Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office to crack down on school zone speeders

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is doing their part to protect students. So they are cracking down on those who speed through school zones. If you don’t obey, you could pay a hefty fine.

“At the beginning of the school year, typically we do have an increase in speeding because people forget about the school zones,” said Lieutenant Eric Burke, District Three Commander at the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers want to remind you that you can injure children if you don’t slow down in a school zone. “The worst thing that could happen is a kid getting hurt and having that on your conscience,” Burke said.

So if you’re speeding, expect to pay the price. No matter if you’re in a car or on a motorcycle.

One day, deputies caught people going as much as 17 miles over the speed limit in this school zone.

“We’ve had speeds of 40, 45 also in the school zones before,” Lieutenant Burke added.

In all, 17 drivers left Midway Boulevard with warnings, two with tickets and one in handcuffs.

Burke said, “I’ve actually had somebody speeding in a school zone that did not have a driver’s license.”

Janet Dubose lives in the neighborhood near Port Charlotte Middle School and wanted to thank the officers. But also, remind drivers that kids live and go to school here.

“This is why kids get hurt, they don’t pay attention to the law,” Dubose said. “It’s sad, it’s sad that when they see y’all they slow down.”

Deputies just want drivers to slow down even when they’re not patrolling because the safety of our kids is everyone’s responsibility.

“Slow down in the school zones, think of the children and focus to keep the children safe,” said Burke.

Drivers who speed through school zones could face up to a $1,000 fine. Also, it is illegal to use your phone in school and construction zones unless you use hands-free technology.