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71 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 16, 2004 School speed zones are posted in Central Point, and most other Rogue Valley cities have finished or nearly finished changing their signs. Police will begin enforcing the new rules as schools near opening day. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Rule looks clear here New speed limit signs around schools should ease confusion By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune As signs posting new speed limits at school crossings pop up throughout the valley just in time for school, some motorists worry they won’t remember when they have to slow down. "I think it’s just totally confusing," said Ellie Biers, who lives near Hoover Elementary School in Medford. "I think we all want the kids to be safe. I just think the way the Legislature went about it was very confusing. I just wonder if anyone in Salem is listening." The law governing speeds at school zones was modified by Senate Bill 179, passed during the 2003 Legislature. Drivers may encounter one of several new signs dictating just when the 20 mph speed limit goes into effect. One requires 20 mph at all times, regardless of whether children are present or school is in session. Advertisement "I think it’s a good thing," said Beatrice Parker, who lives near Roosevelt Elementary, where the signs will say that the speed limit is 20 mph all day, every day, on portions of Lindley Street, Academy Place and Queen Anne Avenue just in front of the school. "I think they (drivers) go up and down this street too fast," said Parker. The new statewide law, which went into effect July 1, regulates school zones based on whether the street’s normal speed limit is above or below 30 mph and whether the crossing is next-door to school property. Previously there were two conditions during which the 20 mph speed limit applied: "When flashing" (lights that flashed when children were arriving or leaving school) and "When children are present" (when children are visible or can be expected to be visible). Now there are zones in which 20 mph applies all the time; only during school hours on school days; or when lights are flashing. "When children are present" now is limited only to crosswalks away from school grounds. "I think the common misperception is people thinking as a motorist they need to memorize all the different speed signs," said Jay Remy, spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation Highway Division in Salem. He said drivers don’t memorize other speed zone signs, so this is no different. He said the law was changed in part because motorists generally were confused about what "when children are present" meant. Did that mean children crossing the street? Did it apply to children playing inside a fence? Michael Olson, who lives near Jefferson Elementary School, said he doesn’t mind the change because he doesn’t speed through his neighborhood anyway. "The biggest speeders in the area are the teachers going to school and the moms dropping the kids off," he said. "I just go 20 mph everywhere (near schools) because it’s the only thing you can do around here." Many Jackson County cities haven’t yet changed school zone signs, and enforcement varies among agencies. Most police departments say they will begin enforcing the rule in earnest once school starts. Medford will begin changing signs throughout the city this week. "Once school starts, we’re going to be strictly enforcing it," said Medford police Sgt. Bob Hanson. He said the feedback he’s heard is that everyone’s in support of the change, but some people think it’s confusing. "If I had my choice, they’d just post them all 20 miles per hour all the time," he said. Hanson said the end of the school zone is either when you reach the next speed zone sign or when you reach an "end of speed zone" sign. Dan Gunter of Ashland’s Public Works Department said work is nearly complete on changing the signs, and enforcement will begin once they’re in. Ashland schools are beginning the last week in August, so drivers need to be alert earlier than in other communities. He said he went with reflective sheeting to cover existing signs, because he’s heard the law may not stick. "There’s a possibility that this rule can change," he said. Central Point Police Officer Charlie Asher said the signs are up. "What we’re doing now is we’re just trying to inform everyone," he said, adding that he’s been instructing a lot of drivers who did not seem aware of the new law. His department has been placing a speed reader board in front of schools to alert drivers. "When school starts we’ve been instructed to really step up the enforcement," he said. In Eagle Point, "We’re in the process of changing signs," said Police Chief David Strand. He said it’s up to each officer’s discretion to issue a citation or not, but when it’s a "ridiculous hour," such as in the middle of the night, officers probably won’t issue tickets, he said. "We don’t want this law to turn everyone into being P.O.’d at the police department," he said. Jacksonville city staff said there will be no changes to existing school zone signs. Talent Police Chief Bob Rector said the signs have been changed, but police are not yet issuing citations for violations. "We’ve been breaking the public in slowly," he said. "I know the public is still asleep at the wheel." But that will change. "As we get within a week or so of school starting, we’re going to be hitting that school zone harder," he said. He said enforcement of the "all the time" rule will be flexible. "Three o’clock in the morning, we’re just not going to be out there running radar," he said. In Phoenix, Mike Webber, who works in records at the Phoenix Police Department, said some of the signs have been put up but police are still issuing warnings for violations. Speed limit rules Here are the new rules regarding speed limits in school zones: On streets where the regular speed limit is 30 mph or less, school zones are 20 mph at all times. On streets where the regular speed limit is 35 mph or greater, school zones are 20 mph during posted hours or when lights flash. On school crosswalks not adjacent to schools, school zones are 20 mph during posted hours, when a flashing light is operating or when children are present. Speed dictates the fine Drivers in Oregon can receive the following fines (or greater) for speeding through a 20-mph school zone, based on how fast they were going: 21-30 mph: $123 31-40 mph: $201 41-50 mph: $349 51 mph or faster: $672 Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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