Web Producer: Jill Middleton
Reporter: Jonathan Hardison
UPDATE, WED, 8:00 PM: The first day of school means a day of relief for parents.
Seventh grade parent Donna McBride says she's glad kids are back in school, but that's followed by anxiety when they walk out of the building and onto a waiting bus or car.
McBride says, "I've seen some of these people just speed through here, and it scares me to death that one of these kids will get hit."
Evansville Police Officer Joe Dickinson says, "I have 2 small children. One will be in 1st grade next year. So it's an issue that's close to a lot of us personally."
Officer Dickinson knows the fear that speeding cars mixed with kids can cause, so he's more than happy to make a visible show of force in school speed zones during the afternoon rush.
He says nine times out of ten people say "I'm sorry. I didn't know I was in a school zone," or "Sorry, I didn't realize I was going that fast."
McBide says she's guilty of speeding too. "I was going to go pay bills and went by a school, and didn't realize, oh my gosh, I need to slow down."
Even worried parents aren't immune to the temptation of rushed and careless driving, so at least one dad hopes the police grade on a curve.
Eight grade parent, Scott Brown, says "A 20 mph zone, it's real quick. You can be going 30 and think you're going 20. It's a little rough first trying to get used to it. I think a little leniency needs to be cut the first part of the school year. People aren't used to it all summer long."
Officer Dickinson says "We're not out here to mar anyone's driving record, but at the same time, enforcement is the best way to make people conscious of that."
If you're caught speeding in a school zones, it is an automatic court appearance, and the fines are greatly increased from a normal ticket.
Those rules are in effect anytime the yellow lights are flashing, even if kids aren't out of school yet.
New Media Producer: Rachel Chambliss
UPDATE, WED, 5 PM: Wednesday was the first day of school for students in Evansville and Warrick Counties. And to keep those students safe, Evansville police are kicking off a major enforcement effort to curb speeding in school zones.
Police officers say it isn't that most drivers are disregarding the potential hazard to students. The problem is many drivers forget that school is in session or that they're about to hit a slow-down zone. So that's why Evansville police will have an officer at every city school for the next two weeks as a friendly reminder.
Evansville Police Officer Joe Dickinson says, "Obviously, with school being back in, a lot of people travel this [school zone] route. [They] aren't aware school's back in. So we're really focusing our enforcement for the next two weeks to kinda make everybody aware school's back in, and that they need to drive with a little more regard."
New Media Producer: Kerry Corum
PREVIOUSLY: Beginning Wednesday, the first day of the 2006-07 EVSC school year, local law enforcement will be monitoring traffic in all school zones.
The project begins Wednesday but will continue on an as-needed basis, targeting those who violate the posted speed in school zones.
Law enforcement officials ask motorists to be aware of their surroundings and driving speed.
Citations for speeding in school zones require mandatory court appearances and significantly higher fines than regular speeding tickets.
Most roads to county schools have 45 mph speed limits so - to help drivers slow down - the county is putting up warning signs, to advise drivers to slow down before they reach the school zone.
There will also be sheriff deputies on motorcycles to ticket speeders. So, consider the signs your warning - because no warnings will be issued for speeding.
Chief Deputy Eric Williams adds, "We all know school is starting soon, and we don't want it marred with an accident or something unnecessary, and we will be enforcing the law very strictly."
