School Zones

("The recent death of a young student outside Bill Sybert Elementary School is a tragic reminder that all school districts should review procedures for safeguarding their students.

Though that girl -- and her companion who was injured -- were walking against a "do not cross" sign for pedestrians, could the tragedy have been prevented had there been a crossing guard there?

Crossing guards in the Socorro Independent School District traditionally work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the girls were hit at 4:30 p.m. Now, SISD board members want to extend the hours. That sounds like a good idea.

And that raises questions about safety in all districts around schools and in school zones. Is everything possible being done to ensure the children's safety?

If you happen to be driving in a school zone while the warning lights are flashing, chances are good that you will be passed by someone exceeding the zone's speed limit.

How about the enforcement aspect? School-zone violations endanger the lives of children, and there should be strict enforcement in those zones.

And special care must be taken by motorists around schools, because you never really know when and where a child might appear.")

Every School not matter the age grouping where the campus abuts a large intersection should have pedestrian overpasses at that intersection with a fence gate emptying onto the school grounds. This would be a one time expense. The overpass would be totally enclosed to prevent the students from dropping anything to the roadway. The school districts would foot the bill for the overpasses.

JWRussell wrote:

("The recent death of a young student outside Bill Sybert Elementary School is a tragic reminder that all school districts should review procedures for safeguarding their students.
Though that girl -- and her companion who was injured -- were walking against a "do not cross" sign for pedestrians, could the tragedy have been prevented had there been a crossing guard there?
Crossing guards in the Socorro Independent School District traditionally work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the girls were hit at 4:30 p.m. Now, SISD board members want to extend the hours. That sounds like a good idea.
And that raises questions about safety in all districts around schools and in school zones. Is everything possible being done to ensure the children's safety?
If you happen to be driving in a school zone while the warning lights are flashing, chances are good that you will be passed by someone exceeding the zone's speed limit.
How about the enforcement aspect? School-zone violations endanger the lives of children, and there should be strict enforcement in those zones.
And special care must be taken by motorists around schools, because you never really know when and where a child might appear.")
Every School not matter the age grouping where the campus abuts a large intersection should have pedestrian overpasses at that intersection with a fence gate emptying onto the school grounds. This would be a one time expense. The overpass would be totally enclosed to prevent the students from dropping anything to the roadway. The school districts would foot the bill for the overpasses.

Part of the issue which has come to light after the settlement announced between this administration and lenders who "preyed" on borrowers in their mortgage agreements is squatting. People who abandoned their homes because they were underwater on the mortgage have had their homes occupied by squatters. Now that foreclosure will likely happen on those homes not impacted by the agreement, those who are squatting in a home will have to move on.

I have a suggestion to help control school zones. How about the school district Police stay around the schools and enforce the laws there instead of trying to give speeding tickets on US54 or other such nonsense!
School district cops should be for the schools not the streets outside the school zones that is why we have EPPD and the Sheriffs. Not to mention the DPS or Federal agencies.

I noticed the main offenders in the school zones are the parents dropping off students and students driving to school. But the parents scream the loudest and complain the most about violators. The other problem is students standing in the crosswalk texting and holding up traffic. The others stand on the talking with friend, look at traffic and step out into the traffic with a grin, expecting traffic stop on a dime . Let's start with these offenders .

UR BS wrote:

I have a suggestion to help control school zones. How about the school district Police stay around the schools and enforce the laws there instead of trying to give speeding tickets on US54 or other such nonsense!
School district cops should be for the schools not the streets outside the school zones that is why we have EPPD and the Sheriffs. Not to mention the DPS or Federal agencies.

All expect the last can issue citations on the roadways. The federales cannot issue any traffic citations. And How about you going out to act as a Crossing guard for your child grandchild's school?

JWRussell wrote:

<quoted text>All expect the last can issue citations on the roadways. The federales cannot issue any traffic citations. And How about you going out to act as a Crossing guard for your child grandchild's school?

