Taking Speed Control into Their Own Hands: Elkhart Residents Fight for Safer Roads

Photo byWSBT photo

Along County Road 2 in Elkhart County, Indiana, neighbors are growing increasingly alarmed by the reckless speeds of passing vehicles. For one resident, the issue has become so severe that he’s decided to take matters into his own hands—literally. Armed with a radar gun, he’s clocking vehicles well over the posted 45 mph speed limit, some hitting a staggering 81 mph.

The lack of visible speed limit signs on this stretch of road has only added to the frustration of residents. With people walking, biking, and traveling by buggy in the area, the high speeds are more than an inconvenience—they pose a serious threat to community safety.

An Unconventional Solution
One local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, shared how dangerous the situation has become, especially during morning and evening commutes. Frustrated by the lack of law enforcement presence, he bought his own radar gun. “I want the sheriff’s department out here writing reckless driving tickets every morning,” he said, noting that cars fly by faster than ever, especially when drivers know police aren’t monitoring the area.

This vigilante effort may seem extreme, but it reflects the rising concerns about road safety across the county. Captain Michael Culp of the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that speeding complaints are common, and his team does respond when calls come in. However, the department is already stretched thin, having responded to 11 crashes resulting in 13 fatalities so far this year.

The Sheriff’s Department Responds
Culp acknowledged the resident’s efforts to document speeding but offered a word of caution. While it’s not illegal to aim a radar gun at passing vehicles, using it at night could risk temporarily blinding drivers. "We advise residents to be cautious," Culp stated, emphasizing that official police monitoring remains the safest method of speed enforcement .

For now, residents of County Road 2 continue to push for more consistent law enforcement to help curb dangerous driving behaviors. The hope is that, through a combination of community vigilance and official action, the speeding problem can be controlled before another tragic accident occurs.