March Madness (Updated) 0

The McCaffertys and at least seven other residents of Radnor Green and Ashbourne Hills received letters warning them this would happen. Police and Delaware Department of Transportation officials say their hoops, angled toward the street, violate the state’s Free Zone law, which prohibits hoops, trees, shrubs and other objects from being within seven feet of the pavement’s edge in subdivisions.

About 15 minutes after McCafferty climbed the pole by standing on top of her minivan, the DelDOT equipment rumbled toward her.

Perched on a bend in the metal pole with her fuzzy bedroom slippers dangling down, McCafferty refused to budge despite police and DelDOT pleas.

Police threatened to tow her van. They asked if she would miss work over this. She replied she “would be here all day,” no matter what. McCafferty heard threats that the hoop would come down whether she cooperated or not.

There’s a picture of her sitting on the basketball hoop at the link.

Most of the basketball hoops in question have been there for decades. The law banning them (and certain other things within seven feet of the pavement) was passed in 2005. (Hmmm, maybe I could have gotten the state to take down that tree I paid someone 400 smackers to take down in 2007 and saved a few bucks–it was about 18 inches back.)

I know that neighborhood well. When I lived in those parts, I had friends in Radnor Green. It’s quiet and secluded, with little traffic except when persons are leaving for and returning from work and school. The streets are wide and curvy, though not twisty, which keeps speeds down.

I can’t say that I believe pointing basketball hoops towards the street is a good idea, but, honestly (as my mother would have said).

When I went to Radnor Green, I would occasionally have to wait for kids playing ball to clear the street, but they usually seemed to do so without delaying me. I have also had to wait for kids on skateboards and bicycles to clear the street.

I know.

Let’s ban bicycles and skateboards.

While we’re at it, let’s just ban kids in suburban neighborhoods.

Addendum:

The local member of the Delaware House has asked the state police to look into how this was handled. From today’s follow-up story:

In a part of the confrontation captured on video by The News Journal, a woman who appears to be a state police trooper tells the McCafferty family that they can have their basketball pole back after DelDOT removes it from the ground.

Moments later, after the pole is removed and put into a truck, the same trooper denies she ever made such an offer.

John McCafferty said the woman never clearly identified herself or which agency she was with but just issued orders.

Back in my railroading days, I was involved in a long project with the railroad police which took me to railroad police offices all over the country.

I learned that the railroad cops–sworn officers, many with state and municipal experience–considered the Delaware State Police to insufferably arrogant and hated having to deal with them.