SLOW DOWN! – JCPD preparing drivers for school speed zones

Geary County students are heading back to school this month.

For many in USD 475 the first day of school is Wednesday, August 16th.

The Junction City Police Department’s Community Involvement Unit has released a list of school locations and school speed zone times in Junction City to help drivers as students head back to school.

The following school zone speed limits will be in effect:

Eisenhower Elementary, 1625 St. Mary’s Road, 7:30 am to 8:30 am; 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Franklin Elementary, 410 W 2nd Street, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Junction City High School, 900 N. Eisenhower Dr, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 11:00 am to 1:30 pm; 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm
Junction City Middle School, 700 Wildcat Lane, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Lincoln Elementary, 300 Lincoln School Drive, 7:30 am to 8:30 am; 2:45 pm to 3:45pm
Saint Xavier School, 200 N. Washington St, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Sheridan Elementary, 429 W. Ash Street, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Spring Valley Elementary, 1601 Hickory Lane, 7:45 am to 8:45 am; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Washington Elementary, 1500 N. Washington St, 7:30 am to 8:30 am; 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Westwood Elementary, 1600 N. Eisenhower Drive, 7:30 am to 8:30 am; 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm

Fines are DOUBLED in school zones.

1 to 9 mph over posted speed: $30 fine, court cost $120
10 to 15 mph over: $40 fine, court cost $120
16 to 19 mph over: $75 fine, court cost $120
20 to 24 mph over: $125 fine, court cost $120
24 mph over: $200 fine plus $10 for every mile 25 and over, court cost $120

Speeding (School Zone): Ordinance 300.033

A school zone speed limit is a lower speed limit for an area around a school, enforceable by law at certain times.

Sec. 33. Maximum Speed Limits.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with K.S.A. 8-1557, and amendments thereto, the limits specified in this subsection or established as authorized by law shall be maximum lawful speeds, and no person shall operate a vehicle at a speed in excess of such maximum limits:

(1) In any business district, 20 miles per hour;
(2) In any urban district, 30 miles per hour;
(3) On any separated multilane highway, as designated and posted by the secretary of transportation, 75 miles per hour;
(4) On any county or township highway, 55 miles per hour; and
(5) On all other highways, 65 miles per hour.

(b) No person shall drive a school bus to or from school, or interschool or intraschool functions or activities, at a speed in excess of the maximum speed limits provided in subsection (a), except that the board of education of any school district may establish by board policy lower maximum speed limits for the operation of such district’s school buses. The provisions of this subsection relating to school buses shall apply to buses used for the transportation of students enrolled in community colleges or area vocational schools, when such buses are transporting students to or from school, or functions or activities. (K.S.A. Supp. 8-1558)

(c) The maximum speed limits in this section may be altered as authorized in K.S.A. 8-1559 and K.S.A. 8-1560, and amendments thereto. Ref.: Power to change speed limits generally and regulate speed in parks and school zones. (K.S.A. 8-1560, and K.S.A. 8-2002) 52 at a safe and appropriate speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railroad grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, and when special hazards exist with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. (K.S.A. 8-1557)