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November 11, 2008

County has new tool to fight speeders

By Patrick McCreless

The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office now has a new tool to use in the fight against speeding.

Sheriff Tyler Roden said his agency recently received a large electronic sign, which he plans to use to deter speeding throughout Cullman County.

“Speeding is just a problem everywhere,” Roden said.

Roden said his agency obtained the sign through a $21,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and with the assistance of the Cullman County Economic Development Agency.

“They were instrumental in assisting us in obtaining this grant,” Roden said.

The sign has built-in radar to detect the speed of motorists. If a motorist is traveling over the speed limit, the sign will then display his or her speed.

“We’re very proud of it,” Roden said. “It’s going to be very useful.”

Roden said he hopes motorists will slow down if they see they see their speed on the side of the road. He added that motorists will likely slow down because of the assumption that if there is a speed sign, then patrol deputies are likely nearby.

And chances are, the assumption would be correct.

“People will not know if we are on the other end of the sign or not,” Roden said. “Hopefully people will try to avoid a speeding ticket because we very well could be on the other side. But if the speed display is not there, it certainly does not mean we won’t be set up there running radar.”

For the last few days, the sign was positioned on Alabama Highway 69 near the Fairview Town Hall.

“That’s an area where we received numerous complaints of speeding,” Roden said.

He said the plan is to move the sign to different trouble spots periodically, including areas in Good Hope, Vinemont, Garden City, Hanceville and Dodge City.

Roden noted the sign would eventually serve purposes other than just as a speed deterrent.

“This sign can also be used to give people directions when we need to detour traffic,” Roden said. “Or say, if there is a hurricane evacuation, this sign can be posted on a main roadway and give directions to the closest shelter.”



‰ Contact Patrick McCreless by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.

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