Hey guys, there is a school zone on a road where the posted speed is 35mph. I know that the School Zone speed of 25mph is in effect when the lights are flashing on the sign but unfortunately, when you turn on to this road, the sign is placed such that you cannot see it.

Between what times are the School Zone speeds in effect?

Start/dismissal times vary, so it depends on the individual school's hours. The lights are controlled from the school office.

So how can I know when I pull on to the road? The sign is posted before the intersection so its impossible to see...

You could Google the school's hours to get a general idea.

Or you could just run 25mph for a couple blocks until you see the End School Zone sign. School zones are short.

With FCPS later start times, did these zones get adjusted or was that an extra cost the county couldn't afford?

Some schools now start later and some now start earlier. The size of their school zones did not need any adjustment because of this.

just trying to follow the law! Wrote:
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> So how can I know when I pull on to the road? The
> sign is posted before the intersection so its
> impossible to see...


Ask VDOT to install a new sign or simply move the existing one. Submit a work order using their website. Explain that the sign can't be seen by people turning onto the road after the sign is posted. Give them the exact location and roads involved.

It sounds like they just did not put the sign in the correct spot.

I actually got some no parking signs installed, had some potholes filled, etc. using the VDOT site. They will send somebody out to analyze the situation and will send you a response. I was pleasantly surprised.

If you ever got a ticket it would not hold up in court. No sign=no ticket. Plus, safety is a major issue here.

Thank you for trying to be a responsible citizen.

https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/

They also have come out and trimmed trees blocking signs and roads.

Contact VDOT asap Wrote:
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> just trying to follow the law! Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So how can I know when I pull on to the road?
> The
> > sign is posted before the intersection so its
> > impossible to see...
>
>
> Ask VDOT to install a new sign or simply move the
> existing one. Submit a work order using their
> website. Explain that the sign can't be seen by
> people turning onto the road after the sign is
> posted. Give them the exact location and roads
> involved.
>
> It sounds like they just did not put the sign in
> the correct spot.
>
> I actually got some no parking signs installed,
> had some potholes filled, etc. using the VDOT
> site. They will send somebody out to analyze the
> situation and will send you a response. I was
> pleasantly surprised.
>
> If you ever got a ticket it would not hold up in
> court. No sign=no ticket. Plus, safety is a major
> issue here.
>
> Thank you for trying to be a responsible citizen.


I've also successfully used the VDOT website to ask them to fix the lack of markings at an intersection. They responded immediately and corrected the situation.

I feel like the situation OP is describing is fairly common, though. Aren't there a lot of places where you can turn from a sidestreet into a school zone AFTER the school zone sign and, therefore, not know that you're supposed to be going a reduced speed?

The "wink-o-matic" lights, as they are called, run 30 minutes before and after school. So just look up the school times for the one you are concerned about and do the math.

The trick is to run the little bastards over, and not get caught.

Those signs are actually installed by the schools, not VDOT so I recommend reaching out to the schools' office of safety and security. See the FCPS website:

http://www.fcps.edu/fts/safety-security/faq.shtml#5

Question: I received a speeding ticket issued by the Fairfax County Police Department in the flashing school zone. Who operates these flashing signs, and what times do flashing school zones operate?

Answer: The flashing beacon school zone lights (Wink-O-Matics) are funded and operated by FCPS (FCPS currently has more than 260 WOM lights in daily operation), and placed on Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) roadways through the VDOT permit system. WOM lights are installed based upon a criteria agreed upon by FCPS, VDOT and the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD). In general, WOM lights are placed on the roadway where there is a student crossing with a FCPD crossing guard.

The schedule is set by the FCPS Office of Safety and Security (OSS), and is 45 minutes before a school's start and for 45 minutes after a school’s dismissal. You can call the school for their arrival and dismissal times or the Office of Safety and Security at 571-423-2010 for the WOM schedule in question.

The school zone starts at the sign. So just look at the sign to see if the lights are flashing. The lowed speed zone is only between the signs.

bdtGK Wrote:
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> The school zone starts at the sign. So just look
> at the sign to see if the lights are flashing.
> The lowed speed zone is only between the signs.

To be on the safe side. Monday-Friday between 8am and 3pm.

