school zones...what is the law?

[Tagster]

Every day I drive from Molalla up 213 through Oregon City. There is a school in Carus that is right off hwy 213. The school zone is posted with the 20 mile/hour speed limit and a sign under it that says "when children are present".

What constitutes children being present? If they are in the schoolhouse in class? If they are playing in the schoolyard? If it is Saturday and a child is playing soccer in the field?

I don't know the law, but, it seems silly to slow down from 45 or 55 to 20 on a saturday at 6:00 a.m. heading to the boat ramp. And yet, people do it all the time.

I am all about children's safety, but it seems that this is going too far.

Anyone know the legal resposibilities here?

Now, I do know that 213 is a very dangerous road, and I would hate to see anyone, much less a child get hurt from someone speeding through.

Tag

[24 on/ 48 off]

From the Oregon revised Statutes:

811.124 Meaning of "children are present" in ORS 811.105 and 811.123. For purposes of provisions of ORS 811.105 and 811.123 dealing with permissible speeds when passing school grounds or a school crosswalk, children are present at any time and on any day when children are in a place where they are or can reasonably be expected to be visible to a person operating a motor vehicle that is passing a school ground or a school crosswalk. [1997 c.438 §2]

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">--spud-- :smile:

[1pump]

I generally don't sweat it unless it's a weekday between 0700-1600. Most schools located on busy streets or state highways have yellow flashing lights on the school zone signs to indicate when to slow down. And if I see a school bus anywhere near the school, I slow down.
It's kind of a vague law, and it seems to have a broad interpretation. What if you're driving by an elementary school on a Saturday, and there's one kid walking on the sidewalk, and he's obviously high school age? What if he's 18? How are you supposed to know?

[24 on/ 48 off]

I guess those are questions you can ask the judge. He or she may, or may not agree with your reasoning.

--spud-- :smile: