal as
proms, graduations and summer
weather approaches: Keeping resi-
dents safe.
To that end, department officials
have contacted area hotels to warn
them about the dangers of renting
rooms to persons under the age of
21.
Hotel managers were notified of
the Plymouth-Canton Community
School's prom and graduation
dates, as well as the dates for sen-
ior and underclass students' last
day of school. Hotels are being
urged to adopt a “no room rental to
persons under the age of 21” policy,
especially
during
the
graduation/promseason.
“It has been the department's
past experience that renting rooms
to persons under the age of 21 often
results in potential problems for
both the motel and the police
department. Many times illegal
activity occurs including alcohol
being consumed by minors,” a
police spokesman said.
Hotel managers were also
reminded of alcohol laws and the
department's strict enforcement
action against any adult who allows
anyone younger than 21 to con-
sume alcoholic beverages. This
includes parents, limousine driv-
ers, hotel/motel owners and other
adults.
Canton police will also be estab-
lishing special enforcement opera-
tions from now through September,
including Operating While
Intoxicated (OWI) and “Click it or
Ticket” seatbelt enforcement
zones.
“Canton participates in these
special details, funded by theOffice
of Highway Safety Planning, as a
means of educating the public:
seatbelt use saves lives-drunk or
impaired driving ends lives. By
providing strict enforcement of
both, we hope to bring awareness
to the community,” said Sgt. Scott
Hughesdon.
Seatbelt enforcement zones will
have signs alerting motorists of the
enforcement action in progress.
Michigan law states police officers
can stop a motorist solely for not
wearing a safety belt in the front
seat of a vehicle.
They can also stop amotorist if a
child ages 4 through 15 is not prop-
erly restrained regardless of where
they are riding in the vehicle.
Officers will also be on the look-
out for erratic driving or indica-
tions of drunk drivers. According to
Michigan law, drivers can be arrest-
ed for operating a vehicle with a
blood alcohol content of .08 or high-
er. Upon conviction, drunk drivers
can face a variety of penalties
including costly fines, legal fees,
driver responsibility fees, court
costs andhigher insurance rates.
“If you've had too much to drink,
rather than get behind the wheel,
make a smart decision to designate
a sober driver, take a cab, or spend
the night at a friend's house,”
Hughesdon added.
With warm weather, there will
be also an increase in the number
of joggers, walkers and bikers
around Canton. Every year individ-
uals are injured or killed while
walking, running or biking in the
roadway, Hugheson said.
Pedestrians need to be aware
that there are usage laws in the
state vehicle code which prohibit
pedestrians from walking on the
main traveled portion of the road-
way when sidewalks are provided.
Where sidewalks are not available,
pedestrians should walk on the left
side of the roadway facing traffic.
Cyclists should ride as close as
practicable to the right-hand curb
or edge of the roadway, Hugheson
said.
Violation of these laws is a civil
infraction, he said, and while
pedestrians should follow applica-
ble laws pertaining to jogging,
walking or biking, motorists are
urged to use caution and patience
when encountering pedestrian traf-
fic over the next severalmonths.
InCanton
There is only one Democrat
among the seven candidates seek-
ing one of the part-time four-year
trustee seats inCantonTownship.
Filing nominating petitions last
week were incumbents John
Anthony and Pat Williams and
Gregory Demopoulous who was
appointed to fill an unexpired term
on the board. Also in the primary
race, which will see the top four
Republican vote getters go on to
the General Election ballot Nov. 7,
are Deborah Whyman, Joseph
Cafarelli, and former Canton
TownshipSupervisor TomYack.
The lone Democratic candidate
is Steven M. Sneideman, who will
automatically go on to the
November ballot.
Incumbent Supervisor Phillip
LaJoy, Clerk Terry G. Bennett and
Treasurer Melissa McLaughlin, all
Republicans, are unopposed in
their bids for a return to their
respective four-year terms.
InNorthville
In Northville Township, four
Republican candidates will seek
the four-year term as supervisor
including Christopher Roosen,
Edward F. Kriewall, Karen
Woodside andRobert R. Nix.
Incumbent Township Clerk Sue
A. Hillebrand could be challenged
by Woodside, who filed petitions
seeking election as supervisor,
clerk, treasurer and trustee.
Woodside may also challenge
incumbent Treasurer Marjorie F.
Banner.
Seeking terms on the board of
trustees are Republicans Fred
Shadko, Woodside, Marvin Gans,
Michael
Kheibari,
Mindy
Herrmann, Symantha Heath and
TomCameron.
The top four Republican candi-
dates will appear on the Nov. 7 bal-
lot along with the lone Democrat to
file for election, Michael Nolta.
Woodside had until 4 p.m. last
Friday towithdraw fromall but one
race.
In Plymouth
Republican incumbent Richard
Reaume will apparently be unop-
posed in his bid for reelection as
Plymouth Township Supervisor.
Both potential challengers, John
Werth and AbeMunfakh have with-
drawn fromthe race.
Incumbent Clerk Joe Bridgman
will be challenged for the four-year
termbyNancyConzelman.
Incumbent Treasurer Ron
Edwards will be challenged in his
bid for a fifth term by Edwin A.
Schulz as two other Republican
candidates, Paul Garon and
Richard L. Sharland, have report-
edly left the primary race for the
four-year seat.
Rita White was the lone
Democrat to file petitions for the
office of treasurer.
Rebublicans seeking four-year
terms on the Plymouth Township
Board of Trustees include Andrew
Justus, Arthur R. Butler, Charles
Curmi, Christopher Hull, Don
Schettler, Janai Stepp, Jennifer
Mann, Paul E. Shultz and Sandy
Groth. Incumbents seeking a return
to office areKay A. Arnold, current-
ly the longest serving board mem-
ber, Bob Doroshewitz and Mike
Kelly.
Two Democrats, Alanna
Maguire and Joanne M. Lamar
have filed for seats on the board of
trustees. The top four Republican
vote getters will appear on the gen-
eral election ballot along with the
twoDemocratic challengers.
Independent candidates have
until July 19 to file.