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SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – Sarasota police are urging drivers to be more mindful and slow down in school zones. Recently, the police department reported issuing over 1,000 speeding citations in just the first week of the school year.
Many community members, including local parents, expressed their surprise at the high number of citations. “It doesn’t surprise me that they got that many people going that fast,” stated Jeff Young, a concerned parent. He and others shared their views with 8 On Your Side, highlighting their lack of astonishment regarding the speeding incidents recorded in areas with active speed cameras during school hours.
According to the Sarasota Police Department, one alarming incident occurred outside Cardinal Mooney High School, where a driver was clocked at an astonishing 76 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone, even when warning lights were not flashing. Another driver near Alta Vista Elementary School was caught zooming at 51 miles per hour in a 20 mph zone while the flashing lights were indeed active.
Officer Jason Frank emphasized the critical nature of these violations, saying, “Any number that is speeding through a school zone while the flashing lights are going is concerning. Whether it’s one or whether it’s 100, it can happen that someone could be struck.” Earlier this year, the SPD revealed that over a 30-day period, speed cameras issued more than 4,400 citations near just two schools.
Frank expressed optimism that if citation numbers drop, it would indicate that the measures are working, stating, “People are now cognizant of, ‘I’ve gotta pay attention, put my phone down, and look for kids in the crossing zone.'”
Local parents stress that safety should always be a priority, especially in school zones. Young remarked, “As a parent, I’m also okay with enforcing speed limits in the school zones, so if they have to do that with cameras, I’m not opposed to that.”
Key Information
- Location: Sarasota, Florida
- Speeding Citations: Over 1,000 issued in the first week of school
- Significant Violations:
- 76 mph in a 45 mph zone (Cardinal Mooney High School)
- 51 mph in a 20 mph zone (Alta Vista Elementary School)
- Previous Data: More than 4,400 citations issued in 30 days near two schools
- Public Reaction: Community support for enforcing speed limits in school zones
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Article original publish date: 2025-08-20 12:14:00
Article source: www.wfla.com
Read the full story at the original source: www.wfla.com
