LOS INDIOS – A Cameron County woman said drivers are posing a threat to residents of the community.

Los Indios resident Sylvia Nunez lives near Highway 28. She said she's had to make driving adjustments since there's traffic at all times of the day.

"Oh, it's difficult to get out (of the driveway). We have to turn our trucks to face to the street, so that we can see and pass,” she said.

Nunez said she's most concerned about drivers breaking the speed limit, especially when school buses are on the road.

"When my daughter comes (home) like at 4 p.m. from school, it's bad, especially the 18-wheelers,” she said.

Los Indios Police Chief Jose De La Rosa said they want the speeding through the town to stop.

He said the department averages about 150 speeding tickets every two weeks and about double the number in warnings.

De La Rosa said many drivers are breaking the law in the construction zones. He said the violations are significant.

"Our average ticket, per month, is 14 miles over the speed limit. Other departments have five or six (miles)… It's 14 miles over the limit (in Los Indios),” he said.

De La Rosa said speeders may be dashing through town because that's what they've been used to.

The Los Indios Police Department was established in early in 2016. De La Rosa said there’s only one part-time officer and eight reserve officers on the lookout besides himself.

Still, he said the department has plenty of other service calls to respond to and they can't be consumed by speeders.

"It would be helpful if the people just basically follow the law, and you know, slow down," de la Rosa said. "Our main job is not to give tickets. Our main job is to educate people and (let) them know what the law is."

The town is a popular corridor for 18-wheelers headed for the Los Indios International Bridge.

De La Rosa said these drivers will not get off the hook for breaking the law.

"If there is something in front of them, it takes a long time for them to stop. That can cause a major accident," he said. “Here in Los Indios, we don't have a fire department. We have to call San Benito or Harlingen to respond here to this area. So, some lives could be, you know - people can die."

The police chief said other agencies also help patrol the area. He said the Operation Stonegarden grant allows Harlingen and San Benito police, including Cameron County Sheriff deputies and constables, to patrol near the Los Indios. 

Nunez said she’s hopeful ongoing police presence in her town will help slow down drivers.