Recently, a comprehensive report including information from the Denver Police Department (DPD), Denver Public Schools (DPS), and Stapleton United Neighbors (SUN) confirmed the rules and the signs posted at the Stapleton schools should be followed by everyone. Based on behavioral patterns at drop off and pick up, it originally appeared that the set of rules at each particular school were only supposed to be followed by some and not by others. “I thought maybe some people were exempt from following the posted signs and the rules set forward by the schools,” said Westerly Creek parent Blake Greenwaldt. “I wonder if the dozens of people I see not conforming to the rules know that or if they maybe thought they were exempt.” For their part, DPS has issued a statement saying all drivers must obey the rules posted by the city and posted for each particular school. “DPS has never issued any ‘passes’ of sorts which would allow parents or drivers to disregard rules and signage,” said DPS spokesperson Kerry Walker. “All drivers are held accountable to the standards set forth by the respective schools.” Swigert Parent Christine Winga is hopeful this ‘new’ information goes viral.
“There must be a huge misunderstanding,” said Winga. “I see people parking in non-parking spots comfortably waiting or sometimes getting out of their cars to go pick kids up in a zone clearly not intended to be that way. The schools and city have these rules for the safety of the kids, and also for the efficiency of the drop off and pick up. I always thought these people knew the rules but had some sort of weird exemption I wish I had.” Greenwaldt has similar experiences at Westerly Creek. “People always park in front of the sign which clearly reads, “no stopping at any time,” said Greenwaldt. “You can’t miss the sign, and you certainly can see why it is there. So, I thought there was a certain group of people who didn’t have to obey the sign. Like maybe they won that right at a silent auction.” Bill Roberts has people driving in all sorts of directions. “I see so many people disobeying rules at drop off and pick up, I start thinking I’m the one in the wrong,” says Roberts parent Bryan Headington. “Maybe this report will impact people enough they will start doing things the correct way.” The DPD plans to begin cracking down on those oblivious to the rules or who feel they are above the rules. “The signs are posted for very specific reasons,” says DPD spokesperson Jeremy Schaffer. “There are no laws on the books allowing any particular drivers to ignore or disobey traffic rules.” Schaffer reminds drivers that, “ignorance is not a defense against the law.” Drivers are encouraged to be courteous of other drivers, obey the traffic laws, and learn the particular rules of their school’s drop off and pick up. Unless you are exempt, which of course, no one is.