Officers on the lookout for school-zone speeders as students return to Palm Beach County campuses

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Drivers, you have been warned.

Law enforcement wants everyone to be mindful of their speed while driving through school zones.

Brick-and-mortar schools opened Monday in Palm Beach County for this first time since March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Boynton Beach police tweeted a video saying officers will be near schools to make sure children are arriving and departing safely.

It didn't take long before two officers caught cars, and also a U.S. Postal Service truck, speeding Monday in a school zone outside of Crosspointe Elementary School.

"The school zones are there for a reason -- to protect our children. Period," said Officer Vinny Mastro.

Mastro and his partner, Officer Rini, are outside schools every day, twice a day during the school year.

Robert Sklar, a father, said it is easy for drivers to forget about the school zones because of the long closure caused by the pandemic.

Sklar said he hopes the officers' presence with help slow drivers.

"None of that is an excuse for speeding through a school zone," Sklar said.

In an hour, the two officers pulled over 17 drivers. The fastest vehicle was traveling 54 mph, while another was going 58 mph Monday morning.

In total, nine drivers were issued tickets, and the rest were given a warning.

"There are a few getting citations that are so grossly over that you just can't give a warning," Mastro said.

He said they don't want to give tickets to drivers, but they are out to help slow cars down and keep students safe.

Drivers are reminded that it is 20 mph in a school zone.

Speeding tickets in school zones can come with a high cost. Last year, a speeder in Boynton Beach was fined $400 for traveling 47 mph in the 20 mph zone.

Boca Raton police also reminded drivers to be alert when driving near school buses and stop when they see red, flashing lights.