For months now, Streets of Speed has been identifying areas where drivers need more training.  Sadly, we're getting repeat calls to check out speeding problems in our school zones.  Parents who have been complaining about fast cars on Court Street in front of Lyncourt Elementary School have good reason to worry.  It's a clearly marked 20 mile an hour school zone.  There are even flashing lights to alert drivers during school hours.

     Less than five minutes after photographer Jim Kearns and I settled ourselves into a well-marked and very visible sheriff's patrol car, Deputy Michael Quigley's radar started picking up some fast speeds.  Speeder one zapped!  38 in a 20.  A few minutes later another driver was caught going 16 miles per hour over the posted 20.  Think that's bad?  It only got worse. Deputy Quigley asked the driver to produce a license.  She couldn't.  She was driving with a suspended one and get this....she was in a hurry to make it to court to answer to charges of driving with a suspended license!  She was arrested and slapped with another AUO charge. In the past week, Deputy Quigley has written more than 25 tickets in that school zone and has heard all the excuses in the book when a driver gets pulled over.  We all hope drivers who speed in school zones get the message because the price they pay could be more than a speeding ticket.

   Also, I just wanted update those of you who called me on the crosswalk problem in front of  Long Branch Elementary School.  We've made some progress.  The County Highway Department checked out the spot and agreed with those of you concerned about  poor crosswalk markings.  New signs went up over the weekend.  An order for material to spruce up the crosswalk has been placed.  Creating a more visible and safer crosswalk for the kids may happen as soon as this week.  Baby steps, but steps, in the right direction.