JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sol and Nelson Lopez said drivers have been speeding down the road in front of their home for years. They’ve called Jacksonville police several times, but they said the problem persists.
They’re worried one of their three children will be hit by a car. Their oldest is 10, and their youngest is 2, but it’s their 7-year-old who worries them the most.
“He’s on the spectrum, autism spectrum and kids on the spectrum tend to run off,” explained Sol Lopez.
Not just that, but she said kids walk through her neighborhood to get to San Jose Elementary, and she’s worried one of them might be hit while walking near Community Road.
Her husband, Nelson, said the speed limit on the road, which is off St. Augustine Road near Philips Highway, is 30 mph, “but I can tell they’re usually going 40-50 down the road.”
He said drivers use Community Road as a cut-through road to avoid the traffic at the intersection of St. Augustine Road and University Boulevard.
They shared video of some of the drivers they say are speeding. The cars were caught on a doorbell camera across from their home. You can see car after car rushing down the narrow two-lane road during the day and at night.
News4JAX called the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to find out what it can do to help.
Cmdr. Scott Lundquist met us in the neighborhood and explained that JSO uses stealth boxes to monitor reports of speeding.
“It gives us a max speed, and a minimum of what people are doing,” he explained. “What we’ll do is look at the data, and we can have officers come out here and set up.”
Lundquist explained more about stealth boxes and how JSO responds to speeding complaints
The stealth boxes are hidden, so they can collect an accurate reading.
The Lopez family said they also would like to have speed bumps added to Community Road since police can’t be there all the time.
JSO does not process speed bump requests; that is a decision that must be made by the city’s traffic engineering department.
I called City Councilman Joe Carlucci, who represents the district where the Lopez family lives, and he joined me during my 10 a.m. streaming show on News4JAX+ to explain the cost and process for anyone who wants to request speed bumps in their neighborhood or ask for the speed limit to be lowered.
Sol and Nelson Lopez are happy that JSO is helping.
“It’s a start,” said Nelson.
Now they just hope drivers will slow down.
If you have a problem with speeding where you live, Lundquist suggests you attend a Sheriff’s Watch meeting. They are held each month in each district. Click here to find a list of the dates and locations.