Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Okay, so it's been a slow day at the office, so to speak, and my little mind got wandering. The other day, I drove by a school that had a "speed limit when flashing" sign on approach to the school. One of the yellow lights was lit, the other was not, and it wasn't flashing, it was just solid... Was the reduced speed limit technically in effect since the lights were not flashing? :rolleyes: I'd figure the mere fact that it was attempting to flash would be enough, but I thought I'd get some other opinions. :D

The flasher might be out

My opinion is that if it was not flashing, the speed limit was NOT in effect. However, keep in mind that those special speed limits are there for children's safety. So, ya might get over on a technicality, but at what price?

I always go by the times posted and ignore the lights, unless the lights are flashing outside of the posted time in which case I'd do the limit just in case.

I don't trust those fancy flashing lights. They're the devil. :D

Good point about the times, Andrew. Makes me think of another question that's always bugged me... No turn on red, 7am to 7pm, school days only. Is that Monday through Friday, year round? Or, only days when school is actually in session? Since I graduated from high school, I've stopped keeping track of when schools are in and out of session.

Yeah, I know, my mind tends to wander a little bit. :D

I suspect a school day is exactly that a SCHOOL DAY. If you wish to reatrain from turning in mid July, you may get a few horns and gestures aimed at you :)

You could all the city, town, etc. where this sign is located and tell them about it too, so as to squash any others who may be pondering the same thing.

Thanks for indulging my curiosities, everyone!

That's why it's best to have the signs indicating the speed when "children are present." ;)

Down the road from me, there is a school zone with a flashing sign that is constantly flashing, pretty much 24-7-365. Evidently it's broken.

I've always wondered if someone could get arrested for speeding through there outside of normal school hours. Then I realized it would take a bored cop to do traffic stops on such a stupid technicality.

But this place is litterally a quarter mile from the state police barracks..

So, can you be cited for speeding in a school zone, with lights flashing, outside of school hours, and outside of any reason for the lights to be flashing?

Could you ? perhaps, would 99.9% of LEO's write you, no.