HUNTSVILLE – The Huntsville Police Department’s Zero in the Zone initiative, launched to boost school zone enforcement during the first month of the 2025-2026 school year, led to a significant increase in traffic stops and more than twice the number of citations compared to last year, the department said.

From Aug. 4-29, HPD officers conducted 249 traffic stops, issued 234 citations and wrote 72 warnings. During the same period last year, officers recorded 146 stops, 93 citations and 54 warnings.

“One mistake in a school zone is one too many,” Chief Kirk Giles said. “We’re here to make sure every student gets to school and back home safely.”

The back-to-school initiative focuses on keeping students safe by cracking down on unsafe driving in school zones. Officers were out in force during busy morning and afternoon traffic to ensure drivers obeyed the school zone speed limit and kept their attention on the road.

HPD would like to remind drivers to remain alert for students and Safety Patrol Aides, obey posted signs and drive cautiously through school zones year-round.

“Slow down, put the phone away and watch out for our children – it’s just that simple,” Giles said.