As students prepare to return to school next week, Howard County police are working to ensure that children, parents and teachers arrive safely. Through a continuing back-to-school program, known as H.A.S.T.E. (Helping Arriving Students Through Enforcement), officers will focus on enforcing speed, seat belt and child safety seat laws in school zones.
Traffic patrols will be in place on roadways surrounding elementary, middle and high schools for the first two weeks of the school year. Officers will be working to identify drivers who are speeding in those areas. They also will be checking for seat belt and child safety seat use to ensure that all children, teenagers and adults are properly restrained.
“We hope that police presence on the roads around schools will send a message to drivers to slow down,” said Police Chief Gary Gardner. “We want all students to arrive safely, whether they are walking to school or riding in a school bus or car.”
Police also will continue to rotate speed cameras among various school zones in the county. A list of school zones scheduled for automated speed enforcement is posted in advance at www.hcpd.org.
Police are reminding drivers that they are required to stop for school buses with red lights flashing. Officers will follow school buses to watch for drivers who fail to stop. The fine for this violation is $570.
Officers will focus not only on the roads around the schools, but will be working inside the schools to address driver safety as well. Police are again conducting mandatory traffic safety seminars for students applying for school parking permits, who must attend with their parents.
The police department will continue to conduct traffic safety education and enforcement efforts throughout the school year.
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