After suggesting Edmontonians follow speedy motorists to their homes and give them a piece of their mind, the Mayor Stephen Mandel made it clear Thursday he’s not advocating vigilante justice.

During Wednesday’s transportation committee meeting at city hall Mandel told media that residents should take matters into their own hands by tracking city speeders to their homes and reading them the riot act.

“Follow the guy home, knock on his door and say ‘Mr. so-and-so or Mrs. so-and-so, or little boy so-and-so, why can’t you slow down?,’” said Mandel Wednesday.

“To me that’s going to make a big difference rather than us spending millions after millions of dollars putting in things that are just going to encourage guys who like to speed to get around ‘em quicker.”

But after a concerned city cop tweeted that kind of action is a “very bad idea” the Edmonton’s mayor took the time to clarify his statements Thursday morning.

“If it’s your neighbour or people you know, I mean of course use discretion,” he said, adding perhaps residents could leave a note on their door instead saying ‘your daughter or son was speeding.’

“But you could follow them, see where they live and leave a note for later.”

He says there’s lots of different ways Edmontonians could help Edmonton cops police the streets by holding each other accountable for dangerous driving.

“Everyone wants to turn to the government and say well, you do this for us,” he said. “But sometimes people have to take responsibility for themselves and the actions of their own neighbours.”

Mandel also suggests community leagues should take a stand on speeding in their own neighbourhoods.

“Maybe they can work with the community to make things better, so they don’t speed or they don’t litter,” he said. “Just generally help each other make things better for the neighbourhood.”

Meanwhile, with council set to continue budget talks next week, Mandel says he already sees ways they can reduce the estimated tax hike.

“I just think there are a bunch of stuff we can reduce,” he said. “I’ve said it before, a 5.5% tax increase is way too high and I think there’s lot of ways to cut the budget.”

City council members will resume budget 2013 discussions Wednesday afternoon following their regular council session.

angelique.rodrigues@sunmedia.ca