OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Residents living in Oceanside’s Capistrano Park neighborhood, nestled right next to Camp Pendleton, say rush hour traffic makes it extremely difficult to exit their community.
“We are not able to get through and what if an emergency was happening? This is our only way out of the neighborhood,” said Lane Scarcia, a Capistrano Park resident.
Scarcia said sometimes it takes multiple light cycles to successfully make a turn through the intersection.
The back up to get on base extends far down Harbor Drive, even onto the freeway, and those residents waiting to turn out from San Rafael Drive are often blocked in.
“Three days ago someone got T-boned, so accidents are now happening. They’ve been happening,” Scarcia said.
While there is only one way out, there are two ways into the neighborhood.
Sammy Lennox lives on Capistrano Drive where “no left turn” signs have been posted during morning hours to stop people from using the neighborhood as a shortcut.
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Lennox asked Oceanside police to patrol the illegal left turns just recently.
“They came out and probably two weeks in a row did random checks here. I have never seen anyone get a ticket for blocking the Harbor Drive and San Rafael intersection. I’ve never seen anybody enforcing it,” Lennox said.
When it comes to the problem intersection, it seems several jurisdictions are at play. Oceanside Police and CHP both confirm they’re responsible for portions of the area and Marine Corps Law enforcement is also nearby.
“Having a police presence I think would make a huge difference and actually giving people tickets for breaking the law so they don’t do it again,” Scarcia said.
Many people living in Capistrano Park say they respect their neighbors, but just want the area safe and accessible for everyone.
Camp Pendleton says it has not received any official complaints regarding this intersection, but if the surrounding community is impacted, they say they would look into it.
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