No more warnings! Law enforcement begin ticketing drivers in school zones

JACKSONVILLE, Fla – Duval County students are back in the classroom for the first time since winter break. School zones will once again be bustling with parents, teachers, students, buses and more.

Law enforcement are once again reminding drivers to be extra cautious when traveling through school zones and observe all traffic laws -- including this new one.

During a six-month warning period for Florida’s new distracted driving law, police have already handed out hundreds of tickets. For one thing, under the new law, means if a driver is caught holding their phone while driving through a school zone, they’ll have to pay. So you cannot even make a phone call in these zones if you have to hold the phone to do so.

The penalty for first-time violators is $30 plus court costs. But if you get busted in a school zone, the fee doubles to $60 and three points will be added to your driver’s license.

The same penalty applies in active construction zones.


About the Authors:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.