Rapid City police step up patrols on the first day of school

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - Thousands of children are now back in school across KOTA Territory. That means school zone speed limits have also returned, along with an uptick in dangerous driving behavior.

Rapid City police officers ramped up patrols around every school that opened Tuesday morning.

It didn’t take long before they stopped a vehicle for driving over the 15 mph speed limit near North Middle School.

Shortly after, a second driver was pulled over for not only speeding, but also illegally tinted windows.

Just minutes passed before yet another driver finds themselves being pulled over.

RCPD says an officer can make more than a dozen traffic stops for violations within a single school zone, on a daily basis.

Sgt. Matthew James says the agency has a goal to deter dangerous driving behavior and educate drivers about the need to slow down and pay attention in school zones.

“A small mistake can make a big difference in not only your life but the life of another. So really make sure that you’re paying attention, your cell phones are down, you’re paying attention out the windshield, and make sure it’s a safe environment for everybody,” James said.

Police say they don’t just assign officers in school zones on the first day, but for the entire school year.

“This isn’t a one-week, two-week effort for the police department, we focus on this year-round,” James added.

As for drivers that may not know where they need to watch their speed, police stress that you should always pay attention to flashing signs.

“A good rule if you’re seeing children you’re going to follow the 15-mile-an-hour rule, our lights turn on at 7:30 and every light turned on at 7:30 as they should have,” James explained.

Law enforcement is also asking parents to make sure their kids are using crosswalks for added safety.

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