Council also proclaims Emergency Medical Services Week
Angelica Ramos
Contributing Writer
BLACKSBURG- On May 14, 2024, the Town Council of Blacksburg introduced a new ordinance that is set for public hearing and voting on June 11, 2024 to approve the installation of speed monitoring devices in school crossings zones.
The ordinance defines photo speed monitoring devices to be radar-base technologies and speed detection that uses photographs, microphotographs, videos or other recorded images of vehicles in these school crossing zones. Blacksburg Police department may install and monitor these devices for the purpose of monitoring speeds and violations in Blacksburg school zones.
“The operator of a vehicle shall be liable for a monetary civil penalty imposed pursuant to Virginia Code § 46.2-882.1,” The Ordinance reads, “if the vehicle is found, as evidenced by information obtained from a photo speed monitoring device, to be traveling at speeds of at least 10 miles per hour above the posted school crossing zone speed limit within such school crossing zone, while such zone is active.”
The penalty for violating the speed limits in these areas will be 100 dollars to be paid to the Town of Blacksburg. If these speed monitoring devices are approved on June 11, 2024, there will be signs placed within 1,000 feet of the school crossing zones.
Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith read a proclamation at the end of the May 14, 2024 town council meeting instating the week of May 19, 2024 through May 25, 2024 to be Emergency Medical Services Week in observation of the hard work and importance of Blacksburg and Montgomery County Emergency Services.
“Emergency Medical Services provide a vital public service,” Hager-Smith read, “and the members of emergency medical services’ teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury. The emergency medical services system consists of: first responders, emergency medical technicians, emergency medical directors, paramedics, dispatchers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, educators, administrators, nurses, trained members of the public and other out-of-hospital medical care providers.”
The community is encouraged to observe the week of May 19, 2024 through May 25, 2024 in honor of the community’s hardworking EMS teams and members.
