§ 441-324 — School zones

Sec. 441-324. - School zones.

(a) There is hereby created within the city areas defined and established as school zones, which shall be defined as that portion of any street or highway contiguous to any educational institution, regardless of whether it is public or private, and said zone shall vary depending on the posted speed limit along the street or highway in each direction from the property of the educational institution, roadway geometrics in the area, information provided by educational institutions, and any other criteria as determined by the engineering division of the department of public works. If the engineering division defines a school zone that differs from the information provided by a given educational institution, the reasons shall be documented and shared with the educational institution. (b) No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any street or highway within a school zone established pursuant to subsection (a) at a speed greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour. (c) Where no special hazard exists, the speed prescribed in subsection (b) shall be lawful, but any speed in excess of that limit shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and is unlawful. (d) The speed restriction established in subsection (b) in school zones shall be in force on all days on which the schools are in operation during hours determined by the engineering division of the department of public works based upon engineering and traffic surveys and upon information provided by educational institutions as to their hours of operation when children will be present. If the engineering division sets hours for the school zone to be in effect that differs from the information provided by a given educational institution, the reasons shall be documented and shared with the educational institution. The engineering division shall also establish procedures for changing the hours that school zones are in effect as may be necessitated by unplanned changes to the schedules of educational institutions due to weather or other emergency conditions. (e) No restriction under this section shall be applicable until the department of public works posts reasonable and adequate signs and/or other traffic control devices indicating where such school zones begin, the reduced speed limit, and where such school zones end or the speed limit for the section of street or highway that follows. (f) The department of public works shall notify the Indiana department of transportation by certified mail of any school zone established on a state highway within the city. (g) The Indiana Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (IMUTCD) and any other policies, practices and standards developed by the department of public works shall be the criteria used for selection of signs and/or other traffic control devices at each location.

(Code 1975, § 29-137; G.O. 41, 1998, § 1; G.O. 15, 2001, § 26; G.O. 1, 2017, § 1)