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School’s out, but lights still flashing
Published June 16, 2009
HOW IT WORKS
Glad You Asked features questions from Facts readers. Facts staff members pose those questions to local newsmakers who provide the answers.
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QUESTION: The school year, obviously, is over. Yet school zone signs still are flashing yellow lights in several places, most notably Highway 35 in Angleton, in front of the middle school. Who controls those lights? Will they be turned off soon? And if you go the normal speed limit there, knowing school is out, can you still get a ticket?
ANSWER: After receiving this inquiry from one of your readers, we sent a signal technician to the location and turned the school zone flashers off last Friday. The programmable technology is more reliable than it was a few years ago, but still can malfunction. We appreciate them taking the time to report this location.
Regarding whether the school zone is still in effect during the summer, we would caution drivers to obey them if they are flashing. At some campus locations, there are summer school activities which warrant the use of the zone, so kids may be on campus.
Stuart Corder, Director of Transportation Operations, Texas Department of Transportation, Houston district
ANSWER: The flashing school lights will still be working on Highway 35 because there are summer school classes at a nearby campus.
We want to keep our children safe all the time, even during the summer school sessions.
Yes, you can still receive a citation if you are speeding in a school zone and the lights are flashing.
Any school zone lights that are on state highways are the state’s responsibility. We can request the Highway Department to turn the lights off at other locations that might be flashing.
The school zones that are on city streets are the city’s responsibility. I can contact the Public Works Department and get them turned off.
Chief David Ashburn, Angleton Police Department
Editor’s note: Answers have been edited to fit in the space allotted in the print edition.
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