GPD issues 40 citations to drivers for holding phones in Williams Elementary and Lincoln Middle school zones
Staff report
Updated on April 14 with additional information from GPD.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Friday, April 11, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers made two arrests and issued 40 citations and eight warnings during traffic details at Williams Elementary and Lincoln Middle School.
Between 7 a.m. and 9:35 a.m. on April 11, GPD conducted a traffic detail on SE 11th Street, in the school zones for Williams Elementary School and Lincoln Middle School, and pulled over drivers who had a phone in their hand while traveling through the school zone. Drivers were also pulled over for seatbelt violations and for speeding.
According to a Facebook post by GPD, the detail resulted in two arrests, 42 traffic stops, 40 citations (24 for having a phone in the hand), and two arrests. In response to our question about why there were no arrests in the jail booking log for that date, GPD responded, “The charges were most likely completed via sworn complaint or Notice To Appear (NTA), so the drivers were not physically taken to jail which is why they would not be in the booking log.”
GPD reminds residents to put their phones away while driving in school zones. Under Florida law, wireless communication devices can only be used in a hands-free manner when driving in a designated school crossing, school zone, or active work area.
The policeses be harassing everyone for no reason.
It’s the law, genius.
You got trolled and Rick Rolled, Jane!
You know how it is, some laws don’t apply. Parking in fire lanes, parking in handicap parking, jaywalking…
Panhandling in medians, littering…
Yeah, they need to do a panhandling & bum clean-up like that on Fridays too!
Jane you slow
Finally there’s a good man here in this forum.
Right wing conservatives want all of us to live in fear in a police state.
How was writing someone a ticket for violating the law harassing them they are the idiot breaking the law
In a predominately black area
So..
i live in this area and see people speeding through these zones every day and it was really needed
If it was in a predominantly white area, you would complain that they care more about white students’ safety than black students… The police can’t win.
Not every decision is based on race.
They are at Hidden Oak/ Ft. Clark area too. FYI, Hidden Oak is the worse for speeding in school zones.
They run this sting in front of Wiles and Kanapaha all the time, also, Bkack. In fact, last time they had a cop dressed in street clothes, riding a ten speed up and down the road in the middle of the street. He was looking into cars and radioing up and down to either end of the zone to let waiting officers know who to pull over. Some people pulled their phones out to take pictures of the homeless guy riding his bike in the street! So, it was almost entrapment. And that wasn’t in a predominantly black area.
No, not anymore during school zone times. Because those schools are set-up to be IB & magnet types of programs.There are most likely others who are transporting their own children. Come on over to other areas, anytime, PLEASE GPD.
All I can say is it’s about time.
Now get out to the other school zones – especially Stephen Foster’s.
On a side note, I wonder if they’ve started watching for plumes of smoke in the car drop-offs?
The two ‘arrests’ might have been criminal traffic court dates issued instead of a physical trip to DOJ.
Can’t drive for 20 minutes without yammering on the phone can we?
I have a Bracketron phone holder with Bluetooth hands free calling in my car. Don’t have to worry about cops pulling me over for that BS.
If you have suction mounted that monstrosity right in the line of sight on your windshield they can pull you over for vision obstructed while operating motor vehicle. fss 316.2004 2(b)
How easy is it to use bluetooth which nearly all cars after 2015 has, or use an ear bud. physically put the phone down, that’s it. Is it attached to your hand? Can’t live 5 minutes without checking stupid insta or whatsapp?
Good! My husband is a crossing guard at Hidden Oak. The amount of drivers speeding or distracted during his shift is sickening. He has saved many children from being run over by these drivers. He has also been in harms way from speeders. When he blows the whistle and yells for them to slow down, some have cursed at him or flipped him off. Others have hung their head in shame. There is a reason the officers are targeting school zones right now. People do not follow the rules. Do it for the kids. Don’t wait for someone to be killed to get the message.
the Citizens of Gainesville are sleeping easier knowing you are spending tax payer dollars to ticket Drivers with phones out or Open and Yet still Ignore Jaywalking Students with same phones walking in front of cars. Why the Double Standard, both kinds of stupid can Kill you?
Did you just “whatabout” adults vs children, are you a child? They started with going after adults who should have the brain structure to understand and predict the negative consequences of their deadly behavior like hurting children in a highly visible children zone due to distracted and reckless driving. Do better. Be better. Get off your phone and slow down.
Adults have to be told to not speed and to look out the front window while driving through children infested streets? What a bunch of tools.
Yalls don’t get it. Why don’t ya back the chuckle cheese chestnut 150 million football field. Then all these murders of these foreign peeps wouldn’t be happy.
if u drive the speed limit in the area or go 1 mile under u will get passed and cut off
Jokes on them, i was calling 911 to report people on there phones in the school zone.
People will continue to use their phones until you put some real consequences they can’t ignore. Paying a fine isn’t enough to get their attention away from their addiction to their phone. Pass a law to confiscate the phone for 30 days and see what happens then.
The most hypocritical law. They have a radio to manage a computer to look at while driving and a phone they get called in. I know this cos I use to have them.