EPISD police to crack down on school zone violations as new school year begins

The El Paso Independent School District resumes classes Monday and police will be out in full force to ensure the safety of school children.

“From 2007 to 201, there were 281 school aged children killed in transportation related crashes nationwide,” said Jennifer Wright, a spokeswoman with the Texas Department of Transportation.

Police will not just be looking out for speeding violators.

” Not only the speed limit being enforced, but seat belt violations, the stop signs, crosswalks, everything that is a traffic violation we’ll be looking for,” says EPISD Police Officer Raul Ramos.

Cell phone use is already banned in El Paso, but state law bans cell phone use in school zones. That comes with a heftier fine of $272 and $72 in court costs.

Police will also be on the lookout for those passing in school zones. If your front bumper breaks the front bumper of the car in front of you, that is considered passing, even if you are obeying the speed limit.