Meridian Police Department - Press Releases 

Press Release

Meridian Defines Speed for Parks, Alleys, and Schools

Meridian is the fastest growing community in the Treasure Valley and with growth comes more people, parks and schools. Because of these reasons, Meridian City reviewed their city ordinance concerning speed limits in alleys and public parks. They also reviewed the existing school zones in reference to how the school zones are marked and how much the fine should be for violating the speed limit in a school zone. The following changes were made and passed concerning this ordinance.

Parks and Alleys- The speed limit in any public park or in any alley is 15 miles per hour.

City Street- All streets in Meridian are 25 miles per hour unless otherwise posted.

School Zones- School zones will be 20 miles per hour when any of the following exist:

1. The zone is marked with a school speed limit sign and the words “when flashing “ are posted and the lights are activated.
2. A school speed limit sign with “ when children are present” is included and there is a child/children present. (Defined below)
3. A school zone speed limit sign with “7:00 a.m. To 4:30 p.m.” is posted and it is between those times

Definitions-

1. Alley: A minor public way providing secondary access at the back or side of a property for vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
2. “When children are present”: Means whenever one or more child/children are present and clearly visible on the roadway, shoulder area, sidewalk, or other area immediately adjacent to the roadway on which the school zone is located. This definition applies to children present on the same side of the street as the school building, as well as across the street from the school building or in any direction within the marked school zone and is not restricted to school days or hours.

Penalty- Any person that violates a school zone speed limit shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be assessed a fixed penalty of $100 plus court costs and fees.

Most of the changes were made to the school zone section and the penalty for violating a school zone. Meridian felt this was a necessary change in order to protect our future generations, slow our drivers down and to better define the zones. Please take care to drive safely through Meridian, watch the speed zones, keep our children safe, and buckle up.