School Time is here….Please remember to use extra care when driving in school zones and areas where children walk to school….

These are some of the common violations that we issue citations for:

12.44.110 Parking adjacent to schools--Sign erection--Authority to have vehicles towed.

A. The traffic engineer is hereby authorized to erect signs reading “No Parking or Standing, Tow-Away Zone” upon either side or both sides of any street abutting school property when such parking or standing would interfere with traffic or create a hazardous situation.

B. The police department is authorized to cause to be towed away any vehicle found parked or standing in violation of subsection A of this section; and the owner of such vehicle shall be civilly liable to the person doing such towing for the reasonable cost thereof. (Prior code § 20-81)

12.04.130 No parking zone.

“No parking zone” means a space adjacent to a curb in which no parking shall be allowed for any purpose. Such zones shall be marked by painting the curb yellow, or by appropriate signs, or by both such signs and yellow curb markings. (Prior code § 20-2(9))

Note: A vehicle can temporarily stop at this zone to let out passengers but has to move as soon as he is done.

12.04.150 Park.

“Park” when prohibited means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers. (Prior code § 20-2(3)(c))

12.04.160 Stop.

“Stop,” “stopping” or “standing” when prohibited means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal. (Prior code § 20-2(3)(b))

THE FOLLOWING ARE MOVING CITATIONS (Hazardous citations)

12.32.010 When to yield.

A. 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.

B. The foregoing rules in this section have no application under the conditions stated in Section 12.32.030 when pedestrians are prohibited from crossing at certain designated places. (Prior code § 20-109)

12.32.020 Crossing at right angles.

No pedestrian shall cross a roadway at any place other than by a route at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite side, except that within the central traffic district when permitted by a pedestrian “walk” signal, a pedestrian may cross diagonally from one corner to any other corner at that intersection. (Prior code § 20-108)

112.32.030 Prohibited crossings.

A. Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a crosswalk.

B. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk in the central traffic district or in any business district.

C. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk upon any designated through street.

D. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided. (Prior code § 20-110)

12.28.020 School crossing zones.

A. Whenever traffic engineering investigation discloses a need for particular safety precautions for the safety of school children, the street department is empowered to mark such locations as school crossing zones as directed by the traffic engineer; provided, however, no such school crossing zones shall be established at any intersection approach controlled by stop signs.

B. When such school crossing zones are established, they shall be appropriately marked by traffic control signs or devices, indicating that school is in session, and the prima facie speed limit within the school crossing zone. If deemed necessary by the traffic engineer, such traffic-control devices may include flashing yellow lights. All such traffic-control signs and devices shall be of a size and type approved by the traffic engineer.

C. The regulations imposed by such traffic-control signs and devices shall become effective forty-five minutes before the opening of the first class and shall cease to be effective thirty minutes after the end of the last school class.

D. When such school crossings are established and when signs indicate that regulations are in force, no vehicle shall proceed at a speed in excess of that posted on such signs when approaching the crosswalk and while between the first such sign and the crosswalk.

E. Whenever signs indicate that the regulations are in force, no vehicle shall pass any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction between the signs designating the school crossing zone, and all vehicles shall come to a complete stop at the school crossing when the crosswalk is occupied by any person. (Ord. 13152 § 99, 1997; prior code § 20-49

§ 545.066. PASSING A SCHOOL BUS; OFFENSE.
(a) An operator on a highway, when approaching from either direction a school bus stopped on the highway to receive or discharge a student:

(1) shall stop before reaching the school bus when the bus is operating a visual signal as required by Section 547.701; and
(2) may not proceed until:
(A) the school bus resumes motion;
(B) the operator is signaled by the bus driver to proceed; or
(C) the visual signal is no longer actuated.

(1) for a school bus that is on a different roadway; or (2) if on a controlled-access highway, for a school bus that is stopped:
(A) in a loading zone that is a part of or adjacent to the highway; and
(B) where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway.

(1) a Class A misdemeanor if the person causes serious bodily injury to another; or
(2) a state jail felony if the person has been previously convicted under Subdivision (1).

(1) a highway is considered to have separate roadways only if the highway has roadways separated by an intervening space on which operation of vehicles is not permitted, a physical barrier, or a clearly indicated dividing section constructed to impede vehicular traffic; and
(2) aa highway is not considered to have separate roadways if the highway has roadways separated only by a left turn lane.

NOTE; THIS IS PART OF TRAFFIC LAW THAT APPLIES TO BUS DRIVERS WHO MUST ENGAGE THE LIGHTS WHEN LOADING AND UNLOADING CHILDEREN. THIS IS A MOVING VIOLATION IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY.

§ 547.701. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL BUSES AND OTHER BUSES USED TO TRANSPORT SCHOOLCHILDREN

2) movable stop arms:

(A) that conform to regulations adopted under Section 34.002, Education Code; and
(B) that may be operated only when the bus is stopped to load or unload students.
(c) When a school bus is being stopped or is stopped on a highway to permit students to board or exit the bus, the operator of the bus shall activate all flashing warning signal lights and other equipment on the bus designed to warn other drivers that the bus is stopping to load or unload children. A person may not operate such a light or other equipment except when the bus is being stopped or is stopped on a highway to permit students to board or exit the bus.

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