Motorists in Twin Falls who ease up on their school zone vigilance during the summer months may want to reconsider — the law doesn’t care what the calendar says.
The Twin Falls Police Department is reminding drivers that school zone regulations remain fully in force regardless of the time of year. With summer activities drawing students and staff back to campuses across the city, officers say there is no off-season when it comes to protecting children near schools.
“School zones do in fact still apply during the summer months,” said Lt. Stephen Gassert of the Twin Falls Police Department.
Summer Programs Keep Campuses Active
The assumption that schools sit empty from June through August does not reflect what is actually happening on and around Twin Falls campuses. Summer school sessions, meal programs for children, sports camps, and band camps all bring students and staff to school grounds throughout the warm months. Where there are children, there are school zone protections — and law enforcement expects drivers to act accordingly.
Lt. Gassert put it plainly, saying that driving behavior around school zones and school buses should not change with the seasons. The message is aimed at drivers who may have grown accustomed to relaxed habits after the traditional school year ends in spring.
School Bus Rules and Enhanced Penalties
Beyond posted speed limits in school zones, drivers are also reminded that school bus laws carry no summer exemption. Buses run throughout the summer to support summer school and other programs, and motorists are required by law to stop whenever a bus has its stop arm extended. Failing to do so is a serious violation regardless of the month.
Idaho law imposes enhanced penalties for speeding in school zones. Drivers who push well past posted limits in those areas could face not only a standard speeding citation but an additional reckless driving charge as well. The department’s message is clear: the legal consequences of disregarding school zone rules are stacked, and summer is not a grace period.
School zone signage across Twin Falls varies depending on road conditions and traffic volumes. Some signs use flashing lights to indicate when a zone is active. Others post specific hours — commonly 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Still other signs carry the phrase indicating the zone is active whenever children are present in the area, meaning any child visible on a sidewalk or nearby can trigger those protections, even outside posted hours.
What Comes Next
The Twin Falls Police Department has not announced any specific enforcement campaign tied to this reminder, but the public notice signals that officers will continue monitoring school zones throughout the summer. Drivers are encouraged to treat every school zone sign as active until they can confirm otherwise, and to assume that any school bus with an extended stop arm requires a full stop — no exceptions.
With summer activities in full swing at schools throughout Twin Falls County, residents with children participating in camps, summer school, or athletic programs should also be aware that traffic around school grounds may pick up at unexpected hours. For families following community events around town this summer, the Sustainable Gardens Bike Tour on May 28 offered a reminder that the community values active, safe outdoor spaces — and that starts with attentive drivers near schools. For more statewide education and public safety news, visit Idaho News.