I drove out of my cul-de-sac in unincorporated southeast Snohomish County (last week) onto SR 524. (When I tried to) make a turn at 9th, I saw a make-shift “Do not turn left” sign. OK, no left turn, I made a right and then a “U” turn to go left.

Now going south on 9th, I pass three sheriff cars apparently giving out tickets for left turns. I have never seen a sheriff’s car on this stretch of road without an accident, in spite of people going 80 miles an hour. But with a “no left turn” sign, tickets were being handed out.

The lady in charge of traffic at the intersection said the “no left turn” sign was there at the direction of the police officer. She relayed the danger to construction workers. I suggested changing the traffic light to blinking red, thus giving everyone a chance to go where they wanted and not cut off a main route with no obvious alternatives by the “no left turn” sign. Or have flaggers. She also said others were angry and that someone had said maybe they would go home for a gun.

Is the area Bothell as I was told earlier by the Bothell overseer, or Snohomish? When my husband was hit it was decided the center of the road marked the divide. By either criteria the Snohomish Sheriffs were operating in Bothell incorporated area. It sure seemed a sting to me. I don’t think it helped traffic safety, just got a lot of us beyond the breaking point by being the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

The most attractive thing about annexation is I would have a council clearly responsible for looking into complaints. I feel being on the far edge of Snohomish we’ve been mostly ignored till this seeming sting. And I must confess going up to address the Snohomish County Council is a huge effort for me. I must say for citizens it seems like it is easier to address smaller responsive local governments. The big drawback is a lot of stuff that affects the bigger picture can get lost in the smaller picture as permits and regulations on wet lands.