Drivers Speed Through School Zone

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

CHICKASHA, Oklahoma -- Chickasha residents are growing angry as many drivers continuously drive through school zones above the legal speed limit.

"I don't like feeling like we have to live, keep our children in a cage, but it's necessary because they're our world," Linda Carpenter said.

Carpenter and other nearby residents, built fences to protect children and pets from speeders.

After clocking drivers, many did drive over the 20 mph speed limit, but said they didn't realize it was a school zone.

Alan Knight, who lives on the busy street, has tried to take action.

"I've called the police department," Knight said.

He's attended a city meeting and brought it up and has spoken to the city manager about the issue.

Knight would like more patrols along the zone, but assistant Chief Elip Moore said while he would love to supply the area with more patrols, there isn't enough manpower.

"They can't sit at one school zone all day long," Chief Moore said. "In addition to that, we have calls for service. We'll have accidents."

Neighbors said they believe police are doing the best they can, so they'd like to see other changes on their street where children often roam.

"I think they need something to wake them up, something when they come by then they can notice and say, 'Hey, I need to slow down'," Carpenter said.

The assistant chief said school zone speeding is a constant issue all over the city and his officers keep it as a priority but they need the help of drivers.

He's also looking at getting the speed limit signs updated with possible lights and putting in speed monitoring devices on the concerned road.

There is a stiff penalty. Tickets for speeding in a school zone can go up to $138.

The radar gun, a Kustom brand KR-10SP, used in this story is subject to error. To learn more about the gun, visit the Web site.