(a) The Mayor shall install traffic control devices, as deemed necessary, after completing an investigation of school zones.
(b) The Mayor shall, when conducting an investigation, consider the number of persons who have been struck by a vehicle, bicycle, or motorcycle in a school zone, the likelihood of these accidents occurring in the future and the volume of traffic.
(c) The District of Columbia Public Schools and the Metropolitan Police Department shall submit monthly statistical reports to the Mayor which shall include:
(1) The number of persons who were hit by a vehicle, bicycle or motorcycle in and around school zones; and
(2) The type of injuries suffered.
(d) The information in subsection (c) of this section shall be made available, within 15 days from the date of request from the Mayor.
(e)(1) School zones shall have a speed limit posted at 15 miles per hour and signs erected warning of the presence of children. For those school zones that have a traffic control device, signs shall be erected warning of the presence of these devices.
(2) The Mayor shall place the traffic control device, deemed necessary under subsection (a) of this section, on every street within 100 yards of any school building within a school zone.
(f) Crossing guards shall be placed at elementary schools, middle or junior high schools, and high schools where considered necessary by the District Department of Transportation, working collaboratively with the District of Columbia Public Schools and with the affected local public school or public charter school.
(f-1) Beginning in 2009, the District Department of Transportation shall provide, by July 31st of each year, recommendations to the Mayor, the Council, the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools, and the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department on the deployment of school crossing guards, taking into account the impact of school closings and reconfigurations, projected enrollment, traffic conditions, and all other relevant factors.
(g) Traffic control devices, where installed and posted throughout the city and made available as the budget allows, pursuant to this section or otherwise, shall not be deemed obstructions of the road or street. No cause of action at law or in equity, nor any administrative action shall be maintained against the District government for damages by traffic control devices.
(h) The fine for speeding pursuant to 18 DCMR § 2600.1 shall be doubled when the infraction occurs in a school zone.
(i) The Mayor shall submit a report to the Council which shall include the findings of the investigation and the type of traffic control devices that should be installed at all school zones within 60 days from May 23, 2000.
(j) For purposes of this chapter, "traffic control devices" includes traffic signals, flashing red and yellow signals, stop signs, signs that warn of the presence of children, markers, speed humps or bumps, rumble strips, or signs that reduce the speed limit.
(May 23, 2000, D.C. Law 13-111, § 2, 47 DCR 2206; Sept. 18, 2007, D.C. Law 17-20, § 6023, 54 DCR 7052; Mar. 21, 2009, D.C. Law 17-320, § 3, 56 DCR 219.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 17-20 rewrote subsec. (f), which had read as follows:
"(f) At least one crossing guard shall be placed at elementary schools. Crossing guards shall be placed at middle or junior high schools, and high schools where deemed necessary by the Metropolitan Police Department."
D.C. Law 17-320 added subsec. (f-1).
Temporary Amendments of Section
Section 2 of D.C. Law 17-94, in subsec. (a), substituted "school zones and streets directly bordering recreation centers, libraries, and public parks" for "school zones"; in subsec. (b), substituted "school zone or on streets directly bordering recreation centers, libraries, and public parks" for "school zone"; in subsec. (c)(1), substituted "schools zones and on streets directly bordering recreation centers, libraries, and public parks" for "school zones"; in subsec. (e), in par. (1), substituted "School zones and streets directly bordering recreation centers, libraries, and public parks" for "School zones" and "school zones and streets directly bordering recreation centers, libraries, and public parks" for "School zones", and amended par. (2) to read as follows:
"(2) The Mayor shall place the traffic control device, deemed necessary under subsection (a) of this section, on every street within 100 yards of a:
"(A) School building within a school zone;
"(B) Recreation center;
"(C) Library; or
"(D) Public park."
; in subsec. (h), substituted "school zone or on streets directly bordering recreation centers, libraries, and public parks" for "school zone"; and in subsec. (i), substituted "school zones, recreation centers, libraries, and public parks within 60 days from October 15, 2007" for "school zones within 60 days from the effective date of this act".
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 17-94 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 6023 of Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2007 (D.C. Act 17-74, July 25, 2007, 54 DCR 7549).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of School Proximity Traffic Calming Emergency Amendment Act of 2007 (D.C. Act 17-169, October 25, 2007, 54 DCR 10980).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 13-111, the "School Proximity Traffic Calming Act of 2000," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 13-131, which was referred to the Committee on Public Works and the Environment. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on January 4, 2000, and February 1, 2000, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on February 18, 2000, it was assigned Act No. 13-175 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 13-111 became effective on May 23, 2000.
For Law 17-20, see notes following § 38-451.
Law 17-320, the "School Safety and Security Contracting Amendment Act of 2008", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 17-742 which was referred to the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 18, 2008, and December 2, 2008, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 22, 2008, it was assigned Act No. 17-624 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 17-320 became effective on March 21, 2009.
