Paintball Vigilantes - North Carolina

Most places have a neighborhood watch, but this takes it to another level: a Durham, North Carolina intersection is getting a lot of attention after signs popped up threatening speeders with the message, "Speed limit enforced by angry neighbors with paintball guns."

"I love the signs," said Durham resident Angelo Abbate. "I think it might slow traffic down."

For the moment, nobody seems to know who did it.

"I told you once," said Durham resident Charles Sutton. "I'll tell you again: no I don't."

The group that put the signs up released a statement saying it's tired of the speeding problem, but shied away from an email interview request saying: "Who we are isn't important. What is important is that the city of Durham realize this is a problem that needs to be solved."

They're calling for Durham to reinstate the "Pace Car" program, which was designed to encourage people to stick with the speed limit.

The area has a history with speeding, apparently; one neighbor said before they put in this traffic circle, he called this the "Markham Dragway."

"It is a very big problem on this street because it's a through-street," said Abbate. "It goes right through to Ninth."

Folks living nearby say they hope it helps, but police are not amused.

The Durham Police Department also declined an interview request, but released its own statement, saying: "The Police Department believes that these signs are inappropriate and potentially dangerous. We fear that these signs could be a distraction to even the most law-abiding motorists and possibly cause collisions."

Most neighbors think the signs are just a warning, and don't expect anyone to start shooting.

"Although you can't tell," said Abbate with a laugh. "Who knows."

They just hope it works.

Durham police say anyone who actually shoots a car with a paintball gun could be subject to criminal charges; they go even further, though, and say if any motorist reasonably believes their car might be damaged, they could press charges.