COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Genoa Township Police Department is calling for the community’s help to crack down on speeding.
Police have received a large number of complaints from residents who live near Westerville Central High School and the surrounding neighborhoods.
“We don't want to see something tragic happen,” Lt. Rich Lyon said. “Everybody should feel safe in their neighborhoods.”
Police say they are increasing patrols and radars, primarily monitoring school pickup and drop-offs as well as lunch hours to see if there is an increase in speeding during these times.
“Some of the officers will drive through the area using their in-car radars. Some will actually park in various areas throughout the neighborhoods and run stationary radar and lasers,” Lt. Lyon said.
Christine Shipman says people do tend to drive pretty quickly through the area. As a mother of three, she says she's extra cautious.
“We're trying to get our kids on the sidewalk, safely across the street and sometimes people aren't paying as close of attention as they should be," she said.
If you don’t see a speed limit sign in your residential area, Lt. Lyon says just assume it’s 25 miles an hour. He says this will be the safest and the cheapest bet for everyone.
A big reminder to slow down is the hefty price tag of a speeding ticket which is even higher in school zones.
“If you're a juvenile and you're cited for a speed violation, you almost certainly face some sort of temporary license suspension, insurance rates could be affected by it,” he said.
He says there is no financial gain for the officers to distribute tickets. They just want the community to work with them on keeping everyone safe.
Lt. Lyon says they are always monitoring school zones, but with the increase in speeding complaints, there will be more eyes on the road and through the radar monitors.
"I do really appreciate having them around just making people remember to do the right thing,” Shipman said.