Speeders beware. You may soon be on your neighbor’s radar.

As was previously discussed in this post, cops are issuing radar guns to the public to help monitor speeders. What next?

The St. Joseph Police Department will begin loaning radar guns to residents worried about the lead-foots in their neighborhood.

The new program, which is currently seeking sponsors, was prompted by the limited number of officers available to catch speeders and to get residents to take more ownership in their neighborhood.

Speeding complaints top the list of traffic concerns police receive, said Sgt. Bill McCammon, Traffic Unit supervisor.

“We don’t have the manpower to go out and dedicate the time needed to reduce speeding,” Mr. McCammon said. “This is a way to try to get residents more involved in taking care of their own problem, with our assistance, of course.”

Volunteers will run radar from their own cars as part of a two-person team in residential neighborhoods.

One person will clock any vehicle traveling more than 10 mph over the speed limit, and the other person will write down the license plate and type of vehicle.

Later, if police find the license plate and vehicle description match, a warning letter will be sent to the car’s registered owner.

“It just informs them that their vehicle was observed speeding in this neighborhood, on this date, and reminding them they have to watch their speed, especially because it’s a residential area,” Mr. McCammon said.

Since 2003, a similar community policing program has been in place in Shawnee, Kan.

Shawnee Police Department Lt. Doug Orbin said neighborhood speed watchers have helped police target speed traps to true problem areas

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