School zone speed limits at night?

excelblue

IANAL, but school zone speed limits usually only apply during a very specific time window - when students are picked up or dropped off.

You should definitely contest this on the basis that the school zone speed limit doesn't apply. However, be prepared with the regular speed limit. If you were going 36 in a 35 zone, then the ticket's still valid. Do not cite anything that you don't need in the contest - that may weaken your argument.

Fred C

Oh, yeah, everybody knows the minute school closes, there are NEVER any kids near the school. It's not like schools have playgrounds, or baseball and football fields, or basketball hoops. It's not like anybody ever uses the gym at night for sports, movies, community meetings, or other after school activities. And schools NEVER have school dances, right?
Where did you play after school when you were a kid? Come one, if it was 3 in the morning, I might cut you some slack and support fighting it, but 9:30 on a Friday night?
You are about 9,000% wrong, pay the ticket and grow up.
Imagine how different you are going to feel when you are a parent and people are whizzing like idiots past the places your kids go to play in the evenings, in the summer, on weekends, etc.

Spyder

No. That's 11 over the designated speed limit. It doesn't just apply during school hours. And I'm assuming if you're around a school you're near a residential neighborhood, and 36 there is still illegal. Pay your ticket. You don't have much of a chance. During school hours, you should only be going about 10 or 15.

scorpio76688

You just admitted to breaking the law in the first place. So you got the ticket. Ever notice when the cop asks do you know how fast you were going and then they say "35 mph" Bam! You just admitted to breaking the law.

UCANTCME

1. It would help to know where you are from.

2. You got a ticket for for speeding.

3. If you had got a ticket for speeding in a active school zone the fine would have been a lot higher (some states have fines around $500.00).

4. You can try to contest it but you were speeding by your own admission.

nuwbuddy

well think, is the school in a residential area? or on a higher speed traffic area?

Hondaluv

i think it still counts if there is like a sporting event or something going on

Jdezle21

most school zone speed limit signs say underneath them "when children are present" if it only applies during school hours.

Sarah

unless there is a sign that says 25 mph when blinking, the speed limit is always 25 mph

sgoldperson

Well was there a sign stating school hours, or any flashing light telling you the speed? If it just said Speed Limit 25 through school zone then you are tough out of luck. If they don't list it as certain hours or have it as when lights are flashing then it's an all the time thing. As the first person pointed out though, there may have been an after school event going on. I admit it's late BUT still possible.

StephenWeinstein

Read the sign. Some say specifically "when flashing", "when children are present", "during school hours", or during specific hours that are listed on the sign. If the speed limit sign says anything like this, photograph the sign, bring the photograph to court, and you should win.

If the sign does not say, then the limit applies 24/7.

George A

Most school zones at 15 MPH. They can vary in some states. Also in some states the signs read "When Children Are Present"- if there is a school function going on at the school, then regardless of the time of day or night, or the fact that the lights may not have been turned on, then the speed limit technically is to revert back to the school zone speed limit anytime that there are children present within the school zone.

The actual speed limit OF THAT AREA was probably 25 & it just so happened that you were stopped in front of a school & you're receiving the citation has nothing to do with a school zone.

It's up to you to prove the officer made a mistake, so if you feel the citation is invalid, then you will have to go back to that area and make sure that the posted speed wasn't 25. Take pictures of the posted speed limit signs in that area, photos of the school zone signs, & take someone with you that can be a witness when you go to court to contest the citation.

But I can almost guarantee you that the posted speed limit was 25 & the school zone has nothing to do with the citation that you received.

Oh- by the way. The "citation will be dismissed if the cop fails to show up" is a thing of the past. Most departments today pay the officer EXTRA PAY to make sure he does show up & the officer can & will face disciplinary actions by his superior officer for failing to show up for traffic court. Also, in some courts, if the officer is tied up on a very serious emergency call & cannot attend, the court has the discretion to continue your hearing for another day so the officer can attend.

Kiki

I just took and passed my permit test (so I had been studying). But as far as I understand, the speed limits posted only apply when children are present. And usually, children aren't present at a school at nighttime. But driving laws vary state-to-state so check local state laws.

SweetnSassy

night school can run veryyyy long they will say lol

Zanthus

NOPE.

SeanB

over here it only applies I think within 2 hrs of school hours

bob

speed limit after hours is 30 but you can go battle if nothing is not posted y0u have a great chance of winning..take lots of photos

Skunk B

Yea that sounds like bs to me, id contest it showing up u always stand a chance to at least get the ticket lowered. Its like going to the pawn shop to buy a tv. If the tag says 50 bucks its at the most 50 bucks they cant go any higher. Best of luck. ^^

stevo yo

its only 25 when theres falshing lights. so in that case no it shouldn't of been that low at 930. sounds like some bull to me.

bling dout

sadly, yes. because most cops time and job is too important to show up in court to contest something like this. just make sure you have proof and 90% of the time you'll win. sigh.

Handyman

I don't know of any place that has a school zone speed limit at night, i would go to court and contest the ticket. Even if it was a school zone , I would tell the judge that i didn't know that there was any school zone limits at night, you got to be dumb about it,that,s just the way it is.Was the school zone light flashing by the way.Are did the cop say that the sign showed the time on it.May want to take a picture of the school sign to show the school hours that's on it.

sweetiepie

check the laws for your state but
hell yea i would contest that!

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