How about those school zone cops do what we pay them for and take care of the schools.
Your attitude is the exact reason we have these type problems. School District cops belong in the school district doing school district business not on the streets giving speeding tickets unless that street is in an active school zone.
Why should I act as a crossing guard? I work to pay those school district cops to not do what they should be doing.

One other note here. Weather the Feds can issue citations or not they most certainly can stop and detain you till the local yocals there if they observe you doing something that is unsafe like throwing things from speeding vehicles at other vehicles.
They are after all sworn Peace Officers.

UR BS wrote:

One other note here. Weather the Feds can issue citations or not they most certainly can stop and detain you till the local yocals there if they observe you doing something that is unsafe like throwing things from speeding vehicles at other vehicles.
They are after all sworn Peace Officers.

No they are supposed to be restricted in the actions to stopping a DUI suspected driver and then calling the police. They are not supposed to be acting like traffic cops. The assistance at an accident is incidental until either the City police, Country sheriff's deputies or the DPS Trooper arrive. They are then advised unless asked to leave the scene to the locals. There are some 36 dedicated police officers on the Police Force that work traffic. How many Sheriffs deputies are assigned to traffic is unknown and there are about 12 DPS officers available to patrol Transmountain, US 180, Interstate 10 east and west past the 36 mile mark to the Sierra Blanca. Mow you divide the number of schools into the number of available officers within the city limits and you will have those available to monitor the various school zones within the city. EPISD has about 12 traffic assigned officers available for their area. Socorro ISD cannot not cover all their schools. YISD from what I understand does not have a dedicated police force just security officers and Off-duty PD Officers. There are not enough to go to every school zone in El Paso County every school day and in the morning and the afternoon. IF you wish to dedicate more of your money to supply additional officers go a head but the majority of the citizens will not pay for that many officers and neither will I.

Lonnie wrote:

<quoted text>
Part of the issue which has come to light after the settlement announced between this administration and lenders who "preyed" on borrowers in their mortgage agreements is squatting. People who abandoned their homes because they were underwater on the mortgage have had their homes occupied by squatters. Now that foreclosure will likely happen on those homes not impacted by the agreement, those who are squatting in a home will have to move on.

I'm not sure what this has to do with this particular thread but I do agree with you. Those who squat in public are disgusting, whether they're peeing or pooping. Guys who get off on girls doing this are sickos and guys who do it should be arrested for illegal dumping.

JWRussell wrote:

<quoted text>No they are supposed to be restricted in the actions to stopping a DUI suspected driver and then calling the police. They are not supposed to be acting like traffic cops. The assistance at an accident is incidental until either the City police, Country sheriff's deputies or the DPS Trooper arrive. They are then advised unless asked to leave the scene to the locals. There are some 36 dedicated police officers on the Police Force that work traffic. How many Sheriffs deputies are assigned to traffic is unknown and there are about 12 DPS officers available to patrol Transmountain, US 180, Interstate 10 east and west past the 36 mile mark to the Sierra Blanca. Mow you divide the number of schools into the number of available officers within the city limits and you will have those available to monitor the various school zones within the city. EPISD has about 12 traffic assigned officers available for their area. Socorro ISD cannot not cover all their schools. YISD from what I understand does not have a dedicated police force just security officers and Off-duty PD Officers. There are not enough to go to every school zone in El Paso County every school day and in the morning and the afternoon. IF you wish to dedicate more of your money to supply additional officers go a head but the majority of the citizens will not pay for that many officers and neither will I.

