With the new school year comes an important reminder about school zone safety.
It's a big day for students in the Renton School District as they kick off the new school year on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
With the new school year comes an important reminder about school zone safety.
Police are urging drivers to pay attention and slow down -- especially when children are present!
The speed limit drops to 20 mph when school zone lights are illuminated. Drivers should still hit their brakes if the school zone lights are not on and children are present, police said.
Renton Police Department Sergeant Corey Jacobs offered even more advice.
"Stay off their phones. Pay attention to the signs and the lights. And look out for kids," he told KOMO News Anchor Steve McCarron. "Kids are unpredictable, and they do different things. They may pop out in the street. And kids can survive a 20 mph crash much better than they can a 30, 35, 40 mph crash."
In 2025, more than 9,100 tickets were issued in Renton alone for speed camera violations, Jacobs said.
So, what will a ticket cost you in Renton for speeding through a school zone?
- 1-5 miles per hour above the speed limit - $228.
- 6-10 miles per hour above the speed limit - $248.
- The amounts increase dramatically the faster the driver is going.
The most expensive fine is more than $800. That's if a driver is going at least 35 mph above the speed limit in a school zone.
