This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE 2/3/05

Is stupidity an excuse?
Legislator Vicki Berger of Salem sponsored a bill in the last session of the Legislature that made school speed limits of 20 miles per hour effective 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
She’s now leading the effort to repeal that measure.
She said: “We don’t try to be stupid. We thought it would have given safety for children.
The old law merely said “when children are present”.
The issue didn’t make sense when schools are closed for the day, or vacation time rolls around.
Now it seemed like harmless law, but it has had some unexpected repercussions.
First of all it cost the city of Portland about $100,000 to install some 5,000 school zone signs last summer, and it will cost $25,000 to go back and add the old phrase “when children are present.”
A Hillsboro spokesperson said it cost that city $13,200 to change the school zone signs....and now another $1500 to change them back.
And that’s not all.
The question has arisen over whether or not those who have been fined for not observing the 20 miles per hour when school was not in session....should have their fines returned. That would cost considerable money to some cities where they have rigidly enforced the new school rule 24 hours a day.
The weird part is that the sign law designating 24 hours a day 20 miles per hour rule...was introduced by Troy Costales, manager of the Department of Transportation safety divisions simply to better define “when children are present.” He said “But by the time the bill experienced the ‘gut and stuff’ process in the Senate Transportation Committee, the various layers of speeds and times made it a confusing mess.
One of only three Legislators who voted against the 24 hour bill said the reason he did was that “there were different rules for different places.”
Apparently some of the tickets issued by police on this issue ranged from $84 to as much as $672.
We understand that a measure will be studied by the House to go back to the old system....namely.....20 miles per hour “when children are present.”
Let’s hope it happens.
We have some sign problems of our own locally...especially on portions of Washburn Way. From South Sixth Street south....it’s 35 miles per hour....but from South Sixth north....it’s 25 miles per hour.
We can understand the 25 when the street narrows down to two lanes of traffic.
Well....signs are signs....rightly or wrongly.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.