New school zones coming to Round Rock

Motorists in Round Rock will soon see changes to existing school zones, part of an overall effort to bring the city into compliance with federal school zone guidelines.

“Many of the previously established zones did not meet the full legal requirements and, therefore, were unenforceable,” Round Rock Director of Transportation Gary Hudder said.

Work to bring the city into federal compliance has been under way since June.

“It has to do with proximity to the school,” Hudder said. “In some cases, [school zones] were simply too long.”

One federal factor involved in determining school zones is the type of road the zone falls on.

Hudder said in some areas, entire zones are being eliminated, while some are only being amended.

“Now that the new ordinance has passed the council, all of our school zones meet all of the legal tests and can be fully enforced by the police department without issue,” Hudder said.

In areas where school zones will no longer exist, all signage has been or will be removed, Hudder said.

The estimated total cost for the project is approximately $150,000, not including the city’s internal labor cost. The costs associated with the changes are coming from the city’s sign and signal department’s annual budget and also some safe schools funds, Hudder said.

Hudder said all of the changes will be completed by the time Round Rock ISD classes start Aug. 27.

Comments (3)

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Yep. That's right "Bob"

That's pretty much what the city told me. We make the rules. Don't question them. Just pay the fines. Oh, and as for the signs--you are wrong here as well. Be careful about making blanket assumptions. Governments are run by people. People who make mistakes--just like you and me. Sometime those mistakes have consrquences for more than just residents and citizens.

Do you work for the city? Have a public service job? The same week that I received this ticket for driving 30 mph I pulled up to a gas pump where a police officer was filling his patrol car while the engine was running. I asked him about it and asked if it was okay because he is an officer of the law to break federal laws. He admitted that it was illegal but did not turn off his engine.

Maybe it is time we all stand up for what is right and good. Sometimes that means asking questions of our elected officials and not just accepting the status quo. These school zones were wrong. Whether you like it or not. Just because there is a sign in an intersection or hidden in un cut trees does not mean they are lawful and just. It only means there is a sign. Or was a sign. The fact that this was happening all over the city is a very interesting occurrence.

So, Bob, if you don't like it when people stand up to question our government officials--get over it.

Tim Thornton 290 days ago

Get over it

You were going faster than a posted speed limit which was well marked, and got a ticket. If you can't deny that then you really have nothing to complain about. Pay attention and obey the posted signs. That you think the limit is too slow is irrelevant.

Bob 290 days ago

Shame Shame on Round Rock

Now that Round Rock is correcting these illegitimate speed traps that have been used to generate income from home owners in the area, will the city be issuing checks to motorists who were unfairly given tickets in areas where there is (for all practical purposes) no school and should have never been a "school zone" in the first place?

I have protested the presence of these wrongfully created zones in the past and I was told by the city that as long as there are signs and as long as the police are write tickets, the city prosecutor would prosecute to the full extent of the law. In other words, it is the city's prerogative to put up zones where ever they want and to enforce them to the benefit of the city.

While the new zones are a good first step toward making amends, the city should now go back and make good on the income stream that was generated as a result of these zones that every one should have known were wrongfully created. Some of these zones are so far away from the schools that you can't see the school and many people could not even tell you where the school is located. Several blocks away from the school with no car access to the school from the road in question. Some of these school zones were not "near misses".

Will the City of Round Rock be making amends for tickets issues to unsuspecting motorists?

Tim Thornton 291 days ago

New school zones coming to Round Rock

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Comments (3)

Yep. That's right "Bob"

Get over it

Shame Shame on Round Rock

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