CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — An elementary school that has been around for over 50 years, has yet to have school speed limit signs posted around its campus. Concerned residents and school officials in Taft say it's time to do something about it.
A speeding ticket can cost you a pretty penny, and a speeding ticket in a school zone will leave a bigger dent in your wallet. But, not in Taft.
This area has never been zoned and it’s been an elementary all of our lives for over 50 to 60 years,” said Dianne Garcia.
The area surrounding Woodroe Petty Elementary has never had ‘speed limit’ or ‘cell phone use prohibited’ signs posted, so law enforcement officers have never been able to enforce those rules.
“Driving distracted is a problem not just here but everywhere and so why not protect your kids,” said James Lill, Taft ISD Police. “That's our responsibility but it should be every parent.”
A Taft resident expressed her concern to the county commissioner’s office, but her request for posting the signs was denied. It wasn't until she and the Taft ISD police reached out to the San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera that things started getting done.
“We knew that we couldn't do it alone,” said Lill.
“Immediately Oscar was like ‘Yes, it’s my concern because it’s your concern and yes, we're going to do something about it’,” said Garcia.
The district purchased the signs and the sheriff re-submitted a request for them to be posted. The county finally set a date to hold a public hearing.
The sheriff plans to speak at that hearing on December 9th, but they still need more residents to voice their concerns for student safety, and try to sway the County to approve the posting of the signs
“We need that support from the County and for them to approve this so things can be enforced and just let the public know we're out here and we want to ensure the safety of our kids,” said Lill.
If the County approves of the signs, Sheriff Oscar Rivera says he plans to have the County inmates help install them.