"I do know we've had an increase in speeding in the city and I do support law enforcement and the speed laws but I would never want to become a speed trap." — Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly It's not hard to spot city police cruisers sitting on hightraffic roads like Floyd Baker Boulevard, O'Neal Street and East Frederick Street, looking for speeders.

And they have no trouble finding them.

Through the first six months of this year, police in Gaffney pulled over 1,002 speeders, according to statistics released by city officials. That's up from the 706 speeding tickets written during the last six months of 2008.

The increase in the number of speeding tickets coincides with the hiring of Rick Turner as Gaffney police chief. And Turner isn't apologizing for it.

"I want officers to be out there more visible," Turner said. "They have stepped up to the challenge. I talked with them about stepping up their efforts and not only traffic violations. They have stepped up serving warrants and narcotics. I'm trying to change the effectiveness of the police department by lighting a fire under the officers who got complacent."

Turner said the aggressive speeding enforcement also has been shown to reduce accidents.

"The increase in traffic enforcement is directly related back to the number of accidents and injuries," he said.

Turner said his officers patrol more frequently high-volume traffic spots like Floyd Baker Boulevard, O'Neal Street, Overbrook Drive, Hetty Hill Street and East Frederick Street.

Of course, more tickets mean more revenue for the city. But Turner said he isn't looking to turn speeding enforcement into a money-maker for the city.

"In times of economic stress, the offices write for the least amount the ticket can be," he said.

Gaffney City Council agreed in June to reduce and, in one instance, raise the speed limits on several heavily-traveled city roadways.

The speed limit was dropped to 30 miles per hour on Hetty Hill Street, a portion of West O'Neal Street from Limestone Street to the railroad tracks and on South Limestone Street from O'Neal Street to the city's downtown commercial district.

Council approved posting more speed limit signs on a number of roads, including Anthony Street, Overbrook Drive, Thompson Street from College Drive to O'Neal Street, West Frederick Street from Hetty Hill Street to O'Neal Street and on Floyd Baker Boulevard.

Unless otherwise posted, there is a 30 mile per speed limit inside the city limits.

Gaffney Administrator James Taylor supports the police chief's actions.

"Enforcing the law and keeping the citizens safe is a priority," Taylor said.

Mayor Henry Jolly also supports Turner's aggressive speeding enforcement but doesn't want Gaffney to become known as a 'speed trap.'

"I do know we've had an increase in speeding in the city and I do support law enforcement and the speed laws but I would never want to become a speed trap," Jolly said.