School zone enforcement begins as students head back to the classroom

By the end of the week, most mid-Missouri students will be back in school and that means the school zone laws are back in effect.

Many school zones in Columbia have a light that will blink on and off to remind drivers that at certain times during the day, that school zone speed of 20 mph will be enforced.

But other zones are enforced the entire school day: 7 a.m. to about 4:30 p.m.

“It’s important to show an abundance of caution as we drive around schools throughout the course of the year and a friendly reminder that school has started again,” said Michelle Baumstark, a spokesperson for Columbia Public Schools.

Baumstark said CPD will be working to enforce those traffic laws while school officials work to remind drivers of the importance of safety in the zones.

“We want our walkers to be safe just as much as we want our drivers to be safe,” said Baumstark. “It’s especially important that we pay attention because it’s a routine we haven’t done in several weeks.”

The speed limit in a school zone is at most 20 miles per hour. ABC17 News clocked some drivers going 25 or even 30 mph in the zones.

Law enforcement has said in the past it’s critical to stay at 20 because that extra 5 or 10 mph could make the difference in stopping quickly and safely for an unexpected child who runs in front of a car.

“It gives a better reaction time, it keeps everyone safer, and it allows for students to be safe when walking around our schools in Columbia,” said Baumstark.

The first time someone gets a moving violation in a school zone, they’ll pay the cost of the ticket plus $35 extra for being in a school zone.

Those fees increase each time a driver is caught violating school zone laws. A driver could face up to $350 in extra fees for not following the rules of a school zone.

Baumstark also reminds drivers and parents to be aware of school bus and child restraint violations.

“It’s important that cars stop in both directions,” she said. “Not just the car immediately behind the school bus, but also those facing it in oncoming traffic because students need to board and exit the bus safely.

Six children in the U.S. were killed last year by cars ignoring school bus safety laws.