EPISD Police Chief: Drivers ‘Careless’ In El Paso School Zones

While there were no reported injuries in the hundreds of school zones across El Paso, there were plenty of violations that could lead to a child getting hurt on the way to school Monday. Monday marked the first day back in class for both the El Paso and Ysleta Independent School Districts. An ABC-7 crew scoping out the area around Franklin High School in west El Paso caught drivers passing other cars and speeding in school zones; several times cars drove onto the crosswalk while students were still making their way across the street. The off-duty police officer patrolling the restaurants surrounding the high school expressed his annoyance with drivers’ lack of respect for the law and his inability to do anything because he is not in a marked unit. “I’ve called the school several times to tell them you know hey, put more crossing guards here,” the officer said. “Some of the crossing guards … don’t wear the proper attire they’re supposed to wear. So I think that may be why people disregard someone just waving them down and asking them to slow down.” EPISD Chief of Police Victor Araiza thinks it is less ignorance of the law than simply being distracted behind the wheel that leads to many school zone violations. “It has to do with the fact that people are rushed in the mornings. They’re trying to get to work,” Araiza said. “A lot of the times it’s carelessness,” he added. Araiza said anywhere from 30 to 36 officers are on patrol, but each of them is also responsible for security at a middle and high school. Chief Victor Araiza said his officers can and do issue citations; a warning for those drivers who don’t heed the strict school zone laws.