Maybe this is the one you're referring to but when you come off of Belle View Blvd onto Fort Hunt Rd in the direction of Belle View Elementary the WOM is behind you on the other side of the intersection. Really stupid but now that I see FCPS has a role in determining WOM location it makes more sense.

MBF Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Those signs are actually installed by the schools,
> not VDOT so I recommend reaching out to the
> schools' office of safety and security. See the
> FCPS website:
>
> http://www.fcps.edu/fts/safety-security/faq.shtml#
> 5
>
> Question: I received a speeding ticket issued
> by the Fairfax County Police Department in the
> flashing school zone. Who operates these flashing
> signs, and what times do flashing school zones
> operate?
>
> Answer: The flashing beacon school zone lights
> (Wink-O-Matics) are funded and operated by FCPS
> (FCPS currently has more than 260 WOM lights in
> daily operation), and placed on Virginia
> Department of Transportation's (VDOT) roadways
> through the VDOT permit system. WOM lights are
> installed based upon a criteria agreed upon by
> FCPS, VDOT and the Fairfax County Police
> Department (FCPD). In general, WOM lights are
> placed on the roadway where there is a student
> crossing with a FCPD crossing guard.
>
> The schedule is set by the FCPS Office of Safety
> and Security (OSS), and is 45 minutes before a
> school's start and for 45 minutes after a
> school’s dismissal. You can call the school for
> their arrival and dismissal times or the Office of
> Safety and Security at 571-423-2010 for the WOM
> schedule in question.

Thanks everyone! This is really helpful. After driving back along the main road, I also noticed that they never posted an "End School Zone" sign (there is one on the street perpendicular to it though).

I'll look into the VDOT order and, in the mean time, just try to use my best judgement.

I asked this originally because there was a police cruiser along the road while I was driving around 35mph/40mph at maybe 4:30pm. Has anyone ever dealt with this kind of thing legally? Could I still be ticketed/charged (I thinks its a misdemeanor) if there is no sign clearly posted? Would it hold up in court?

bdtGK Wrote:
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> The school zone starts at the sign. So just look
> at the sign to see if the lights are flashing.
> The lowed speed zone is only between the signs.

OP can't look at the sign because the sign is placed in the wrong spot-BEFORE the intersection they are entering the road from.

If FCPS is in charge of the light placement then that is the problem. They have a long and storied history of making really bad decisions.

You could still file with VDOT and they would forward to FCPS. Otherwise, you need to contact FCPS. Good luck with that.

As an added measure you could also file a complaint with the Police department.

If the Police and VDOT forward everything to FCPS, then FCPS might actually pay attention to the report you file with FCPS. The agreed upon criteria does not seem to be very good.

Has anyone ever dealt with this kind of thing legally? Could I still be ticketed/charged (I thinks its a misdemeanor) if there is no sign clearly posted? Would it hold up in court?

-------I would wager if you took a picture of the light placement and the intersection design the judge would tell the government to get their act together and quit ticketing people when THEY screw up.

When the cops are out! What do you think, dingus?

Sounds like you gonna need driving school.
Call or text Dan today. 571-354-0641
Best driver improvement class in Fairfax.

Go over to the Massey Building, and have the special "School Zone" chip installed into your brain. Then you will always know.

It appears to me that the flashing lights are only operating around the time of arrival and dismissal, i.e., when the students are being dropped off or picked up at school. I haven't seen school zone lights that flashed continuously from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M., or whatever the appropriate times are.

you can say that but in the 70's a car doing a rolling stop in an empty intersection was not ticketed (fuel was too valuable, still is)

a car going on red when no one could be seen: NOT TICKETED

you go on re-inforcing your myths of top down senseless power and might makes right greed

your still not getting one past on me
Attachments:

25 mph is too fast if children are crossing or might pop out from the side of a car

the signs usually say "15 mph - beware children crossing" in such a situation

that's assuming theres a hustle and bustle of children around

if there is no-one in sight ...

y7Fe7 Wrote:
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>

> you can say that but in the 70's a car doing a
> rolling stop in an empty intersection was not
> ticketed (fuel was too valuable, still is)
>
> a car going on red when no one could be seen: NOT
> TICKETED
>

>
> you go on re-inforcing your myths of top down
> senseless power and might makes right greed
>
> your still not getting one past on me

Love you, sven!!

13

What school is it? And I can tell you.

LwhjY