State Representative Larry Mitchell (D – New Castle) has introduced a bill that would pilot the use of speed cameras to help enforce school zone speed limits. Though I believe it to be a great idea, I believe the bill is too weak. H.B. 330, recently out of committee, would allow Dover and Wilmington to pilot the use of speed cameras to enforce the speed limits inside school zones. As Mitchell told Newsworks there just are enough police officers for enforcement.
Back in April, I posed the question, “Why does Delaware seemingly not enforce school zone speed limits?” as I believe this lack of enforcement is a danger to Delaware’s children. Mitchell’s proposed bill is quite weak though. The bill will only punish drivers who exceed 11 mph over the posted speed limit in a school zone. To put that in a bit of perspective, one of the two schools I drive by every morning has a standard speed limit of 35 mph and a school zone speed limit of 20 mph. Under Mitchell’s legislation, cars would be allowed to speed 30 mph through the school zone, only 5 mph the regular speed limit.
School zone speed limit needs to be enforced at the posted speed limits. Zero tolerance is what is needed.