Wheeling cruiser petition collects enough signatures for referendum

July 2, 2009

WHEELING, West Virginia: After being told that they were 350 signatures short, last month Wheeling residents announced that they collected 500 additional signatures, more than qualifying the "police cruiser petition" for the ballot. The "police cruiser petition" advocates for the requirement for two police officers to occupy a vehicle when on-duty be abolished. The proposal will not have an impact on the size of the current city police force, according to city officials. In order to qualify the petition for a referendum supporters needed to collect approximately 2,212 valid signatures; representing 10 percent of all registered voters in Wheeling. The petition fell short 350 signatures in June 10, 2009 and were given an additional 10 days to collect the necessary signatures. According to reports, at least 16 signatures were invalid because the people had died since first singing the petition. Supporters began circulating the petition in 2008. The current two-officer cruiser law was first approved in 1973 and upheld in 1980 by voters.

See also

*Wheeling Police Cruiser Referendum, 2009

• West Virginia ballot measures