Tuesday, October 15, 2024
In a regular City Council meeting held on Tuesday, Oct. 8, the council approved and passed an ordinance adopting and designating school zones within the city limits to update the proper speed limits and times.
The ordinance went into effect immediately on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
The street department will place new signs and poles in certain locations in Gatesville, which is estimated to cost under $1,000.
The speed limit designated for school traffic zones will be effective only on school days, when students are in attendance, which includes 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Twenty mile-per-hour school zones:
South 27th Street from U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street to Business 36.
North 26th Street from Jackson Drive to U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street.
Hornet Way from U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street to Highway 36.
North Lovers Lane from Jackson Drive to U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street.
South Lovers Lane from US Highway 84 and East Main Street to Business 36.
Thirty mile-per-hour school zones:
U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street: The entire portion of U.S. Highway 84 and East Main Street from the intersection of North 28th Street, westerly to .07 miles past the intersection of Lovers Lane.
Business 36: The entire portion of Texas State Highway Business 36 from the intersection of South 27th Street, westerly to .07 miles past the intersection of South Lovers Lane.
Any person who is found violating the provisions of the ordinance will be guilty of a Class C Misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $200 per offense.
There will be an informative meeting with the school’s police department along with the school district and the Gatesville Police Department to go over the changes that will take place.
“There will be an education period before enforcement occurs and it is on social media,” City Manager Brad Hunt said. “Also, when officers stop folks in the first several weeks, they will give warnings instead of citations if there is any confusion about times.”
“Last week, it was okay to go 30 mph after 7:30 a.m., and now it’s not, and we are going to first tell you that before we start running tickets,” he said.
For more information, contact Gatesville Municipal Court by email at court@gatesvilletx.com or 254-865-2227.
