Police Stepping Up Patrols in School Zones This Month

Students won’t be the only ones spending time around local schools this week. Suffolk Police are stepping up patrols in school zones and cracking down on traffic violations between September 7 and September 20.

The crackdown effort, according to a release from Suffolk Police, will involve officers from Patrol, Community Oriented Police Enforcement and Highway Patrol Bureau to enhance roadway and student safety. Police say the extra patrols will concentrate on traffic violations committed in school zones, including speeding, tailgating, passing school buses during loading and unloading and junior driver’s license violations.

Officers, who will be patrolling in marked and unmarked cars and will also be strictly enforcing distracted driving violations, targeting those who drive while talking or texting on a cell phone.

“Keeping students safe as they arrive to and leave from school is a high priority,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer in the release. “Drivers must be aware of the real risks created by dangerous driving in school zones and we will not tolerate unsafe driving in and around our schools.”