By Pat Culverhouse
Long traffic lines are expected when it’s time to pick up school children at day’s end, but what’s not expected (nor acceptable) is the inconvenience some drivers can cause near-by homeowners.
With that in mind, police officers joined city crews to place warning signs at intersections near a pair of local schools which, hopefully, will help alleviate any problems.
Chief of Police Jared McIver said it’s not unusual for traffic to begin lining up as much as an hour before the end-of-day school day ends.
“We often get complaints that someone’s blocking a driveway or blocking access when they’re picking up children from school, and the vehicles are there for an extended period of time,” McIver explained.
New signs went up Thursday morning at four neighborhood intersections: Woods/Sims streets and Woods/Jordan streets near Phillips Elementary, and at Durwood/McMullen streets and Pershing/Joel streets near J.L. Jones.
McIver said officers will respond to complaints and will make sure offenders understand they could receive a citation.
“We usually just warn them that blocking a person’s ability to enter or leave their property is a violation and they could be ticketed,” he said. “It’s easier, though, if people will just see the signs and be courteous.”
