Radar rules
To receive a state permit to run radar on a city street, local police must show that they can be visible to motorists on the street, Gainesville Police Chief Frank Hooper said.
The road in question must meet two requirements to prove that officers can be seen by motorists:
The grade of the road must not exceed 7 percent. For example, the northbound lane of Thompson Bridge Road near the bridge has a 7 percent grade, Hooper said.
Also, police must be able to park in a place that is visible to motorists 500 feet away, Hooper said.
Even if they cannot receive a permit to run radar on a street, police can still monitor the speed there, and can issue citations for motorists they believe are “driving too fast for conditions.”
Such a traffic citation would be based on a police officer’s observation that a motorist was exceeding the speed limit, Hooper said.
BY ASHLEY FIELDING
afielding@gainesvilletimes.com
Residents of Amberleigh subdivision soon may be granted a wish that motorists slow down in their neighborhood.
The Gainesville City Council is considering a proposal to lower the speed limit in the south Gainesville neighborhood. The council gave initial approval Tuesday to an ordinance that would lower the neighborhood’s speed limit from 30 to 25 miles per hour.
David Dockery, Gainesville’s Public Works Director, said neighborhood residents came to the city two months ago with concerns about the speed of motorists in the area.
"There are some pretty sharp curves in that subdivision, and we felt like it was a pretty reasonable request," Dockery said.
The speed limit will be officially reduced in the area if
council members vote in favor of the reduction again on Nov. 3, Dockery said.
Amberleigh resident Christie Upshaw said she is looking forward to the speed limit change. Upshaw has four boys who like to play near the neighborhood’s streets.
"It’s a lot of kids in the area, and they like to play in the street, because there’s not much sidewalk room and they like to ride their bikes and everything," said Upshaw. "It’s a little concern for their safety."
However, the police department’s ability to enforce the speed limit will be limited.
The neighborhood, located off Poplar Springs Road, has curvy roads with steep grades, many of which do not meet the sight distance requirements for the city police to check speed with radar guns, said Police Chief Frank Hooper.
To receive a state permit to run radar on a city street, the grade of the road must not exceed 7 percent and police must be able to park in a place that is visible to motorists 500 feet away, Hooper said.
For now, Hooper said it does not seem like any of the streets in Amberleigh meet those requirements, but he said police can still monitor speed in the area.
"We can charge them with too fast for conditions," Hooper said.
Such a traffic citation would be based on a police officer’s observation that a motorist was exceeding the speed limit, Hooper said.
"With a lower speed limit, it would make that charge a little bit easier to make," Hooper said.