Drivers speeding on county roads 65 percent of the time

By By Lynette Wilson / staff writer
Dec. 17, 2002
When sheriff's deputies recently clocked a vehicle driving 79 mph in a 35 mph zone on Pine Springs Road, all they could do was watch.
Lauderdale County Sheriff's Deputies used radar gun technology to record the speed of 500 vehicles 100 vehicles in each supervisor's district for an educational study.
On average, they said, 65 percent or 325 vehicles drove at least 11 mph faster than the posted limit.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie presented the study's findings to the county board of supervisors at a Monday meeting.
Four other counties Rankin, Hinds, Warren and Madison are also conducting speed studies using radar guns. They hope to persuade the Legislature to let them to use radar to enforce speed limits.
Only two states, Mississippi and Pennsylvania, prohibit county sheriffs from using radar as an enforcement tool.
So far this year, Sollie said, there have been nine fatalities on county roads the majority in District 5.
Ray Boswell, District 5 supervisor, said that is because his district covers more than half the county. But, he said, there's no set basis for speed limits.
Sollie said, however, that a sign doesn't make people slow down.
In the past, supervisors have expressed support for the use of radar. But the final decision is up to the Legislature and lawmakers have repeatedly rejected radar proposals.
But this year, Sollie said, he believes the Legislature may approve a bill.