§ 36-51. School zones.

(a)

School zone and school crossing speed limits shall be in effect as follows:

(1)

On roadways having legally installed school flashing beacons the speed limit shall be in effect when the beacon is flashing yellow;

(2)

If there is electrical or mechanical failure whereby the flashing beacon does not flash, every motorist shall drive at the speed posted on the flashing beacon when schoolchildren are crossing or attempting to cross in the school crossing area;

(3)

At those schools having legally installed school zone and school crossing signs without flashing beacons, the posted school zone speed limit shall be in effect at the following times:

7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(4)

At those schools having legally installed school zone and school crossing signs where a flashing beacon is only in place in one (1) direction, the posted school zone speed limit on the opposite side shall be in effect the same time as the flashing beacon is in operation and shall be signed accordingly;

(5)

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of this section it shall be incumbent upon any motorist to drive a vehicle within the limits of the posted school zone speed limit at any time of a school day between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. when a schoolchild is crossing or attempting to cross in the school crossing area.

(b)

The speed limit in school zones or school crossings on roadways maintained by the parish shall be twenty (20) miles per hour on two (2) lane roadways and on divided roadways having a normal speed limit of thirty (30) miles per hour or less.

(c)

The speed limit in school zones or school crossings on divided roadways having a speed limit in excess of thirty (30) miles per hour and is maintained by the parish shall be twenty-five (25) miles per hour.

(d)

The speed limit in school zones or school crossings on roadways maintained by the state highway department shall be twenty-five (25) miles per hour.

(e)

The department of public works, traffic engineering division, shall designate those schools that meet the minimum requirements of the traffic engineering division as official school zone areas.

(f)

The department of public works, traffic engineering division, shall install and maintain traffic control signs, flashing signals and/or markings at the approved school zone areas.

(g)

Those areas removed from the school, whereupon investigation by the department of public works, traffic engineering division, the pedestrian warrants have been fulfilled, the traffic engineering division is hereby authorized to designate a school crossing zone.

(h)

The department of public works, traffic engineering division, shall install and maintain traffic control signs, markings and/or flashing signals at the approved school crossing areas.

(i)

After the appropriate school zone or school crossing traffic control signs, markings and/or flashing signals are in place it shall be unlawful for the operator of any motor vehicle to drive at a speed in excess of the posted speed in such school zone or school crossing area during the time and days specified in this section.

(j)

Motor vehicle operators shall not be required to drive within the posted school speed limits on Saturdays, Sundays, or days when the individual schools are closed.

(k)

Any motor vehicle operator violating the provisions of this section shall be punished as set forth in section 1-10 of this Code.

(Code 1961, § 11-13; Ord. No. 22530, § 1, 6-22-05; Ord. No. 23671, § 11, 10-14-09; Ord. No. 24395, § I, 12-12-12)