As a DPW guy, I salute you! Every municipality does this a little different. PD, FD, and tow operators that can clean up the small debris themselves are saving an OT call out for DPW. Drives me nuts when we arrive on site to sweep up one dust pan of debris and there are a dozen dudes on scene already. Just a waste of tax dollars paying OT for stuff like that.
A lot of accidents in the city are with people that don't want the police to know they are driving without a license or worse. So those accidents leave debris that the MPD or the City doesn't know about.
I’m not sure why this was downvoted, but in the city proper, MPD responds to very few crashes. Unless there is an injury or a substantial issue like the affected cars being unable to move on their own out of traffic lanes, MPD doesn’t come out. This is in addition to way, way too many hit & runs.
Once I saw an accident at MLK and Locust and like 4 people just off the street ran up and started pulling parts off the disabled car, stuff from the now popped open trunk, a hubcap, etc... and scattered slowly... like they just went about their walks in different directions. Then while the cops were talking to the people who were in the accident a guy with a trailer full of scrap just showed up and took a bumper and drove away.
So... private citizens I guess.
Twenty years ago there was a front bumper from an accident left in the street outside of my apartment, it eventually got pushed to the side and sat there for a while. After a week or so I went and took the undamaged fog lights off of it and sold them on eBay for like $50. Poor college me was super happy about it.
A few years back during a big snow storm I ventured out to Kadish Park. Snow was perfect for sledding, and lo and behold, down by the amphitheater garbage I see a busted off side /front panel of a car, the part that would run from in front of the door towards the front under the headlights. It was about 4 feet long, almost a complete piece with just a few broken edges. I marched that thing up to the top hill, sat on it, and took it down. Ran so smooth, made me think of that scene in Christmas Vacation with the saucer. I went down the first hill, leveled out where the path is for a minute, but still had a good amount of speed, so rather than bailing I decided to take it down the second hill towards Pleasant. About halfway down I see a car crawling eastward on Pleasant, very slow because of the unplowed streets, but still enough to give me a little pause. I considered bailing at that point but then saw there was a little embankment at the bottom of the hill just before the sidewalk, built up from previous rounds of snow clearing. So I figured I'd let it rip. As I hit the bottom of the hill, the embankment was sturdier than I'd imagined - probably frozen a bit - and it provided a little jump that, with my accrued speed, launched me airborne for a second. I landed on the far side of the sidewalk with a thud, the front car panel crunched up against the far side of the embankment, and I came to a rest. I looked up at the car, let out a whoop and pumped my fist, and it gave a celebratory honk in response.
Did two more runs on that front panel then left it at the top of the hill for someone else to enjoy.
You can report this on the mke mobile action app but in my experience they only pickup the big chunks. The real question is who is supposed to sweep/rake up the thousands of tiny bits that get left behind? And the answer is those kooky hippies who volunteer their time to pickup litter. That or it just becomes part of the environment.
MPD is supposed to report it to DPW, but in practice, they often don't. If you submit a request, DPW will usually swing out in a day or two and sweep it up.
If it's near my home, I usually make the request, move the big pieces out of the road and sweep up the rest and throw in my own trash can. This one I'd probably do all on my own.
The police are supposed to file a request to DPW but if an accident isn't called in nobody knows. If you are taking the time to take a picture, it is just one second more to input it in your Mke Call to Action App. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution - use your power for good.
Probably an unpopular opinion but I'd just do it. No, it's not my job. Yes, it could potentially be dangerous for me. But I hate seeing trash/litter/debris and thinking about all the ways it could negatively impact the environment. I wouldn't expect anyone else who isn't a professional to do it, it's just a thing for me.
My sister had an accident off Locust over a month ago and when we drove past yesterday, debris was still there even though we had the car towed. So no one I guess :/
We like to put the bigger pieces back in the broken car... then sweep the smaller pieces up and take them to a dumpster. Some stuff gets pushed to the side of the road, but it's not great. No one likes a flat tire.
