Iowa school zone speeding bill began with suggestion from Vinton chief

After several "high-profile" traffic incidents near Vinton schools in recent years, including a car-pedestrian accident that injured a high school student, Vinton Police Chief Jeff Tilson began pondering the laws regarding regarding school zones.

"It occurred to me about a year ago that it seemed a little odd that we have a provision in the Code of Iowa to double the fines in road work/construction zones, but there wasn't a similar provision to do the same in school zones to protect our children," said Tilson. "It only seemed to make sense that, if we can use a measure such as this to heighten awareness of speed and traffic controls in construction zones, that we should be doing as much for our children in school zones, too."

In March of 2011, Tilson shared his thoughts on that issue with Iowa House District 39 Representative Dawn Pettengill (R-Mount Auburn).

Pettengill recently filed HF 2084, which would double the fines for non-speeding offences, and impose fines of up to $1,000 for speeding in a school zone.

HF 2084 would redefine a "school zone" as a designated roadway segment approaching, adjacent to, and beyond school buildings or grounds, or along which school-related activities occur, which is established as a school zone by state or local authorities.

A 25-mph speed limit would be imposed in a school zone, if HF 2084 becomes law. Penalties for violations committed certain hours in a school zone would mirror the penalties currently applicable to violations committed in a road work zone. If a violation -- other than a speeding violation -- is committed in a posted school zone between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, the regular scheduled fine is doubled. If the violation is a speeding violation, the fine is $150 for speed not more than 10 mph over the speed limit; $300 for speed more than 10 mph but not more than 20 mph over the speed limit; $500 for speed more than 20 mph but not more than 25 mph over the speed limit; and $1,000 for speed more than 25 mph over the speed limit.

The next step for the bill is to go to a House committee for consideration.

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CC February 2, 2012, 12:26 pm How about painting crosswalk lines on our streets!! Pedestrians have the right of way at any intersection and yet nobody in Vinton ever stops for a person (young or old) that is standing at a corner trying to cross the street. I have never even seen a police officer stop for a pedestrian standing at an intersection trying to cross!! I always try to stop and let somebody cross because I would like the same courtesy extended to me!

JTCoP February 2, 2012, 12:41 pm While I understand the previous commenter\'s anonymous concerns, I must correct one of your assumptions. Iowa Code states \"Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection SHALL YIELD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY to all vehicles upon the roadway.....\" (emphasis added). Only when you are within a marked crosswalk do you have the presumtion of right-of-way, and then only when you are in compliance with any traffic control device present at that intersection. I wouldn\'t want anyone to get injured stepping into traffic with the false expectation that any vehicle had to stop for them. Pedestrian\'s crossing at an intersection essentially must follow the same traffic controls and rules of the road that the driver of a vehicle would have to under the same circumstances.

cc February 2, 2012, 1:06 pm In response, then put some crosswalk markings at intersections, at least around the schools!! So if I am a pedestrian and I am the first to get to a stop sign, I have the \"right of way\", correct? Then why is it that I am the last to get to go through the intersection in this town? There are very few who will stop to let someone cross a street. Maybe we need a courtesy law in Vinton, since we as pedestrians don\'t have the \"presumed\" right-of-way. Also, if I am the first crossing the street, I do have the right-of-way according to you. So I guess when out walking or running in Vinton, I will stand at the street corner for eternity as very FEW ever have the courtesy to stop, including the police officers! I guess I am one of the few \"courteous\" drivers in Vinton as I always try to stop to let someone cross a street. I would rather stop and give them time to cross than have them try and dodge traffic to get across. Thank you to those of you who do stop and let pedestrians cross the street, especially when the weather is bad :-)

PM February 2, 2012, 1:34 pm I think it\'s been so long since we\'ve been in driver\'s ed, and so long since anyone has taught common courtesy, that we are now practicing defensive driving AND defensive crossing out there! Crosswalks at one time meant something, courtesy, now it means \"walk here...but after you\'ve looked both ways!\" \"Concerned\" the law is the law, but common sense says, \"If it\'s bigger than you, it has the right of way!\" Just use your head, courtesy is nice, but it ain\'t the law...even if I have the right of way, and the driver is a type that hasn\'t figured out how to pull his pants all the way up aka a teenager...right of way or not, I\'m not crossing in front of him unless he signals me so I know his ipod, cell phone or God knows what else isn\'t distracting him! Chances are, I\'ll step back giving him extra right of way! :)

KF February 2, 2012, 4:08 pm To Chief Tilson, thank you!!! To Dawn Pettengill, thank you! My mother in law lives in Ames and just signed a petition for this yesterday. This is personal to my family, my daughter was the one hit. Let\'s continue to keep the focus on safety and solutions, not debates. Thank you!

P February 6, 2012, 5:08 pm Concerned Citizen,
Regardless what the law says, look both ways before crossing the street and don\'t assume that the law will provide you with your own impenetrable bubble from drivers who aren\'t \"courteous\". We don\'t live in a perfect world...

News : Iowa school zone speeding bill began with suggestion from Vinton chief

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