Posted 10:03 am Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Police Issue 175 School Zone Speeding Tickets
KYTX CBS19 VIDEO
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
The first week of school in Tyler saw motorists racing to get their children to school on time, getting stuck in traffic jams and forgetting to reduce speed and put the cell phones.
Staff Writer
The first week of school in Tyler saw motorists racing to get their children to school on time, getting stuck in traffic jams and forgetting to reduce speed and put the cell phones.
Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Don Martin said officers with his department issued 175 speeding in school zone tickets and 62 cell phone violations last week.
“We warn the public before school starts to remember school zones, but it's up to the motorists to pay attention,” he said.
Martin said the citations were issued Monday through Friday and though the number seemed high, police hoped it would deter others from violating the school zone speeds and the law banning texting or talking on a cell phone in a school zone.
Tyler Municipal Court Adminis-trator Cam McCabe said fines for speeding in a school zone begin at $250 for those exceeding the speed limit by less than 14 miles. She said that between 15 and 20 miles over, the speed limit costs $300, and more than 21 miles over costs the violator $325.
“The police are definitely out there to remind people early on that school is back in session and they need to be careful in school zones,” she said.
McCabe said an average week showed about half of the citations as this year's first week of school.
In the first week of October 2009, police wrote 81 speeding violations.
Martin said the cell phone violations are typically people talking on their phone while driving through a school zone, but he added there were tickets issued to those texting while driving. In Texas, it is illegal to use a cell phone in a school zone.
“We just want people to know we are out there enforcing these traffic laws,” Martin said.
Martin said the citations were issued Monday through Friday and though the number seemed high, police hoped it would deter others from violating the school zone speeds and the law banning texting or talking on a cell phone in a school zone.
Tyler Municipal Court Adminis-trator Cam McCabe said fines for speeding in a school zone begin at $250 for those exceeding the speed limit by less than 14 miles. She said that between 15 and 20 miles over, the speed limit costs $300, and more than 21 miles over costs the violator $325.
“The police are definitely out there to remind people early on that school is back in session and they need to be careful in school zones,” she said.
McCabe said an average week showed about half of the citations as this year's first week of school.
In the first week of October 2009, police wrote 81 speeding violations.
Martin said the cell phone violations are typically people talking on their phone while driving through a school zone, but he added there were tickets issued to those texting while driving. In Texas, it is illegal to use a cell phone in a school zone.
“We just want people to know we are out there enforcing these traffic laws,” Martin said.
