School officials and local law enforcement agencies are cracking down on traffic violations in school zones after a recent uptick in incidents.
The Cottonwood Police Department has partnered with the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District to help improve traffic safety at local schools by conducting a “traffic enforcement project” during September.
“We are hoping to educate our community to be watchful of our children while school is in session,” COCSD Superintendent Steve King said.
The enforcement project will involve stationing additional police officers at COCSD schools to watch for traffic violations such as speeding through school zones, driving past school bus warning devices and failing to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks.
A few driving rules officials are reminding drivers about include not exceeding 15 mph in a school zone while school is in session; coming to a complete stop whenever a child, or any person, is in a crosswalk; and not passing a school bus in either direction while its stop arm is extended and its red lights are on.
When any of these traffic violations are caught in a school zone, the civil penalty doubles.
The COCSD requested the increase in police traffic detail after noticing an increase in the number of drivers ignoring school bus safety stop arms, King said.
“COCSD bus drivers have reported an increase in the number of drivers who are running school bus stop arms when the bus is stopped and the lights are flashing on our public roadways,” he said. “This poses a danger to students who may be crossing the street to catch the bus. If a driver fails to stop they could hit a child, resulting in death or serious injury.”
The project is funded by a $10,000 traffic enforcement grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety that the Cottonwood Police Department received in October. The grant will be valid through September 2021, Sgt. Chad Sinn said.
The funding will cover the cost of placing additional officers at and around public schools throughout Cottonwood.
“The officers assigned to this detail will be able to focus on the schools rather than responding to calls for service,” he said.
King said the district is glad to be partnering with local law enforcement agencies to educate the public and protect students.
“Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District is working very closely with our law enforcement partners, Cottonwood Police Department as well as Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, to increase awareness and enforcement of school bus safety laws and regulations,” he said in a statement.
