Tuesday, September 6, 2011

“Back to School Safely”

This is the message that the Moorhead Police Department would like to remind everyone on this final day before schools start again across Minnesota. With all the excitement that the first day of school brings, please consider morning and mid-afternoon commute delays associated with increased bicycle/pedestrian traffic and simply more cars on the roads. Moorhead Officers will be actively enforcing school speed zones and helping ensure that the crossing guards are complied with. We will also be enforcing distracted driving laws (cell phone texting) and seat belt violations. Fines in Minnesota start at $125, so please drive safely.

As school buses will once again be picking up children throughout the city, we remind everyone that it is illegal to pass a school bus that has flashing lights and their stop arm out. Failure to comply with this driving law will continue to be strictly enforced due to the high level of danger that these violations present to the children. Another significant annual school safety concern is with dropping off children at the schools. Please respect the school bus loading and unloading zones. Private vehicle drop offs are not to be conducted in these bus zones.

We share the enthusiasm that “back to school” brings, but point out that everyone plays a part in ensuring that it done so safely!