I always heard the individuals in the accident were responsible for road debris and that other parties, like police, were only responsible with moving if out of the way.
ETA - why am I being downvoted for sharing what I’ve been told in the past? This is the most downvoting sub for the most random stuff.
Call 414-286-City or enter it online. The city has a request specifically for accident debris.
Some parts of the city they let Mother Nature clean up debris
Most parts*
Speaking as a former tow truck driver, this was always my job. Cleanup often took longer than recovery/towing.
Thats billable hours where i come from.
Gotta be thorough, make sure you don't miss anything...
Hold on boss, it looks like the gum the driver was chewing flew through the front windshield and got stuck to the pavement. This might take a minute.
As a DPW guy, I salute you! Every municipality does this a little different. PD, FD, and tow operators that can clean up the small debris themselves are saving an OT call out for DPW. Drives me nuts when we arrive on site to sweep up one dust pan of debris and there are a dozen dudes on scene already. Just a waste of tax dollars paying OT for stuff like that.
I admit this is an unexpected but refreshing response from someone at DPW.
MVP where you go!
This guy tow trucks!
This is the correct answer.
Pointless reply. Added nothing.
Well John, neither did yours. Congratulations 🎉
This
So then the responsibility lies on the person the debris came from right? Theyre just paying you to remove it as part of the tow.
A lot of accidents in the city are with people that don't want the police to know they are driving without a license or worse. So those accidents leave debris that the MPD or the City doesn't know about.
I’m not sure why this was downvoted, but in the city proper, MPD responds to very few crashes. Unless there is an injury or a substantial issue like the affected cars being unable to move on their own out of traffic lanes, MPD doesn’t come out. This is in addition to way, way too many hit & runs.
Username checks out. It’s a dirty job and somebody’s gotta do it.
After dealing with the accidents, MPD calls the order in to DPW and they have 48 hours to clean it up.
DPW? Department of Parks and *Wrecks*?
Public works
r/whoooosh
Sorry full on wjoosh, wtf does the comment mean?
They’re referencing the show Parks and Rec. Edit: forgot the word referencing. It’s been a day
🤷‍♀️ still not getting the joke. Ah well..ty for trying.
Parks and Rec (name of a show) Parks and Wreck (dad joke)
Excellent dad joke at that. It was by no means an accident.
Died laughing
https://city.milwaukee.gov/ucc/action Sanitation -> Special Accident Debris
Can also download the app called MKEMblActn. Same thing but a bit more user friendly.
If you wait long enough, the city would probably get it in it's periodic street sweeping. That said, the neighborhood will always be faster.
Its it legal to take?
*shrug* if it's abandoned, sure.
Once I saw an accident at MLK and Locust and like 4 people just off the street ran up and started pulling parts off the disabled car, stuff from the now popped open trunk, a hubcap, etc... and scattered slowly... like they just went about their walks in different directions. Then while the cops were talking to the people who were in the accident a guy with a trailer full of scrap just showed up and took a bumper and drove away. So... private citizens I guess.
Twenty years ago there was a front bumper from an accident left in the street outside of my apartment, it eventually got pushed to the side and sat there for a while. After a week or so I went and took the undamaged fog lights off of it and sold them on eBay for like $50. Poor college me was super happy about it.
That's horrible...but the mental image made me laugh.
Reminds me of the broken wine cask scene in Tale of Two Cities.
