As the hum of anticipation for a fresh academic year fills the air, Howard County police are stepping up their game to keep the school zones safe. Next week will see kids, carting backpacks and hopes, return to the classrooms, but before they hit the books, the police are making sure they hit the crosswalks without a hitch. The Howard County police's H.A.S.T.E. program—Helping Arriving Students Through Enforcement—is their annual promise to prioritize the safety of young scholars making their way back to learning institutions.
According to the Howard County Police Department, heavy traffic patrols will encircle the vicinities of various educational hubs, from the smallest elementary schools to the sprawling campuses of high schools. Their eyes will be particularly sharp for signs of speeding, impatient drivers forging past stop signs, and the ever-present glow of mobile devices that lures attention from the road.
The campaign against speeding doesn’t stop at school zones. The department uses speed cameras to help keep these areas safe, rotating them between different schools. Their locations are shared each week on the HCPD website. If you’re caught speeding, you’ll get a $40 fine—a reminder to slow down and follow the rules.
