To some, all-way stop signs are just another tap on their brakes as they drive through an area.

To others, they're a godsend, protecting a neighborhood's families and children who've made their home on streets others may deem shortcuts and speedways.

But the process for Richmond residents to slow traffic in their neighborhoods is anything from organized. Some Richmond neighborhood associations ask the police department for extra enforcement while others ask city traffic engineers to automatically install all-way stop signs. However, the most common response that actually gets something accomplished has been to ask your city council representative.

It's also led to some disagreement between council members, who want to appease their constituents, and city traffic engineers, who study the intersections and often feel that either nothing is needed or that there is not enough money available for the more appropriate and usually expensive fixes.

"As Richmond's neighborhoods are revitalizing and in some cases repopulating ... traffic concerns are increasingly an issue," said council president Bill Pantele (2nd).

A prime example of the issue occurred at Richmond City Council's meeting Monday night. There were three cases involving installing all-way stop signs in three different city districts. This time, despite the city's reservations, council did what their constituents wanted.

Councilman Chris Hilbert (3rd) had requested all-way stops be installed at the intersection of Rennie and Noble avenues in the Northside, but will likely withdraw his request after talking to the Department of Public Works, which worked with the neighbors to determine that speed humps were more appropriate and satisfied the neighbors.

After receiving a petition with signatures from 122 citizens, vice president and councilwoman Delores McQuinn (7th) requested all-way stops at the intersections of 21st and Venable streets, Venable and Jessamine streets and Venable and Tulip streets. But Gary DuVal, deputy director of transportation, said the city wouldn't recommend stop signs.

"In five years of study, there were only five accidents. Police said there were no speeding problems. We feel it's very safe," he told council.

Two residents told council a different story, noting instances of near-accidents with children and one case two years ago where a car hit a house built in 1850 and caused more than $60,000 worth of damage.

"I ask for your support. It's very important for us to provide a sense of safety for those who live there and frequent that area," McQuinn told her colleagues.

In the end, council approved the stop signs, but councilman Marty Jewell (5th) warned that he had seen situations where four-way stops caused more harm than good. Despite those concerns, he considered Venable Street a special case and voted in favor of the stops.

Jewell then changed course and refused to join his colleagues as they voted to override the mayor's vetoes against installing stop signs at the intersections of Pepper and Hanover avenues and Portland Place and Queen Charlotte Road in Bruce Tyler's (1st) West End district.

"Here we go again with these stop signs. The city administration and traffic engineer continuously said we need to look at other options," he said. "In most cases there are more problems with all-way stops, like people running into the back of cars. This seems to contradict city code, and I think we need to be careful about how we advance these when there may be other ways."

According to a presentation to council earlier this month from city traffic engineer Thomas Flynn, Jewell is right.