Portland needs English police officers to handle the myriad traffic issues in this city.

Emma Watson, of Harry Potter fame, was just fined the equivalent of $1,396 and banned from driving (she had no points left on her license), after being caught doing 38 mph in a 30-mph zone. That’s it.

Portland drivers on High Street routinely do 45, 50 and faster in a 35-mph zone. And cars on Danforth treat the red light at the intersection of High and Danforth streets as if it doesn’t even exist — yet they are routinely ignored.

I personally spoke to officers in the Traffic Division on numerous occasions (well over a dozen), and was told that there is no traffic problem at the High/Danforth intersection. Tell that to the people, including the elderly and disabled residents like myself, living around this intersection. We see it every day, all day and all night.

So, I say bring over some officers from Britain who hand out tickets and suspensions for even 8 miles an hour over the speed limit. Help actually make Portland streets safe. They certainly aren’t safe now.

Gordon Smith
Portland