Electronic monitor will first be placed on North Randolph

LANDRUM — Drivers through Landrum will soon notice a new electric speed sign that will alert drivers as to how fast they are going.

Landrum City Council met jointly with its planning commission on Tuesday and had a presentation from Landrum Police Officer Levi Bouwkamp, who showed off the device to the officials.

City Administrator Rich Caplan said the signs are mobile and can be moved from street to street.

“If we like them, and they are effective, we can move them,” Caplan said.

Caplan said the first placement of the new sign will be on North Randolph Street.

Bouwkamp said the data the city receives from the signs will let the department know if they are effective.

The sign Landrum has does not include a camera, but Caplan said signs with cameras are available.

“This seems to slow people down, or I hope it does,” Caplan said.

Later in the meeting, when the council and the planning commission were discussing walking and biking trails in the city, Mayor Bob Briggs said he was thinking when Bouwkamp was showing the new speed sign, the city could monitor speeding on streets.

“If you reduce the speed in neighborhoods, maybe people would feel better about letting their kids walk on the streets,” Briggs said.

Electronic speed signs let drivers know the actual speed they are traveling when they pass it. Landrum’s includes a flashing light to alert drivers.

The towns of Columbus and Tryon also have speed signs, which are often used in areas where there are complaints of excessive speeding. Tryon’s is often used downtown, where the speed limit is 20 mph.