9-year-old petitions for speed bumps in Naples neighborhood

NAPLES, Fla. – A push for speed bumps is on in one neighborhood after a little girl started a petition because she was concerned about speeding.

“It makes me feel scared that they go too fast and they don’t stop” said Megan.

The 9-year-old rounded up 17 of her neighbors’ signatures. She’s petitioning for city leaders to look into replacing the stop signs on 14th Street North between 22nd Avenue North and 26th Avenue North.

But not all her neighbors agree with having the speed bumps.

“There’s a stop sign every block,” said Danny Ripka.

Ripka lives on the corner of 14th Street North and Royal Palm Drive. “There’s a stop sign right here, Diana there’s another stop sign, and 26th there’s another stop. I mean with as many stop signs as we have, I don’t feel we need speed bumps.”

For some people who live in the area, they said having Naples High School just north of them is the real concern.

“This neighborhood seems like it’s always had, only around the times when they go to school and get out of school,” said Don Stiess.

But either way City Council member Bill Barnett, who will soon move into the area said they’ll look into it. “I think it’s a last resort. I think you’d really like to take every other step first before you do that.”

Mayor John Sorey has asked that a speed and traffic study be done in the area Megan has raised concern about.

WINK News has learned 31 drivers have been cited by police in that area since 2012. The majority of the traffic violations were for drivers who did not stop at a stop sign.