DIXIE INN — Motorists will have to be a little more careful as they drive through the streets of Dixie Inn.
This week, installation on speed deterrents, or speed bumps, was completed, and signs will be going up on each end of the streets on which they were installed. Mayor Ava Nell McWhorter, in a June interview, said they had to do something about people speeding through their neighborhoods.
“The main reason we’re getting these is because people are using Dixie Inn as a cutoff,” she said. “They come off Highway 80, and instead of going to the light, they cut through one of our streets and sometimes they’re driving 50 and 60 miles an hour. We have signs up to the effect that if they are exceeding the speed limit they will be double fined, but it doesn’t do any good. It’s become a real problem.”
Police Chief James Edwards warned motorists not to go around the speed deterrents as it could cost them a fine and a ticket for improper lane use. He says those tickets run anywhere from $150 to $300, depending on the citation.
He reiterated McWhorter’s feelings, saying the speed deterrents are about the only thing they knew to do to stop the speeding, because with children out of school, or even getting off the buses after school, it’s become dangerous.
“We have kids that play out here, and with the park, kids getting off the bus after school, we had to do something,” he said. “We tried doubling the fines and residents were telling us people were still speeding. We get a lot of people from Minden coming through our streets because they don’t want to go through the intersection.”
Aldermen for the Village of Dixie Inn voted to have the speed bumps installed in their June meeting, although discussion has been ongoing for several months.
Edwards thanked the Village of Doyline for their assistance in getting the speed bumps, allowing them to come to Doyline and discuss this option to deter speeding.
“They really helped us a lot,” Edwards said, “from letting us come look at theirs to helping us with the framework of the ordinance.”
The cost of the speed bumps plus installation was about $5,200.