Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen and Knox County School Superintendent Dr. Charles Lindsey today announced traffic enforcement plans for the start of the 2006 - 2007 school year. Knox County students will return to school for a half-day on Friday, August 11, 2006.

Chief Owen said patrol officers, school resource officers, and motor officers will patrol in every school zone for the first few weeks of school. During this time the officers will strictly enforce reduced speed limits in all school zones. These patrols will occur during the morning as students go to school as well as in the afternoon as students return home.
Chief Sterling Owen announces KPD's traffic enforcement plans for the new school yearChief Owen said, "The safety of our children is of paramount concern. Motorists' must take note that school is back in session. Officers will operate on a zero tolerance policy for motorists who fail to obey the reduced speed limits in school zones."

During the first two weeks of school in 2005, officers issued 596 citations to motorists who disregarded the safety of our children within school zones.

Superintendent Lindsey said, "As with anything we do, the safety and security of our students is our primary concern, and traffic management is one of our greatest challenges in this respect."
"I want to thank Chief Owen and all of the officers and leadership of the Knoxville Police Department for their personal involvement in making our school zones and city streets safer. As with anything else we do in a school district that is bigger than most cities in Tennessee, it takes teamwork to be successful," Dr. Lindsey concluded.