As the first day of school approaches, the Morgan Hill Police
Department will be out in force to make sure every one stays
safe.
As the first day of school approaches, the Morgan Hill Police Department will be out in force to make sure every one stays safe.
In what is called Operation Safe Schools, the police will station themselves at different locations for a two-week period from Aug. 23 through Sept. 3 to remind motorists to drive safely.
“With the school year approaching, we want to take a proactive approach to educating and enforcing traffic laws,” said Lt. Terrie Booten.
Booten said three main areas will be targeted: commuter corridors, school locations and the high-traffic corridors, such as downtown Morgan Hill and Cochrane Road.
Police will be on the look out for traffic violations such as speeding, unsafe lane changes, illegal U-turns and not giving pedestrians the right of way.
Even though officers won’t begin until Monday, the police have begun using a radar trailer to remind people to slow down.
This is the first year the police have instituted such a program.
Booten said year after year, the police get complaints of people speeding or blocking traffic dropping children off.
Police will mainly be out as a deterrent and to remind people to obey traffic laws. Booten said their main goal is not to write tickets; however, citations will be issued depending severity of the violation.
Booten had two suggestions for all drivers to remember, especially when driving near schools: “Pedestrians have the right of way and don’t forget to buckle up.”
Cheeto Barrera is an intern at the Morgan Hill Times. He can be reached at
cb******@mo*************.com
