Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

Holman (Aug 03/98) - Holman is not the place most would think of looking for speeders. After all, the high Arctic community of about 450 has few roads to even tempt one who wants to try warp speeds.

Well, think again.

Last week, the Hamlet of Holman took possession of a $2,000 radar gun. Mayor Gary Bristow says it is part of his community's efforts to combat speeding by the operators of the 100 or so ATVs in town.

"Some of the ATVs... are doing 50 or 60 kilometres per hour," he says. "We had one accident this spring that scared everyone."

Over the next month or so, Bristow says his hamlet's three bylaw officers will receive training on how to use and operate the radar gun. A Yellowknife RCMP officer might have to travel to Holman to do the training, he says.

"There has always been a fine program," Bristow says of previous efforts to curb speeding in Holman. "But without radar, you can't really tell how fast a guy is going... If they (speeders) know it's (the radar gun) is there, maybe they will slow down."

As for the cost, Bristow says that he and his council expect that speeders themselves will soon pay the radar gun off.

"We'll have to catch a few speeders before we pay for it," he says.

As to the political cost -- after all a politician who supports the introduction of a radar gun to a small community has few places to hide -- Bristow says it is a price he's willing to pay to curb high ATV speeds in Holman.

"I'm going to hear about it but I hear lots in the other direction," he says frankly.

As to those who plan on continuing to ride their ATVs at speeds higher than the hamlet's 35 km and hour limit, you've been warned.