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MyspaceGoleta has already ordered the signage and, come January, hopes to be the first city in California to implement a new state law designed by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Greg Nordyke. The new law allows jurisdictions to reduce the speed limit from 25 to 15 miles per hour within 500 feet of schools.
Sponsored by Assemblymember Pedro Nava, AB 321 furthermore expands the safe zone, so that between 500 and 1000 feet of campus, the city may require drivers to slow to 25 miles per hour. The new limits only apply to schools on two lane roads with maximum posted speeds of 30 mph, which means all schools in Goleta except for Ellwood Elementary, El Rancho Elementary, and Montessori School.
Nordyke came up with the idea for the law after he and Nava fought a losing battle to renew a sunsetted law that doubled traffic fines in school zones. After admitting defeat, Nava came to Nordyke, and representatives from the Santa Barbara County Parent-Teacher Assocation and Safe Routes to School and “asked if we had any other ideas,” said PTA president Paula Perotte. She said that she has been practicing driving 15 miles per hour in front of schools for the past couple of months, and said that it is “very slow,” but added that “it’s important to crawl” in front of a school. People are much more likely to walk away from a 15-miles per hour collision, she said.
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Everywhere I go I see speed limit signs but rarely do I see people obeying them.
Are they actually going to enforce this law?
billclausen (anonymous profile)
December 18, 2007 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does it really matter, Bill?
Isn't the important thing that Goleta is on the cutting edge of school safety. A brilliant light against the dark forces of the maniacle 25+MPH kiddy terrorists.
A Paragon of PTA Virtue that soccer mommies through out the state can point to and say "Someday Dear, maybe we can be like Goleta."
I can smell Leautenant bars for Super NorDyck and his trusty sidekick Nava Boy who fearlessly fought the evil doing "No Double Fines in our State" degenerate legislators.
Thank goodness for the quick thinking heroic Sarge.
"Even if 25mph used to be safe enough" he gasped, "Without double fine-age, our budget could be in grave danger! My fat retirement could be threatened!
"I know what to do" he murmered to Nava Boy.
"We'll cut the speed in half and write twice as many tickets! "
"Brilliant !!" squealed Nava Boy
Quick, NB, get Paula P. on the phone and find out slow she can drive before her car stalls. One day I'll be Sheriff and we'll teach those speed freaks a thing or two about who really runs this town...after all, who can say no to anything if you hang "Child Safety" on it.
NB, pass me my Aquadots, time for a snooze.
sa1 (anonymous profile)
December 18, 2007 at 10:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What was I thinking? Of course, we'll be safer now because they said so, and of course, this is for the CHILDREN so it must be good. Now I feel better.
By the way, does this mean you WON'T be contributing to Nava's War Chest?
billclausen (anonymous profile)
December 19, 2007 at 4:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bill? 4:29 am? Did you read that recent piece on sleep? :-)
I wasn't going to rule Nava Boy out till I went to his web site and read up on the hard hitting legislation he introduced this year. Apparently the 15 mph rule is the one of the few one he can brag about...
To give credit though, the lead ammo ban was not bad.
sa1 (anonymous profile)
December 19, 2007 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)