Students are returning to schools in Fountain Hills and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is reminding motorists to use caution around pedestrians and obey traffic laws related to school zones and school buses on the roadways.

“We will be focused on enforcement of the school zones and passing school busses, as school returns to session,” said MCSO Capt. Hank Brandimarte. “We want to provide the safest environment for our students to arrive and depart from school.”

School crossings are clearly marked and visible and remain in force during school hours. Local authorities may approve additional crossings across highways not abutting on school grounds.

The law states that “a vehicle shall not proceed at a speed of more than 15 miles per hour between the portable signs placed on the highway indicating that there shall be no passing, that school is in session and that the driver shall stop when children are in the crosswalk.”

Also, “when a school authority places and maintains the required portable signs indicating that there shall be no passing, that school is in session and that the driver shall stop when children are in the crosswalk, all vehicles shall come to a complete stop at the school crossing when the crosswalk is occupied by a person.

“A vehicle approaching the crosswalk shall not proceed at a speed of more than 15 miles per hour between the portable signs placed on the highway indicating that there shall be no passing, that school is in session, that the driver shall stop when children are in the crosswalk and that the civil penalty will double.

“When a school authority places and maintains the required portable signs indicating that there shall be no passing, that school is in session, that the driver shall stop when children are in the crosswalk and that the civil penalty will double, all vehicles shall come to a complete stop at the school crossing when a person is in the crosswalk.”

“School is in session,” when used either in reference to the period of time or to signs, means during school hours or while children are going to or leaving school during opening or closing hours.

On meeting or overtaking from either direction a school bus that has stopped on the highway, the driver of a vehicle on a highway shall:

*Stop their vehicle before reaching the school bus, if the school bus is displaying the signal and if alternately flashing lights are in use.

*Not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the signal and alternately flashing lights are no longer displayed.

The driver of a vehicle on a highway with separate roadways need not stop on meeting or passing a school bus that is:

*On a different roadway.

*On a controlled access highway and the school bus is stopped in a loading zone that is a part of or adjacent to the highway and where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway.

A lane or group of lanes on either side of a two-way left turn lane is not considered a separate roadway.

“A controlled access highway is similar to a freeway,” Brandimarte said. “We don’t have any of those in town. You are required to stop for all school buses when approaching them, either from behind or from the opposite direction.

“Also the fines double for speeding through a school zone.”

Fines for violation of the school zone and school bus laws are as follows:

*$250 for the first violation

*A second time within a period of thirty-six months, the court shall impose a minimum civil penalty of $750.

*Three or more times within a period of thirty-six months, the court shall impose a minimum civil penalty of $1,000.

Second or third violations also result in a suspension of the driver license.