LEESBURG, Va. - There's a new plan to crack down on speeders in Loudoun County (web | news) with Leesburg police now saying they're ready to turn over radar guns to people living within city limits.

That has residents wondering what it would be like if they had the power to catch speeders with radar guns. "Sure I'll carry one around in my car," said Wanda Montague, a resident.

Officers will soon not be the only ones patrolling the streets. The Leesburg Police Department is giving citizens the authority. A new traffic safety program aimed at reducing speeding essentially gives residents the power to help enforce the law.

"We are definitely not out here encouraging any kind of traffic vigilantism. We're asking the citizens to number one go through a very thorough training program," said Officer Chris Jones of the Leesburg Police Department.

After extensive training, volunteer residents will be issued hand-held radar detectors. But some believe that is crossing a dangerous line.

"I just think it's a bad idea. That's the [job of the police]," said a resident.

Police say the volunteers are not allowed to pull people over. After monitoring traffic and recording speeds and license plate numbers, the results are forwarded to the police who then turn around and send out warning notices -- not tickets.

"We will then go out and look at traffic data in the neighborhood and see if a problem really exists," said Jones.

Montague says she's tired of aggressive drivers in the area. She likes the idea of now having the power to do something about it. "There are some crazy people out there acting wild so that's one way maybe to get them to slow down," she said.

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