News Details (Posted: November 28, 2005):

Seminole citizens in no rush to clock motorists' speeds

Full Description:

It seemed like such a good idea. Take some old speed-radar units, teach groups of residents how to use them and let these ordinary citizens target motorists racing through their neighborhoods. No tickets would be handed out; no fines assessed. Instead, teams of residents, representing their homeowners association or neighborhood organization, would jot down the license number of a speeding vehicle. Then, the residents would submit the information to a law-enforcement agency and, a few days later, the vehicle's registered owner would get a warning letter stating when and where the speeding was observed. Two agencies, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office and the Oviedo Police Department, have tried to attract interest in their programs. Neither has had much success. "I was amazed," Oviedo police Cmdr. Marc Beaulieu said. The agency receives many complaints about drivers speeding through neighborhoods, so he expected an overwhelming response.