Although the number of vehicles in our fair city went down compared with recent years, the number of crashes are up, according to a report from the Milwaukee Public Works Department. The city had 384,798 registered vehicles in 2007 and 12,870 crashes, compared with 396,037 and 12,465 in 2006.

Crashes, overall, however, have been falling in number since 1996, the period covered in the report. There were 14,691 crashes in 1996, tops among the last 11 years. There were 355,716 vehicles in 1996. Deaths, on the other hand have been going up, but pretty much remain in the mid-30s range. The peak year was 2004 when 52 people lost their lives on city streets. Pedestrian fatalities were highest in 2007, with 18.

There were 109 bicyclists killed or injured last year and 490 pedestrians killed or injured.

Although you wouldn't know it from the incessant TV coverage on the issues, bus crashes continue a downward slide from a high of 353 in 2001 to 174 in 2007. Motorcycles, however, remain as crash-prone as ever, keeping a steady crash total of about 170 through the years.

Some other interesting numbers:

• The leading factor in accidents remains "failure to yield," with 25 percent of crashes blamed on that, followed by "driver inattention" at 17 percent, "disregard of traffic signal" at 13 percent, and "speed" at 11 percent.
• Alcohol-related crashes have remained a relative constant through the past 10 years. Last year, 577 accidents, or 4.48 percent, were booze related. The worst year for alcohol crashes was 2004, when 5.3 percent of all crashes had alcohol involved.
• There were 4,202 seat belt citations issued last year.
• The economic loss in all these accidents was $298 million according the DPW.
• 28 percent off all the crashes last year were hit and runs. An amazing 43 percent of the crashes in 1996 were of the hit and run variety.

Payday for Police Beating: Lovell Harris will take center stage next week and could end up $150,000 richer for his efforts. Harris, you may recall, was Frank Jude Jr.'s sidekick on that infamous October Saturday night when Jude was beaten by a gaggle of cops in Bay View.

The Milwaukee City Attorney's office has recommend the city settle a federal lawsuit Harris brought contending that his civil rights were violated, even though Harris essentially left Jude on the pavement to take the beating and ran away from the scene.

Questions About Questions: Milwaukee Police took an unusual tactic in trying get a tavern closed -- they showed up at the bar's license hearing. And they showed up in force, too. Cops usually don't come before the venerable Licenses Committee to testify about problem bars -- the record of police calls usually speaks for them. But in the matter of Questions tavern, 3041 W. North Ave., even Assistant Police Chief James Harpole appeared to oppose renewing the club's license.

Seems an extraordinary amount of police presence is needed at night when the club closes, which is three nights a week. Harpole was flanked by members of the tavern squad, a community prosecution unit and his own representative from the city attorney's office. Officers also were in the back of the room, watching the day-long affair unfold.

Questions was represented by some pricey legal help, too, in the form of Michael Maistelman and David Halbrooks, a former municipal court judge and a former city attorney.

"It's like the police are trying to usurp your power," Maistelman told the committee at its meeting this week.

Ald. Ashante Hamilton called it a "pretty peculiar situation," but added that maybe the police could be more effective in dealing with the problem club. "I feel there could be better use of the tools they have," he said. Nonetheless he proposed a 25-day suspension of the club's license, which his colleagues supported.

Permit Passions: It cost the City of Milwaukee $299,765 in fees to hold various special events in the city in 2008. The 1,151 events ranged from block parties, festivals, bike races, runs/walks and even night time trick or treating, which happened in 24 neighborhoods last year. There were 333 block parties in the city last year, 73 parades and 22 filming events. That cost figures do not include pay for police to monitor the events.

The events' costs are expected to be covered by fees, but the Department of Public Works released a four-page list of deadbeats that didn't pay some $3,562 in permit fees. Some notables include:

• Miller Brewing, which owed $795 to put up some banners.
• Mike Kozak, of Martini Mike's, 730 N. Old World 3rd St., who owes $352 for a "parking event."
• The Pfister Hotel, which owes $332 to hood some parking meters.
• Dan Wilson, of PE Productions, 3241 N. Holton St., still owes $829 for a filming event.
• Others with outstanding bills include: WTMJ-TV and WISN-TV.

He's a Hero: Jeff Skiles was honored by the state Senate Wednesday, making an appearance in the state Capitol with his parents, wife and children. Skiles was co-pilot of the US Airways Airbus that was headed for Charlotte when it hit some geese and crash landed in the Hudson River. He was also at Gov. Jim Doyle's State of the State speech. Skiles is from Oregon, Wis.