Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Latest local news, weather, high school sports in the Rio Grande Valley

Streets of Speed - Speeders & Unbuckled Kids Outside Harlingen School
Posted: 03.08.2011 at 10:52 PM
Ryan Wolf

Ryan Wolf is an anchor and reporter for Action 4 News.

1
Slideshow
Photo:

Cindi Brent wants the sun to finally set on speeders near her home off Suncountry Drive and Palm Boulevard in Harlingen.

"[It's] Necessary and absolutely needed," she said about the Speedzapper’s arrival.

Moises V. Vela Middle School is in the area.

There's a school zone speed limit set at 20 miles per hour.

"[It's] Very clear," Brent said.  "There's no reason for people not to see the signs."

The Speedzapper stopped two drivers who each had an excuse for speeding.

Michelle Ratliff was one of them.

"I need to get to the house... my daughter needs to use the restroom."

Sandra Pena was the other.

Speedzapper: "Do you know you're speeding in a school zone?"

Sandra: "But it's not right now?"

The flashing lights were functioning during the questioning.

We showed each driver their speed on the Speedzapper's radar.

Speedzapper: "What does it say right here?"

Michelle: "39."

Speedzapper: "How fast is that?"

Michelle: "A lot."

Pena was driving 20 miles per hour over the posted limit.

Brent said it happens daily.

She's just glad someone's here to sound the alarm.

"I want them zapped," she said.

The zapping extended beyond speeding outside the school.

The Speedzapper also found none of the children in either vehicle stopped buckled up as required by law.

Each speeder had two young children with them at the time.

"I just live right here," Ratliff said.

Speedzapper: "But you know what can happen to those kids?"

Michelle: "Yes."

While disappointed, Cindi wasn't surprised.

"They're hurried... they're rushed... and don't realize the dangers," she said.

The hope now is that the two women featured this week for speeding will join the Speedzapper's efforts to safeguard the streets.

"I've been zapped," Pena said.

Popular Stories
Thumbnail
Prostitute, pimp and solicitor arrested after car accident
Veronica Gallegos  |  Yesterday at 5:35 PM  |  18 comments
Thumbnail
Child conceals abuse in fear of being thrown out by landlord
Brianna Vela  |  Yesterday at 9:20 PM  |  15 comments
Thumbnail
Edinburg family mourns child killed in beach accident
Nadia Galindo  |  Yesterday at 6:46 PM  |  19 comments
Follow Valley Central
Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below
Sign up to get alerts and updates for breaking news, severe weather, and deals:
submit
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Features
Border Bridge Wait Times
Estimated times to cross into the United States from Mexico.
Pay It 4Ward
Pay It 4Ward is a program where Action 4 News viewers can nominate a person who selflessly gives to others for a cash prize.
Hurricane Page
Action 4 News has placed all our Hurricane Season videos, maps, stories and resources on one page.
Valley Football Central
LIVE video and audio streams of Rio Grande Valley high school football games.
ADVERTISEMENT