INVERELL highway patrol officer Senior Constable Heath Roberts has been issuing warnings to drivers dropping their children off in school zones, and to his consternation he issued more than $6000 worth of warnings over the last three days outside one Inverell school alone.
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“We’ve been issuing warnings instead of tickets so this is not seen as a revenue raising exercise,” Senior Constable Roberts said.
“This is only the first week back from school holidays and it seems it has got right out of hand. These signs are put in place for the safety of the children and we don’t want to be picking up a child who’s been hit by a car, or worse.”
Senior Constable Roberts said a crackdown was underway, and no more warnings would be issued.
“My advice is to be taught or get caught,” Senior Constable Roberts said.
He said the rules were simple. No Stopping signs mean drivers must not stop on a length of road, or in an area, to which a no stopping sign applies. A fine of $311 and the loss of two demerit points applies to offenders.
The No Parking rule means that between the times mentioned on the sign, drivers cannot leave their vehicles in these zones and walk into the school to collect their children. If you park in these zones between the times listed, you must remain in or near (within 3 metres) your vehicle. Motorists who disobey these signs will be issued with a fine totalling $311 and lose two demerit points.
A driver must not stop in an area marked by a Bus Zone sign between the times displayed on the sign. Dropping off and picking up children in these zones between those times is prohibited. A fine of $311 and two demerit points apply.
“The operation includes marked and unmarked vehicles, uniform police and police in plain clothes. The blitz will be random, not even the school will know when police are present and watching. Any motorists found breaching the road rules relating to the school signs will be fined,” Senior Constable Roberts said.
“On most occasions the offending driver will be spoken to about their actions, but Police can record the offending vehicle’s details and post an infringement notice to the registered owner of the offending vehicle.”
