From the Desk of Edna Police Chief Clinton Wooldridge

    The first day of school is right around the corner. It’s time for parents and faculty alike to prepare themselves for the annual traffic circus. If you go the traffic circus keep in mind it will get better soon and, like a woman once told me, Clinton, don’t forget to breathe.     
    The Edna Police Department always dedicates all available officers to help with traffic the first few days of school. The High School and Jr. High campuses are usually not too bad, but the Elementary campus, well, Katie bar the door. Pun intended. 
    Here are a few laws that I think are important to keep in mind during the school year. 
    (545.425 Trans. Code) In the City of Edna cell phone use is generally prohibited in school zones located on State Highways, meaning FM 1822 and Hwy 111 South. Exceptions to the law are if the driver is using a hands free device or if the vehicle is stopped.  Keep in mind though, even if you do have a hands free device studies have shown that a driver who is talking on a cell phone is equally impaired as a driver who has consumed one alcoholic drink. The term “multi-tasking” is misleading. A more appropriate term would be “divided attention”. 
    (545.4252 Trans. Code) Cell phone use is also prohibited while operating a vehicle on the property of any of the schools in Edna during a time that reduced speed restrictions are in effect. The two exceptions stated above apply.
    (545.424 Trans. Code) A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle while using a cell phone, including a hands free device, except in an emergency, regardless of whether they are in a school zone or not. They are also prohibited from driving between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. except for emergencies or school events. A person under 18 years of age may not operate a vehicle with more than one passenger under the age of 21 who is not a family member. Parents should consider this when allowing their children to carpool with their friends.
    (545.302 Trans. Code) For those one or two drivers who try it every year, you may not park in a designated turn lane. Stopping and standing are OK if you are waiting for traffic to clear, but you may not park and get out of your vehicle. (You can’t use it as a passing lane either). You may not park on the roadway side of a parked vehicle (aka; double park).  You may not open your door on the traffic flow side of your vehicle unless you do so safely. You may not park on a sidewalk. You may not park within 20 feet of an intersection, within 20 feet of a crosswalk, or within 30 feet of a stop sign. You may not stop, stand, or park in front of a public or private driveway. 
    (545.066 Trans. Code) IF YOU APPROACH A SCHOOL BUS THAT IS STOPPED WITH ITS LIGHTS FLASHING YOU MAY NOT PROCEED PAST THAT BUS. This pertains to all traffic on any roadway in Jackson County except in the case of divided highway. For example, if a bus is stopped on Hwy 59 and you are travelling on Hwy 59 but on the opposite roadway, you do not have to stop. To show how serious our legislators are about that, the fine for a first offense is $500 to $1,250.  The fine amount for a second offense is $1,000 to $2,000.  I don’t know of any other traffic offense that carries such a high fine.
    (681.066 Trans. Code)  You know what else carries a high fine?  Parking in a handicapped space illegally. I point this out because several times every year someone parks in the handicapped spaces at the schools because they “couldn’t find any other place to park”. I recommend you pass those spaces by unless you have a handicapped placard or $305.00 that you don’t have any better use for.
    (545.412 Trans. Code) Let me close with this.  Parents, I know you feel rushed when you’re dropping off or picking up your children from the elementary school. I know sometimes grandma drives the kids and it’s a pain in the neck to move the child safety seat over to another vehicle. But please, make sure your child is properly buckled up before you leave the parking lot. If necessary, pull your car forward a short ways and get out and buckle them up. Every year I pick a few days and stand at the school exit to check and see if the little ones are properly buckled in, and every year I have to hold up traffic while the parents get out and secure their child. 
    Thank you for taking the time to read this. I know it was dull, but reading the Texas Transportation Code always is. If you weren’t bored enough or you’d like more details about these or any other Texas laws, go to http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us and chose Transportation Code and the section numbers I’ve included above. For those who are taking their children to their first day of school later this month, cherish the moment. I speak from experience when I say that when your child has grown up and moved away you’ll regret not having those memories.
    Be safe and drive carefully.