LIBERTY — Months after informing trustees about efforts to curb speeding, the township’s police chief said the problem continues.

As police Chief Ray Buhala concluded his department report Monday, he said the department still gets complaints about motorists speeding through residential areas. It was in response to Trustee Arnie Clebone asking whether he had noticed a change as a result of officers patrolling local streets.

Buhala previously discussed the problem in September, explaining then that they had directed patrols to streets such as the ones near the school and Keefer Road — resulting in 80 traffic stops, 48 of which were township residents.

“Our presence is the main thing; right now we’re still in the neighborhoods. Last month, as a matter of fact, we stopped 59 cars,” Buhala said. “Of those 59, 10 vehicles were towed because they didn’t have a valid license or had warrants. Fourteen citations were handed out — the rest were verbal warnings.”

Buhala called speeding almost a “cultural thing” today.

“You can get people to slow down; you can sit there 23 hours a day — on the 24th hour, they’re going to start speeding again,” Buhala said. “We’re going to continue to be out there and continue to give our best effort.”

VEHICLE BREAK-INS

In a police report from a Jan. 9 stop, an officer noted that car break-ins and auto thefts have been happening throughout the township, resulting in officers doing extra patrols.

Buhala said Tuesday that such crimes have been a trend for the past two to three years, recalling social media posts by the department encouraging residents to lock their cars.

“I think I even made a comment before the holidays — if you’re shopping, put any valuables under the seats, out of view,” Buhala said, reiterating the prevention of crimes of opportunity. “I think, on a regular basis, we’re always trying to do extra patrols in the residents’ area and through the car lots.”