# Watch for speed traps in school zones as school starts **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 29, 2018, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461 "2018-08-29T11:46:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/1 "2018-08-29T11:46:18Z")
Cops around here love to give tickets now that school is starting up. It must make it easy to hit their quotas. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/2 "2018-08-29T11:53:35Z")
I meant to add I have not been ticketed for this but I have seen people get caught every day this week. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/3 "2018-08-29T12:10:04Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Cops around here love to give tickets now that school is starting up. It must make it easy to hit their quotas. As a side effect, it also might help prevent kids from getting hit by cars. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/4 "2018-08-29T12:27:23Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I meant to add I have not been ticketed for this but I have seen people get caught every day this week. Good, I’m glad they are being ticketed. This is a proper use of police resources to protect pedestrians from bad drivers. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/5 "2018-08-29T12:28:58Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Cops around here love to give tickets now that school is starting up. It must make it easy to hit their quotas. I think the thing to be watching for is _kids_ in school zones. Getting a speeding ticket will ruin your day; killing a kid will ruin your life. So never mind the cops and speed traps, just slow down for school zones, and watch out for kids. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/6 "2018-08-29T12:31:51Z")
this is a suburb so there very little crime here. I would guess 90% of what cops do is just give traffic tickets. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/7 "2018-08-29T12:35:51Z")
I’ve never understood the mindset that enforcing existing speed limits constitutes a speed trap. Whether you like them or not, whether you think they’re fair or not, speed limits are set and those who exceed them are subject to tickets. That’s pretty basic. How hard is it to comply?? I pass an elementary school on my way home, and at least half the time, I get stuck behind the buses as they pull out of the parking lot. It may extend my commute home by 2 or 3 minutes. That’s like _180 seconds!!!_ :eek: I still slow to 35 as the signs say and risk getting stuck. It’s not that big a deal. Also, stop for buses as kids get on or off. Duh! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/8 "2018-08-29T12:46:21Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I think the thing to be watching for is _kids_ in school zones. Getting a speeding ticket will ruin your day; killing a kid will ruin your life. So never mind the cops and speed traps, just slow down for school zones, and watch out for kids. It will ruin far more lives than just yours, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/9 "2018-08-29T12:54:51Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > this is a suburb so there very little crime here. I would guess 90% of what cops do is just give traffic tickets. Getting hit by a car is also a crime. In fact, I’d much rather have my house broken into than have my kid killed by a speeding driver. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/10 "2018-08-29T13:04:31Z")
Speed trap just means they are making a concerted effort to catch speeders, at least to me. That’s not the only way they catch speeders but a lot are caught that way. I live right across from a middle school and very few kids walk there. Around 90% take the bus or ride with parents. Most of the kids who walk are on the same side of the major road as the school so they don’t have to cross 5 lanes. For elementary schools here they all have a crossing guard who helps kids cross the street. A lot of parents are worried about kids walking to school so they don’t let them walk even if it’s a short walk. For example I know a guy who won’t let his 16 year old daughter walk a mile to school. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/11 "2018-08-29T13:06:07Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > It will ruin far more lives than just yours, my friend. Fair point, but a driver who is prone to speeding through school zones isn’t much given to thinking about other people’s lives. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/12 "2018-08-29T13:24:35Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Speed trap just means they are making a concerted effort to catch speeders, at least to me. That’s not the only way they catch speeders but a lot are caught that way. > > I live right across from a middle school and very few kids walk there. Around 90% take the bus or ride with parents. Most of the kids who walk are on the same side of the major road as the school so they don’t have to cross 5 lanes. For elementary schools here they all have a crossing guard who helps kids cross the street. A lot of parents are worried about kids walking to school so they don’t let them walk even if it’s a short walk. For example I know a guy who won’t let his 16 year old daughter walk a mile to school. Then by all means drive like a maniac. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/13 "2018-08-29T14:39:25Z")
I have no sympathy for anyone who speeds in a school zone, or in my neighborhood, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/14 "2018-08-29T14:55:43Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Getting hit by a car is also a crime. In fact, I’d much rather have my house broken into than have my kid killed by a speeding driver. Actually, getting hit isn’t a crime, hitting is a crime. StG ---
**Author:** ![chaika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chaika/32/405_2.png) [@chaika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaika)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/15 "2018-08-29T15:01:29Z")
I am delighted that tickets are being issued to drivers who exceed the speed limit in school zones where you live. I wish they would do it more often here. In my town, children walk to school by themselves from an early age (which I very much approve of). But not all drivers seem to realize that those signs indicating a school zone, and the flashing lights, and the crossing guard by the school are there to keep the children safe. Handing out a few more tickets would be appropriate, since some people don’t seem to care about doing the right thing for its own sake. Maybe if their wallets are affected, they might just slow down. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/16 "2018-08-29T15:19:46Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > For elementary schools here they all have a crossing guard who helps kids cross the street. I almost got hit crossing the street walking to school once, even with a crossing guard. Thankfully the guard was able to recognize that the car was clearly not going to stop and stopped me. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/17 "2018-08-29T15:39:05Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Speed trap just means they are making a concerted effort to catch speeders, at least to me. That’s not the only way they catch speeders but a lot are caught that way. When people talk about speed **traps** , they usually mean there’s something unfair about it, like nailing people right where the limit changes from 55 to 35 at the bottom of a hill. Enforcing school zones at the start of the year is not a trap under any definition. > [@](#): > > A lot of parents are worried about kids walking to school so they don’t let them walk even if it’s a short walk. For example I know a guy who won’t let his 16 year old daughter walk a mile to school. This almost sounds like an argument that it’s not worth enforcing the speed limit in school zones, because no one walks because it’s too dangerous with all the speeders on the road. That would be a pretty ridiculous argument. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/18 "2018-08-29T15:42:29Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > When people talk about speed **traps** , they usually mean there’s something unfair about it, like nailing people right where the limit changes from 55 to 35 at the bottom of a hill. People who complain about this being “unfair” are whiners, provided the 35 sign is clearly visible from an adequate distance; they’re making an informed decision to not use their brakes in a timely fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/19 "2018-08-29T15:51:03Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > In fact, I’d much rather have my house broken into than have my kid killed by a speeding driver. I would think this would be a near-universal feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461/20 "2018-08-29T16:00:38Z")
It’s actually 25mph here. I always comply. Though it’s really hard to have forward motion at that speed. People pass me all the time. Especially at the highschool I go by frequently. Sometimes I am passed by teenage drivers. I am pleased to see LE around the school. I truly hope the kids they stop are getting a lesson and not just a ticket. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-for-speed-traps-in-school-zones-as-school-starts/820461.md?page=2)