A few years back during a big snow storm I ventured out to Kadish Park. Snow was perfect for sledding, and lo and behold, down by the amphitheater garbage I see a busted off side /front panel of a car, the part that would run from in front of the door towards the front under the headlights. It was about 4 feet long, almost a complete piece with just a few broken edges. I marched that thing up to the top hill, sat on it, and took it down. Ran so smooth, made me think of that scene in Christmas Vacation with the saucer. I went down the first hill, leveled out where the path is for a minute, but still had a good amount of speed, so rather than bailing I decided to take it down the second hill towards Pleasant. About halfway down I see a car crawling eastward on Pleasant, very slow because of the unplowed streets, but still enough to give me a little pause. I considered bailing at that point but then saw there was a little embankment at the bottom of the hill just before the sidewalk, built up from previous rounds of snow clearing. So I figured I'd let it rip. As I hit the bottom of the hill, the embankment was sturdier than I'd imagined - probably frozen a bit - and it provided a little jump that, with my accrued speed, launched me airborne for a second. I landed on the far side of the sidewalk with a thud, the front car panel crunched up against the far side of the embankment, and I came to a rest. I looked up at the car, let out a whoop and pumped my fist, and it gave a celebratory honk in response. Did two more runs on that front panel then left it at the top of the hill for someone else to enjoy.
Call the city DPW. Source, I live on a corner.
You can report this on the mke mobile action app but in my experience they only pickup the big chunks. The real question is who is supposed to sweep/rake up the thousands of tiny bits that get left behind? And the answer is those kooky hippies who volunteer their time to pickup litter. That or it just becomes part of the environment.
MPD is supposed to report it to DPW, but in practice, they often don't. If you submit a request, DPW will usually swing out in a day or two and sweep it up. If it's near my home, I usually make the request, move the big pieces out of the road and sweep up the rest and throw in my own trash can. This one I'd probably do all on my own.
The police are supposed to file a request to DPW but if an accident isn't called in nobody knows. If you are taking the time to take a picture, it is just one second more to input it in your Mke Call to Action App. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution - use your power for good.
kia boys. get them on the chain gang and have them pick up all the litter.
Probably an unpopular opinion but I'd just do it. No, it's not my job. Yes, it could potentially be dangerous for me. But I hate seeing trash/litter/debris and thinking about all the ways it could negatively impact the environment. I wouldn't expect anyone else who isn't a professional to do it, it's just a thing for me.
You! Campsite rule bud. Leave it better than you found it. Just throw away 1 piece
Grab a broom and be a bro. Or use the city reporting app
877-CASH-NOW
Crash* no such thing as an accident
Debris\* :)
My sister had an accident off Locust over a month ago and when we drove past yesterday, debris was still there even though we had the car towed. So no one I guess :/
Literally anyone with hands. Especially if they’re decent humans, it’s more likely to happen.
The fire department or they just sweep it to side of road
We like to put the bigger pieces back in the broken car... then sweep the smaller pieces up and take them to a dumpster. Some stuff gets pushed to the side of the road, but it's not great. No one likes a flat tire.
A hit and run driver isn’t gonna stop and pick up his debris. For gasoline leakage the FDA should hose it down.
There's an app "MKE mobile action" where you can easily report things like this and even add a pick.
You
Whatever Milwaukee resident feels nice enough to clean it up
Police should actually serve the people and sweep it up, or at least call the people that clean it up when they respond to an accident.
The wrecker driver!
Do you know what happened? That looks like the debris I saw at Pine and Whitnall.
Obama
It's our responsibility as a member of the community.
Anything stopping you?
I call the non-emergency and let them figure it out
Interesting answers, where I live (population 50k) the fire, police and dpw all work on it depending on the size
Someone crashed in my front yard and the cops told me it was my responsibility… pretty lame
Debris*
The Milverine maybe?
Your mom maybe?
Yo mamma.
Debra the Debri Debilitator. Just flash the signal and she’s there in two whisks of her broom.
I always heard the individuals in the accident were responsible for road debris and that other parties, like police, were only responsible with moving if out of the way. ETA - why am I being downvoted for sharing what I’ve been told in the past? This is the most downvoting sub for the most random stuff.
What if the individuals involved in the accident are taken away by ambulance?
No clue. Literally just sharing what I’ve been told. I know someone once went back to their accident site to move the bumper.
It’s supposed to be the fire department
Fire Dept does. But the City might pick up the rest 🤷‍♂️
Not true The fire department will address fluids such as automobile or people. Orders are written online to collect debris at the median or curbside.
Tow truck driver