Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991 TAG: 9104110279
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The radar board will be placed along a street, and as a motorist approaches the unmarked radar the speed will flash on the large screen along with the posted speed limit for the area.
Two similar units are operating in the City of Martinsville.
"This is to make people aware of their speed," said Sgt. Frank Graves, Christiansburg's crime prevention officer. "Many speed calibrations don't work properly and people may not know it."
Officials said the unmanned radar board will not be used to issue traffic tickets, but motorists should be warned: An officer could be just down the road waiting with another radar unit. And it's likely the officer won't be as lenient as the radar board.
During a demonstration Wednesday, about nine out of 10 motorists on College Street were driving over the 25 mph speed limit posted in that residential area.
One car was clocked at 47 mph - and its driver promptly received a ticket from an officer who gave chase in his radar-equipped car.
"We'll be placing this unit in residential and business areas, and especially near schools where people have a tendency not to recognize signs," Graves said.
The board's location will be rotated "on every street in town," said Police Chief Ron Lemons. "And there are some 300 miles of roads in Christiansburg, so you never know where it will be."
Chief Lemons said speed is a contributing factor in crashes and injuries, and he thinks the board will be a useful prevention tool.
The radar board was made available by a $1,500 grant from the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Construction was completed at no cost to the police department, with much of the work done by Graves and town shop employees, Ronald Tweety and Eddie Songer.
Graves spearheaded the project to bring the device to Christiansburg after reviewing several positive recommendations on it from Martinsville. The DMV hopes other areas in Virginia will adopt the radar boards when state funds are more readily available.
"We think it's a good idea to remind motorists of their speed," said Mary King, public information officer for DMV District II in Roanoke, who - along with several others - viewed the board's first operation on College Street. "This is not punishment."
"The Christiansburg Police Department should be commended for this effort," said Mayor Harold Linkous, who was on hand to view its operation. "It's a nice way to remind people of their speed without giving them a ticket."
Except for that one driver.
by CNB