EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- If you've ever been frustrated by speeding drivers in your neighborhood and thought about taking the law into your own hands, you might be in luck, as Eugene Police are promoting new a program that's putting speed radar guns in the hands of local Eugene residents.
Eugene Police is pushing a new program called the “citizen radar program.” After taking a class, citizens check out an authentic police radar gun to clock drivers speeds in their own neighborhoods.
Ultimately, residents can record the data on speeders and give it to police.
Through the program, residents equipped with radars are required to log the speed that the driver was allegedly clocked at, where it was and what time it happened.
Residents also have to record the license plate and a description of the car.
With the information, Eugene Police officers will check the license plate and vehicle description with DMV records.
If a driver is caught speeding, they'll first get a letter from Eugene Police. After multiple warnings, the Chief of Police, Pete Kerns will review the case himself and so on.
“It's a really good program because it really does empower those people who feel really frustrated about a certain speeding situation in their neighborhood or somewhere close to their neighborhood,” says Sgt. Lisa Barrong of the Eugene Police Department.
“It gives them a way to partner with us and help us address the issue,” says Sgt. Barrong.
Before anyone can check out a radar though, they'll have to attend a special class put on by EPD. If you want to take part, you have to sign up ahead of time.
The next class is on March 6th, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m. To sign up for the class, call 541-682-8332.
Since the program is citizen run, EPD says citizen speeding driver logs cannot lead to actual citations. However, the program gives EPD officers a good way to keep track of specific drivers and possible problem areas.
