The Brooksville Police Department is looking into purchasing radar speed signs following multiple complaints from residents about speeding in neighborhoods.

  • Close calls in Candlelight, Southern Hills neighborhoods
  • Police believe proximity to highway could be contributor
  • "We'd rather not write tickets -- we'd rather do an educational campaign."

The sound of cars flying by is common in the Candlelight neighborhood in Brooksville. Residents say lots of people cut through their area to avoid the busy highways, and they say many don't obey the speed limit signs.

"I worry about my kids being in the road," Charles Faulk said. "I make them go on the side road instead of being in the main road to begin with."

Faulk said since he's lived in this neighborhood, they've had some close calls.

"My mailbox has been taken out three times in the past year that I've lived here," Faulk explained. "My wife has been in the yard when it happened once before. I heard a huge crash and she was right over here and the mailbox was kicked out at least 30 feet from where it sits."

Speed bump already installed in the Candlelight neighborhood. (Kim Leoffler, staff)

There are already some speed bumps in place in the Candlelight neighborhood, which residents said has been helpful. But many still think more needs to be done.

That's why people in the Candlight and Southern Hills neighborhoods, as well as residents near Hernando High School, contacted police. Brooksville Police Chief George Turner said radar speed signs could be the answer to reduced speeding in those areas.

"We'd rather not write tickets -- we'd rather do an educational campaign," said Turner. "So these speed signs are really directed for educational purposes only."

Turner told us many people coming off the highway don't realize just how fast they're going and many slow down once they do. Residents still think officers out there watching is more effective.

"It definitely needs to be monitored by local police. I have noticed that there have been some police officers sitting in the neighborhood and it does tend to help," Faulk said.

And the police do intend to follow up. Some of those signs track speeds and if there's a trend the chief can send out officers to a targeted spot.

Chief Turner has already presented the idea of purchasing the speed radar signs to the Brooksville City Council. Now he is pricing everything out before presenting his findings to the council next.