
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, October 24, 1995                   TAG: 9510240038
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HOW WILL THE NEXT SHERIFF SLOW 'EM DOWN IN SCHOOL ZONES?

Q: How will you enforce the speed limits in school zones? If the lack of enforcement of the two zones on Prices Fork Road is indicative of the entire county, we then have no enforcement at present. - Dick Parker, Blacksburg.

Parker's question was a central concern of citizens attending the Prices Fork Grange candidates forum earlier this month. Residents were concerned about excessive speeding on Prices Fork Road - speeding that likely will worsen when highway work there is completed. They were particularly concerned about speeding near Prices Fork Elementary School in the county and at Kipps Elementary in town.

All four candidates for sheriff favor beefing up radar enforcement, but stress that the three or four deputies working each shift must first be available to answer complaints. And with the number of schools in the county, it would not be possible to work radar at each school zone each day.

Garnett Adkins, Independent : Favors more use of radar in school zones. "At one time it was done" fairly regularly, he said. The problem is deciding how to schedule a limited staff of road deputies to enforce the speed in school zones. Adkins said a decision would have to be made whether midnight shift deputies worked the zones at the end of their shifts, or if day shift deputies covered the assignment at the start of their work day.

"To me it wouldn't hurt. I would myself set deputies at school zones" to monitor the traffic.

Doug Marrs, Republican: "If that is a problem, it may be necessary to place a deputy out there when the [25 mph] lights are on."

He said deputies could occasionally work radar in school zones and concentrate patrol on Prices Fork Road.

Jerry Olinger, Democrat: Like the other candidates, Olinger favors random radar checks when staff is available - as long as it doesn't detract from other calls. It may be possible to coordinate the radar enforcement with state troopers, he said.

O.P. Ramsey, Independent: Nobody had brought the problem to his attention before Parker's question and the Grange forum.

It's important citizens communicate their complaints to the Sheriff's Office, he said. "If we've got speeders running through Prices Fork ... we will have some radar sitting out there."

To ask a question of the Montgomery County sheriff or commonwealth's attorney candidates, come to Thursday's candidates forum at 7 p.m. at Falling Branch Elementary School in Christiansburg. Index cards will be provided for citizens who want to write questions to the candidates. A moderator will ask the questions.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB