On Monday, August 13, 2018, classes will resume for students in the City of Sarasota. As students head back to class, the Sarasota Police Department wants to remind drivers there is a zero tolerance policy for speeding in school zones and passing school buses that have sign signs extended as students board or leave a school bus.
On August 13th, Sarasota Police Officers will be at numerous schools welcoming students back to class. As in previous years, Sarasota P.D. will again host a special #BackToSchool ‘Tweet from the Beat’ under the Twitter handle @SarasotaPD. On all Sarasota Police Department Social Media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), followers will be able to find photos of Officers visiting schools around the City of Sarasota. The Sarasota Police Department has also created a Back to School Public Service Announcement sharing important safety tips for parents and students. It can be viewed at https://youtu.be/9fSEgJyMPew
Safety tips to remember as students head back to class in the City of Sarasota:
- Students heading back to school means increased traffic on city roads. Please allow extra travel time and watch for other cars, pedestrians, bicyclists and school buses.
- Buckle up! Make sure all passengers and drivers in a car, especially children, are buckled up. In Florida, passengers under 18 years of age must wear a seatbelt or be restrained in a child car seat.
- Pay attention to crossing guards and obey school zones. All school zones in the City of Sarasota are 15 miles per hour. Watch for students who will be walking to and from school.
- Cars must stop for all school buses when the side stop sign is out and red lights are flashing, even if the bus is on the opposite side of the street. The only exception is a raised median, more than four-feet wide, that divides the street.
- Fines for speeding in a school zone and passing a school bus can range from $156 to $456.Officers are encouraging drivers to slow down and allow plenty of time getting to and from their destination.
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