Police enforcing speed zones around the capital region

Tickets can be a hard lesson as fines range from $196 to $483

Another school year begins, and another batch of speeding drivers appears.

Police were out in force around the capital region Tuesday enforcing school-zone speed limits as students returned to classes.

“We’ve been out for years and we’re going to be out, unfortunately, probably for years ahead making sure everyone’s safe on the roads,” said Const. Matt Rutherford, spokesman for Victoria police.

He said some drivers need to be reminded of the 30-kilometreper-hour speed zone around schools, which had not been in effect since schools got out for the summer in June.

“We will either educate or enforce the rules to make sure people are safe on the roads.”

One of the highest school-zone speeds seen Tuesday by Victoria police was 68 km/h.

Fines are $196 for travelling 31 to 50 km/h, $253 for 51 to 70, $368 for 71 to 90 and $483 for over 90.

“We don’t want to do that to people, we don’t want to be writing people tickets, but unfortunately we have to in order for people to learn that they can’t be driving that fast in school zones,” Rutherford said.

“We see that with distracted driving, the fines are very high and we’re still seeing people using electronic devices while driving.

Rutherford said it is up to an officer’s discretion as to whether a warning is issued.

“In some cases, people learn through education,” he said.

“In other cases, the more egregious cases, people will be fined.”

Drivers need to be held accountable, Rutherford said.

“At the end of the day, we want our kids in our community to get to their school safely and we are just one piece of that puzzle to make sure they do.”

Unless otherwise indicated, school speed zones are in effect 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days.