New school year means increased playground speed limit enforcement
Posted Aug 20, 2016 1:54 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With thousands of youngsters heading back to class in a few weeks, Calgary police will be cracking down on drivers not obeying the 30 km/h speed limit in playground zones.
Last fall, school and playground zones were harmonized across the city, with drivers not to exceed the speed limit in those zones between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., seven days a week.
CPS Traffic Staff Sgt. Paul Stacey says the harmonization eliminated a lot of the confusion drivers had as to hours of operation.
“Every year in September we have some frazzled parents because there are a lot of things on their plate, because they have to get their kids to school and everything else,” Stacey said. “So some people will be rushed, but that is no excuse to speed in playground zone. ”
As for fines for those caught speeding in a playground zone?
They’re issued on a sliding scale, says Stacey.
“(It’s) $78 for one kilometre over the speed limit, $474 if a driver exceeds the limit by 50 km/h with an automatic court appearance and possible licence suspension for those nabbed travelling above 50 (kilometres).”
Stacey points out, since the harmonization of playground and school zones, police have actually handed out more tickets because of increased enforcement.
