Neighborhood residents that live on South 6th Street in Monroe LA say they are fed up with speeders using their street as a race track. They said that the speeding by young drivers has been going on for a long time, and it is only a matter of time before something tragic happens. The Monroe Dispatch was told that the latest episode happened Monday, April 24, 2023 about 6:00 PM, when a driver was in the 2000 block of South 6th driving at a high rate of speed, where he almost hit a curb that could have had a tragic ending. The area on South 6th is from the traffic light at Winnsboro Road heading towards the Burg Jones area. A witness in the neighborhood told The Monroe Dispatch that speeding happens all of the time, putting pedestrians in danger, as there are no sidewalks, leaving them to walk on the fog line close to the ditch. Among those that walk are children and older adults without transportation. Witnesses say that those who are speeding are young people who seem to always be in a hurry, ignoring the 20mph speed limit. Speeding is not just limited to automobiles, as witnesses said that people on four-wheelers are seen speeding, creating an even bigger danger. The frustration, witnesses say, is only compounded by a seeming absence of Monroe Police officers patrolling the South 6th corridor and other streets in the area. They believe that just the presence of police officers driving up and down streets other than the main thoroughfares, such as South 2rd Street and Winnsboro Road, would deter many would-be speeders from getting caught. They also believe that putting up a traffic speed limit radar sign would also help slow down speeders. Then there was also the suggestion of utilizing speed bumps to help bring the speed limit under control. In addition to speeding, witnesses say they see 18-wheelers that frequent South 6th, which is strictly a residential area. They said the neighborhood is mostly quiet, except when someone takes the speed limit in their hands(or feet).

The presence of more officers or more frequent patrols that witnesses say will help curtail the number of those who decide to get there sooner rather than later. They say that officers are regularly only seen if something happens. They said that officers need to be seen when nothing is happening or see them when least expected. Drive through the neighborhood, and wave at the residents, they say, letting them know that they(officers) are there, even when not called. Pedestrians shouldn't have to jump in a ditch to save themselves from those who think they own the streets. They are asking Monroe Police Chief Victor Zordan to come out and speak to the residents on South 6th Street, and maybe he might get a first-hand look at what residents have to contend with more often than they would rather not. They don't want to see a tragedy happen first.

Photo South 6th St. Monroe LA Speeding