Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: Where is New Rome?
A: The 12 acre village of New
Rome is located just west of Columbus, Ohio. It is landlocked
by Prairie Township in western Franklin county. New Rome extends
one block north and two blocks south of Route 40 (West Broad Street).
It stretches for just under two tenths of a mile, or 1000 feet
on West Broad.
Q: What is the population of New Rome?
A: Not many, but this is open
to some debate. However, according to the 2000 US Census, there
are 60 residents of New Rome. 18 of which were minor children in
2000. All but one person identified themselves as 'white'. The
population is almost evenly split between males and females and the
median age is 34. The 1990 census counted 111 people.
Q: And how many cops do they have?
A: Again, it's like trying to count clouds. The figure
most commonly thrown out is 14. The Dispatch is now reporting there
are only 6. Several are full-time, but the majority are part-timers.
The council has recently voted to hire 10 more officers to provide
24/7 "protection".
Q: How many police cars do they have?
A: New Rome uses two late model Ford Crown Victorias with the
Police Interceptor package. They have standard strobe blue and
red lightbars. The majority color of the cars is white with large
"Police" and "Village of New Rome" markings on them. They bear
Ohio "City" license tags OR 1847 and OR 1848.
Q: How many tickets do they write?
A: The strict patrols of West Broad St., along with random
license plate checks result in thousands of traffic stops each year,
almost all ending in one or more tickets. NRPD will seldom warn a motorist
if they observe a ticketable offense. They take in roughly $400,000
in fines annually, although this figure is questionable as money seems
to disappear from the Trailer of Injustice with alarmingly regularity.
New Rome has reported that Between June 14, 2001 and June 14, 2002,
2,589 tickets were issued, of which only 352 were for speeding.
Q: So they're strict; aren't they just doing their job?
A: What is the point exactly? Does saturation enforcement
of their three blocks of West Broad make New Rome that much safer for
their residents? The consensus is that it's a cyclical action.
They write tickets to pay for more cops to write tickets...
Q: But writing tickets makes the roads safer, doesn't it?
A: Unfortunately, the types of tickets New Rome writes are favored
toward revenue generation, not traffic safety. Many of their tickets
are for technical violations, especially regarding license plates.
One of New Rome's tactics is to "pack" tickets. That is if you
get stopped for speed and they see a cracked windshield and no seatbelt,
you can bet on getting THREE tickets instead of one. New Rome loves
to pile on tickets. Most police officers would give you a break and
issue one ticket. Most cops will give warnings for minor infractions
if everything else checks out okay. Not New Rome.
Q: What if you don't pay your fine to New Rome?
A: You may find yourself subject to one of New Rome's most despicable
practices. When they issue your ticket, they will ask where you
work. If you don't pay, they will come to your place of business and
arrest you. Read through the Tales of Woe! That's right, they
seek out people and arrest them over outstanding minor misdemeanor tickets.
Obviously I suggest that if you get a ticket in New Rome you had
better take care of it. But no other municipality I know of has
the time, the will or the resources to go out and arrest people over unpaid
tickets. I think it's just part of the culture of NRPD and the power
trip attitude of their wannabe officers. They love the power, and
they love to exhibit it in public and embarrass otherwise law abiding citizens.
Q: So what. If you don't break the law, you have nothing
to worry about.
A: Again, you're kidding yourself. Read through the Tales of Woe and
you'll find stories about New Rome stopping motorists for the pettiest
of reasons including dim license plate light, mud on license plate, no
backup lights, etc. Additionally, the Ohio Department of Transportation
has recently ruled that New Rome's 35mph speed limit may not be legal
under state guidelines.
Q: Do they target truckers?
A: Usually not. We've never seen a large truck stopped by New Rome. Most
trucks take Interstate 70, which runs parallel to US 40, two miles to the
north.
Q: I live on a street that you list as a New Rome "detour"
and the traffic is getting worse. Can you remove that from the
site?
A: No, sorry. I apologize to the residents of Little Farms
and Greene Countrie/West Woods subdivisions. The fact that motorists
choose not to take the major thoroughfare because it has been hijacked
by New Rome is affecting the comfort and property values of residents
on the detour routes. I urge anyone that takes the New Rome detour
to obey all traffic laws while bypassing New Rome. The residents
on the detour routes should have a vested interest in getting New Rome
shut down and freeing up West Broad for all through traffic.
Q: What are you trying to accomplish?
A: We would like the residents of New Rome vote to dissolve the
village and become part of Prairie Township. The village of New
Rome has run its course and they have isolated themselves into near extinction.
They have a bloated and unnecessarily aggressive police department
that has to vigorously write tickets in order to sustain the massive bureaucracy.
We believe the westward expansion of the West Broad shopping district
is being hampered by the presence of New Rome and their treatment of
motorists that pass through.
Q: I'd like to scan New Rome's police radio. What's the
frequency?
A: Hmm, good question. They have been heard broadcasting
on 462.975, 458.925 and 453.925 MHz. At any rate, it provides some
amusing moments. It's clear that they run plate after plate looking
for any reason to stop people, and actually get frustrated when everything
checks out. Some of their officers are more professional on the radio
than others. At times though, the radio traffic deteriorates into
colloquial hillbilly chatter for the revenue generators and their dispatcher.
Q: When are the village council meetings?
A: The New Rome village council meets the first Tuesday of each month
at the village trailer, 30 Maple St at 6:00pm. We recommend if you
attend that you park outside the village and walk in.
Q: Who is on village council?
A: The New Rome Players are listed here.
Q: Do you guys live in New Rome?
A: No.
Q: The site is hard to read. Can't you use another background
or something?
A: Many webmaster feel that this color scheme is the most readable.
You may wish to increase the font size of your browser when reading
throught the stories.
Q: Why isn't the site more fancy?
A: It takes a tremendous amount of time just updating the site
in its present form. We feel content, news, pictures and stories
are more important to share than developing fancy menus and graphics.
More coming as needed!