JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The school year started on Monday in Duval County and law enforcement officials said traffic safety will be an emphasis all year long.
The start of school means Officer Kristy Monroe is at Spring Park Elementary.
School zone speeding laws will be active and Monroe is ready to enforce them.
“I promise I’m going to be right here,” Monroe said. “So the parents, they don’t have to worry.”
She’s a part of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s traffic enforcement team.
It’s a squad being rolled out to schools across the county to keep people in line with the rules of the road.
“They’re on their phones,” Monroe said. “Being that school has been out, drivers aren’t accustomed to adhering to the flashing lights.”
JSO and Duval County School Police are working together to not only keep kids safe in school, but also on their way to and from.
“We are making sure that students and staff get to school safely,” DCPS Police Chief Jackson Short said. “And we are reminding all of our drivers that school is back in session and pay attention to the reduced speed zones and that’s why we are out here this morning not only here at Spring Park but also several locations around the city.”
So law enforcement officers have their radar guns out and scanning.
On Monday, Monroe put the radar gun to her eye, lined the dots up with a passing car and pressed the button. The device beeped and she looked at the display that said what speed the driver was going.
News4JAX was there as Monroe pulled multiple drivers over on the first day of classes.
She said it’s important for drivers to follow the law but also to be ready for anything.
“Kids don’t pay attention a lot of times,” she said. “They’re excited about school being in and new shoes and being with their friends. They don’t pay attention to those things. So we as adults, we have to pay attention to those things with kids.”
Chief Short said that the need for awareness extends to the students as well.
“Safety is everybody’s job,” he said. “We want parents to have that conversation with their students making sure that they’re not texting as they’re walking and playing on their phones. Make sure they don’t have headphones on their ears so they can hear what’s going on.”