Ashley Hunter
Greene Publishing, Inc.
School in Madison County has been in for almost a month now, and with the heightened traffic along the routes where school zones are located, the citizens of Madison County are reminded to keep an eye out for school zones and for when the lighted signals before the zones are lit.
According to the Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), there has already been a significant increase in traffic flow for the Madison Creative Arts Academy (formerly Madison Academy), when compared to last year's traffic flow.
MCSO places officers near the school zones, not in the intent to catch speeding drivers, but to encourage drivers to follow the set speed limits for school zones, especially during periods of time when the school zone lights are lit from 7:20 a.m. through 8:10 a.m. during the beginning of school hours, and again at 2:20 p.m. through 3:10 p.m. at the end of school hours.
“We do our best to have a presence in all [the] school zones every day,” said MCSO Major David Harper.
School zones in Madison County are located on U.S. Hwy 90 (Lee Elementary), Colin Kelly Hwy (Pinetta Elementary), Over St. (Greenville Elementary), U.S. Hwy 90 West (Madison County Central School, Madison County High School and Madison Creative Arts Academy).
According to Major Harper, the fines for speeding in a school zone are:
Driving one through nine miles over the speed limit could result in a $151 fine; which is $25 over the usual speeding fine cost listed by the Madison County Clerk of Court website at www.madisonclerk.com/traffic.html.
Driving 10 through 14 mph over the speed limit in a school zone could lead to a $301 speeding ticket; which is $100 over the usual speeding fine.
Driving 15 through 19 mph over the speed limit could result in a $401 speeding ticket; which is a $150 increase from the usual speeding fine cost for that same miles per hour.
Driving 20 through 29 mph over the speed limit in a school zone could lead to a $451 speeding ticket; which is $175 over the usual speeding fine.
Driving 30 mph, or higher, over the speed limit in a school zone is likely to result in a mandatory court appearance, rather than the $351 fine for speeding when not in a school zone.
Drive safe, slow down when in a school zone, and keep an eye on the road!