Richmond County deputies crack down on speeding through school zones

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By Ashley Campbell acampbell@nbcaugusta.com

Richmond County officers are racing to get drivers to slow down to school zones.

Richmond County schools have only been in session for two weeks and officers tell NBC Augusta since the beginning of the school year they've given between 200 to 300 tickets for speeding.

Some of those drivers are repeat offenders.

“We'll hit the school zone a couple times a week, then we'll swap to a different school zone. People never know where we're at and that's what we want," said Corporal Mark Chestang with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Chestang with said speeding through school zones has already been a major issue this year.

NBC Augusta decided to see how many people were breaking the law near Tubman Middle School Monday morning.

Within the first five minutes three people were pulled over...each going more than 40 mph. The speed limit in a school zone is 25 mph.

"It's normally 35 through so when it drops to 25 for the school zone, most people don't pay attention to the school zone signs," said Chestang.

One driver who was pulled over for speeding said he wasn’t paying attention and had no idea he was in a school zone.

Chestang said one of his biggest concerns about speeding is the driver's reaction time.

"If you're going 25 mph and a kid darts across the street, you have the opportunity to stop. It's easier to stop at 25 than it is doing 45, 50 mph," said Chestang.

Officers also recommend putting down cell phones.

"The safety of the children comes first and you have so many people now- inattentive driving, cell phones, texting while they're driving,” said Chestang.

So remember, it's not just kids back in school.

Officers are back to slow down drivers and keep students safe.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office tells NBC Augusta they don't plan on stopping any time soon.

They're going to be enforcing the school zone speed limit throughout the entire school year.

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Monday, Aug 25 at 4:35 PM Conor wrote ...

I was the driver that had no clue i was in a school zone and those officers were very kind and only gave me a warning. Thank you RCSD for keeping us in check and protect our children. Over the years I have heard terrible (rummors) about the RCSD but from what I could tell they just want us all to be safe and I would have felt the same way even if they gave me an acctual ticket.

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Monday, Aug 25 at 8:10 PM Hana K wrote ...

I ride down that street every day and I have seen Richnmond County pulling people over every day I go to work. People need to slow down and get used to school being back. Thanks for your help keeping keeping these kids safe. Summer is over.

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