Sikeston DPS to crack down on illegally parked cars by schools

This image released from the Sikeston Department of Public Safety shows cars parked illegally by a local school between the hours of 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Department of Public Safety is stepping up traffic safety around two Sikeston schools from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. during week days.

According to a Sikeston DPS release, officers have received several complaints from parents and nearby residents concerning student pick-up at Southeast Elementary and Lee Hunter Elementary. Motorists are complaining of the increased risk of a vehicle accident because of illegally parked parents waiting to pick up their children from the two schools.

Recently, the city of Sikeston was made aware of this danger and placed a "no parking here to corner" sign on Ables Road, just west of Glenn Drive. Traffic waiting in line sometimes parks illegally alongside Ables Road up to Glenn Drive. Being so close to the intersection, this obscures the vision of motorists who are pulling out from Glenn Drive, the release said. Drivers can't see around the illegally parked vehicles to pull safely onto Ables Road.

The city addressed a similar problem at Baker Lane and Davis streets near Lee Hunter Elementary. Again, the city placed a "no parking here to corner" sign on Davis just south of Baker Lane and one on Baker Lane just east of Davis. In both instances these signs help clear the field of view so a motorist doesn't have to blindly pull out into the intersection.

For some time, Sikeston DPS has pointed out the sign to violators and asked them to move, hoping for future compliance. In addition to blocking the view of oncoming traffic, motorists are treating the line as a second lane and not yielding to vehicular traffic approaching from behind.

According to the release, asking for compliance has not solved this issue so DPS will be trying to create awareness. Over the next few days, officers will be monitoring these intersections and taking enforcement action to violators.

"We intend to start issuing warnings, but at some point, citations may be necessary," said Capt. James McMillen of Sikeston DPS. "This is a real public safety issue, and we have a duty to make these intersections safe for motorists and the children using these crosswalks."

If possible, motorists are asked avoid these congested areas from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Those in line to pick up a child are asked to adhere to the no parking signs and yield to the passing vehicles when pulling forward. In addition, parents are asked to not block residential driveways or intersections while waiting in line.