A flood of complaints from residents, parents, bus drivers and motorists has prompted an increased presence of local Municipal Enforcement officers in community school zones.

Kelly Stienwand, Municipal Enforcement Manager for the Town of Okotoks, says due to the volume of complaints coming in regarding school zone parking and loading zones, they have to have officers out patrolling .

"We have a lot of challenges with many of our schools in the community where there's periods of significant congestion, and this raises a lot of frustration amongst the local residents, and people who are coming and going and bus drivers. Our officers are out trying to mitigate these situations," he said.

Stienwand says the disregard for signs and general courtesy at high congestion times has prompted many complaints, making it necessary for officers to patrol the areas more diligently.

"In front of the schools when people stop to let someone out of their car, or to allow someone to jump in, this is tolerable. But, unfortunately, it's something that gets abused, and this is where the frustration builds, and it brings a lot of complaints in, which compels our officers to have to go and deal with that," he said.

Municipal Enforcement officers are patrolling the school zones during morning and afternoon pick-up times, and will issue warnings and fines to those not following the school's protocol.

 

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