School zone lights flashing in the summer?

[digidoll]

I don’t seem to recall seeing the school zone lights flashing when school is not in session, but maybe my schedule was later in day in years past so they weren’t on when I’ve driven through. I’ve also noticed them as late as 5:30pm.

They are being enforced too, esp in the Highland Park area, so BACK OFF MY BUMPER when I’m honoring the 20mph limit.

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[thansen]

YES they’re out in force in school zones. I got a ticket on July 5th…NOT happy about it

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[lazybeard]

I rolled down 9th Ave SW & SW Henderson around 7 PM yesterday (07/26) and noticed the lights were flashing and I obeyed the sign.

I took a traffic refresher class from the City of Kent and the instructor specifically said that whatever the sign says, in any city in this state, is what it is. If the sign says if the lights flash, then 20mph, it doesn’t matter if it’s off school hours. If the sign says if children are present, then it says at any time, 5am, 9pm, etc.

Bottom line is, you obey the sign regardless of time of day.

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[hopey]

I suspect summer school or other children’s programs are happening at the school. I know Madison Middle School has kids every weekday from 8am to 3pm. Surely other schools have programs too.

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[digidoll]

That might be true for Madison, but I go by HP Elementary every day, and rarely see any cars in the lot (for teachers or summer program chaperones).

The first time I drove 9th after school let out, I took a right SB off of a residential street midway along the school zone and didn’t notice the lights were flashing until I saw the NB lights in my side mirror after I passed them! Lucky. Now I see that there is a flashing strobe on the backside of the sign apparatus, so I look for that when I know I’m entering a school zone off of a non-arterial. Not helpful for unfamiliar neighborhoods, but I know where most of the school zones are in my area.

Saw a truck in front of me get ticketed on Henderson that same afternoon, going too fast in the school zone AND failing to yield to a crosser at 11th (I stopped for the ped, and the inconspicuously marked cop pulled out in front of me!).

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[hopey]

For some strange reason Madison’s lots are gated & locked, but the school is open and being used. I guess all the staffers are just parking on the street. It may be the same for HP, but who knows.

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[inactive]

I’ve noticed the increased presence here in Highland Park. The Chargers have been on Highland Park Way for the past few days. It’s just speculation on my part, but there is much more traffic rerouting through Highland Park Way onto Holden and up Roxbury though Henderson these days. I’m guessing it is folks taking detours to avoid congestion elsewhere on the north end of the peninsula. But what do I know? Not so much. But I’m game to guess. :)

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