WINNIPEG – Students may not start classes until Wednesday, but Winnipeg drivers are getting schooled on a new law that came into effect Monday.
A 30 kilometre per hour school zone speed limit will be the new normal on more than 500 streets around 171 schools.
“We want people to really slow down in these particular zones and again, it’s for the safety of the young kids,” said Const. Jason Michalyshen.
The reduced speed will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, September to June.
“It’s a good idea because there’s lots of people who don’t pay attention,” said one driver.
But on the law’s first day in effect many drivers clearly weren’t obeying it, even with more than 3,000 signs now up across the city.
If caught, you’ll get a ticket from $200 and up depending on how much over the limit you’re driving.
Police will use both photo radar and officers to catch speeders, but while the law is still new, police said they’ll be handing out a lot of warnings too.
“There are individuals that may or may not be aware that certain school zones are in place, so there certainly has to be a bit of a grace period,” said Michalyshen.
The reduced speed change comes after a city committee voted in June for lower speed limits around elementary schools.
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