That is exactly my point. If as you say the school district cops do not have enough people to patrol the schools in their district then they need to stay the hell off the streets that are not in school zones. Why if they do not have enough school district cops to patrol the schools are the school district cops giving tickets on US 54?
Your attampt at sarcasm is a failure since my point was that I am paying for services not rendered by the school district cops.
Every day on my way home from work I travel through school zones for 4 different schools. Not one time this school year have I seen a school district cop in any of these school zones. I have seen the EPPD watching a couple of them but never a school district cop.
In another example my son was picking up a friend at a local High School when he observed a fight break out where one student was being beaten by 3 others. He saw a school district cop and told him. The cop said it isn't on scvhool grounds so it isn't my jurisdiction. So how are speeders on US54 his jurisdiction but a beating less than 1 block off school property isn't?
As to the feds I have been unable to find anything prohibiting them from enforcing local laws. The best I can find is that it is a courtesy extended between the Feds and the locals. Not to mention that especially around here the Feds, if doing their job have way too much on their plate.

UR BS wrote:

<quoted text>
That is exactly my point. If as you say the school district cops do not have enough people to patrol the schools in their district then they need to stay the hell off the streets that are not in school zones. Why if they do not have enough school district cops to patrol the schools are the school district cops giving tickets on US 54?
Your attampt at sarcasm is a failure since my point was that I am paying for services not rendered by the school district cops.
Every day on my way home from work I travel through school zones for 4 different schools. Not one time this school year have I seen a school district cop in any of these school zones. I have seen the EPPD watching a couple of them but never a school district cop.
In another example my son was picking up a friend at a local High School when he observed a fight break out where one student was being beaten by 3 others. He saw a school district cop and told him. The cop said it isn't on scvhool grounds so it isn't my jurisdiction. So how are speeders on US54 his jurisdiction but a beating less than 1 block off school property isn't?
As to the feds I have been unable to find anything prohibiting them from enforcing local laws. The best I can find is that it is a courtesy extended between the Feds and the locals. Not to mention that especially around here the Feds, if doing their job have way too much on their plate.

Then this is the wrong forum for YOU. File a complaint with the school district Police Chief or the Superintendent. Why complain here. The school cop was right about not taking on a fight between students off campus, they have been told not to get involved. So if you really have a complaint this is not the forum for you at all. Oh and about the FEDs, why don't you call the FBI and the DEA and Homeland Security and find out the reason they don't enforce motor vehicle laws in the state of Texas?

Finger pointed wrote:

I noticed the main offenders in the school zones are the parents dropping off students and students driving to school. But the parents scream the loudest and complain the most about violators. The other problem is students standing in the crosswalk texting and holding up traffic. The others stand on the talking with friend, look at traffic and step out into the traffic with a grin, expecting traffic stop on a dime . Let's start with these offenders .

Ansolutely. Police should start citing the kids that are crossing when it says "Don't Walk", and not using crosswalks. Then you have the problem of rude kids that stop in the middle of the crosswalk to text, chat with friends or walk as SLooooowly as possible. Do parents no longer teach their kids manners and safety? Then, they are even worse when they get to the parking lot of the strip mall across the street. They intentionally walk as a group down the middle of the aisles or in the driveway areas, and don't get out of the way of cars. I can't decide if they are just rude or stupid.

I kind of blame the advent of all of the child safety items now on the market...electrical outlet covers, cabinet door locks, stove burner control lockout buttons, etc. It used to be if you raised stupid kids, Darwin's Theory would take them out of the gene pool. Now the stupid ones are making it to adulthood.

I feel badly that a child was killed, but the reaction of the school and city was to want to spend all kinds of money installing more crosswalks, flashing lights, etc. The problem is the kid crossed when they shouldn't have. All the crosswalks and flashing lights in the world won't change anything, if parents aren't teaching their own kids safety.

UR BS wrote:

One other note here. Weather the Feds can issue citations or not they most certainly can stop and detain you till the local yocals there if they observe you doing something that is unsafe like throwing things from speeding vehicles at other vehicles.
They are after all sworn Peace Officers.

Like throwing thingsfrom school buses?

Mr_D_ ElPaso wrote:

<quoted text> Like throwing thingsfrom school buses?

Yes that is te reason the CBP officer stopped the bus. Something was thrown from the bus at his vehicle on the freeway. Thatis clearly a dangerous action.

