OUR HANDICAP PARKING SPACE AT CARROLL HIGH

Recently I have received several reports of parents with valid Disabled Parking Placards or License Plates not being able to access our marked Handicap Parking in front of CHS. After I responded out front and spoke with several people, my belief is that this is mostly caused by people "standing" (legal term I will explain later in this post) their vehicle in the handicap spot. I believe that most people who are standing their vehicle in the handicap spot are legitimately waiting to pick up or drop off their student. Unfortunately this also seems to happen when our parents and students that need access to that parking spot are waiting also.

Simply put, for mere courtesy sake if you are not disabled in some way which would legally allow you to occupy the Handicap Parking please do not use that place to pull up and pick up your student. I know it is convenient and close to the front door, and it is that way for a reason, please continue on around the front drive and ask your student to walk a few feet further.

And now for the legal stuff:
For those of you that stuck with me and are still reading if you want to know the legal specifics behind this post here they are:
Texas Transportation Code defines parking and standing as the following:
§ 541.401. MISCELLANEOUS TERMS
(6) "Park[0]" or "parking" means to stand[0] an occupied or unoccupied vehicle, other than temporarily while loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
(9) "Stand[0]" or "standing" means to halt an occupied or unoccupied vehicle, other than temporarily while receiving or discharging passengers.

Obviously the same things, City of Southlake Ordinance Ch 18 Article V Section 151 goes even further and states that the loading and unloading of passengers must be in an "expeditious manner".

Texas Transportation Code 681.011 and City of Southlake Ordinance Ch 18:

prohibits Standing or Parking in a designated Handicap Parking spot without the correct plate or placard, blocking access or curb ramp or any other architectural improvement designed to assist the disabled.

These laws and ordinances also prohibit anyone with a valid plate or placard from parking or standing in those designated places unless they themselves are disabled or they are transporting a disabled person with them. Basically taking advantage of the plate or placard without having in the vehicle the person that the special designation benefits.

All of these offenses could result in a citation with up to a $500.00 fine.

CROSSING GUARD !!!!!

At CHS we have a crossing guard who assists our students and all Durham students in crossing White Chapel. Recently we have had problems with drivers not abiding by the law when it comes to our crossing guard.

Crossing guards and police officers are two of the very few that are able to stop and or direct traffic.

According to Texas Transportation Code Sec. 542.501 Obedience required to Police Officers and to School Crossing Guards.

A person may not willfully fail or refuse to comply with a lawful order or direction of :
A Police Officer, or
a school crossing guard,
who is performing crossing guard duties in a school crosswalk to stop and yield to a pedestrian.

Please comply with the direction of our crossing guard. While she is in the intersection with her STOP SIGN displayed, no one should proceed into or through the intersection. This includes turning right from the school onto southbound N. White Chapel.

You may not be able to see why she is stopping traffic.

Please respond with any questions and thanks for your cooperation and your avoidance of a citation.

Happy New Year.
SRO Allen Smith