APD to Crackdown at School Zones; Slow Down Albuquerque Signs Now Available
Mayor Richard J. Berry and Police Chief Raymond D. Schultz unveiled enforcement and public education plans Wednesday to encourage motorists to slow down in school zones and in residential neighborhoods.
The APD Traffic Section started monitoring school zones this week. Each morning traffic officers will monitor school zones throughout the city looking for motorists who speed. In addition, 15 school resource officers will also be ticketing speeders in and around school zones.
Additionally, APD announced Wednesday that yard signs encouraging motorists to slow down are now available for all Albuquerque residents. The city is asking residents to place the 24’’ by 18’’ signs in their yards. The signs can be picked up at any APD Area Command during business hours. Residents can also pick up “no soliciting” signs at the area commands as well. About 3,500 “Slow Down” signs and 5,000 “No Soliciting” signs are available for pick up.
“We need the public’s help to encourage people to slow down in our school zones and in our neighborhoods,” Mayor Berry said. “Law enforcement can’t do it alone. We need to remind motorists the importance of keeping our children safe as they walk to school and play in their yards.”
In most school zones in the city, the speed limit is 15 mph. Passing is also prohibited. Officers will be utilizing handheld radars to catch speeders and in some cases will be standing outside of the vehicles to flag motorists down.. The Traffic section will determine which school zones to enforce based on the number of complaints it receives from the public, school officials and crossing guards. Fines can be up to $300.
“We can’t put an officer at every school zone every day,” Chief Schultz said. “But, there will be a strong presence. People will notice that we are watching. For us, it’s all about the children. The last thing we want is to have to respond to a call that a child has been injured in a school zone.”