JWRussell wrote:

<quoted text>Then this is the wrong forum for YOU. File a complaint with the school district Police Chief or the Superintendent. Why complain here. The school cop was right about not taking on a fight between students off campus, they have been told not to get involved. So if you really have a complaint this is not the forum for you at all. Oh and about the FEDs, why don't you call the FBI and the DEA and Homeland Security and find out the reason they don't enforce motor vehicle laws in the state of Texas?

No this is not the wrong forum. This forum is based on your assurtion that the CBP acted wrongly by trying to make the roads safe because you say it was out of his jurisdiction. My point is that many so called cops around here act clearly out of what should be their jurisdiction. School district cops have no business stopping poeple on US 54 or any other road that i not within a school zone. I know the line that they are peace officers and they can do it. Well the CBP officer is also a peace officer and was acting to make the roadway safe for travel.
As to calling th FBI or DEA why don't you do that and post their response here since you are claiming that a Federal Officer can not enforce local laws. I have attempted to find that law but can not. As I have stated I can only find that it is a courtesy and a matter of prioriies. The Feds don't have the time normally to get tied up in local courts. I have seen nothing thatsays they can not do it if it poses a threat to public safety.
By the way this was a CBP officer not the FBI or DEA.

UR BS wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes that is te reason the CBP officer stopped the bus. Something was thrown from the bus at his vehicle on the freeway. Thatis clearly a dangerous action.

Something similar happened one time when I was in school on a field trip. Some joker decided it would be funny to moon the cars that drove by until one of them turned out to be a police cruiser. The cop turned on his lights and pulled the bus over to find the offending party. No one would confess (and apparently the officer couldn't make a positive id of the buttocks) so we were all forced to return to school and spend the day writing an essay on the perils of mooning. I still have the essay in my archives as I received an A on it.

UR BS wrote:

<quoted text>
By the way this was a CBP officer not the FBI or DEA.

NO they are with Homeland Security A federal agency,which is not supposed to enforce local traffic laws unless it is at the POEs and then only if the driver is DUI.
I don't know what your profession is or was but as a retired Police Officer I am well acquainted with what they are not supposed to do in enforcing local traffic codes.

Lloyd B wrote:

<quoted text>
Something similar happened one time when I was in school on a field trip. Some joker decided it would be funny to moon the cars that drove by until one of them turned out to be a police cruiser. The cop turned on his lights and pulled the bus over to find the offending party. No one would confess (and apparently the officer couldn't make a positive id of the buttocks) so we were all forced to return to school and spend the day writing an essay on the perils of mooning. I still have the essay in my archives as I received an A on it.

Hey Lloyd be honest now was you that joker? Hey where ya been latley?

JWRussell wrote:

<quoted text>NO they are with Homeland Security A federal agency,which is not supposed to enforce local traffic laws unless it is at the POEs and then only if the driver is DUI.
I don't know what your profession is or was but as a retired Police Officer I am well acquainted with what they are not supposed to do in enforcing local traffic codes.

But yet you can not supply the law that prohibits them from doing it.
I have nothing to do with Law Enforcement but I know when something sounds fishy and this sounds fishy. I fully understand that they don't do it as a rule but your contention was that thy are prohibited from doing it by law. I am simply asking where is that law?
Ypou should be able to provide the statute being a retired LEO or at least provide a link to an official site that does more than talk about courtesy or usual procedures.
I have looked and can not find any reference to an actual statute that restrict a Federal Officer from enforcing any local law.
So pleas provide me the link or the ordinance number so I may learn.

Mr_D_ ElPaso wrote:

<quoted text> Hey Lloyd be honest now was you that joker? Hey where ya been latley?

I've been lying low in here since my name was also hijacked recently. I enjoy the interaction of the forum but not when someone makes a mockery of we veterans. And I was not the joker on that day. I was hoping that some of the females in my class would join in but it was just dudes showing their hairy buns.