TAMPA, Fla. — Friendly PSA for drivers in the Tampa Bay area, not all school zones end at the school's property lines, some 'End School Zone' signs are past the school.
Our Driving Tampa Bay Forward tip line received complaints outside two different schools — one outside two charter schools on Boyette Road in Riverview, and another outside Lakewood Elementary School on 6th Street South in St. Petersburg.
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ABC Action News found drivers flooring it as soon as they pass the school even though they are still in the school zone.
A spokesperson with Hillsborough County said typically end school zone signs will be placed at the end of a school's property line, but that's not always the case.
The county has to use their discretion, especially if there are a lot of walkers in that area.
Along Boyette Road, after you past Bell Creek Academy, you have to cross through a traffic light before drivers reach the end school zone sign.
ABC Action News clocked drivers going 35, 41, 48 miles per hour all within the school zone.
One driver tells ABC Action News he drives the 20 miles per hour through the traffic light, "when they give me the finger, you know what I do? I motion a cross sign," said Frank Colon.
We reached out to the the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, who gave us the following statement:
We do not have complaints of speeding in that specific area of Fishhawk Blvd. We actually log more complaints of congestion at that intersection, when school is in session. We do periodic traffic enforcement along all of Boyette Rd., due to the amount of schools. If we receive any complaints we would, of course, look into it. If residents or drivers have a concern they are asked to reach out to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200."
