Ask the Chief of the Anna Police: A weekly column allowing readers access to useful information about law enforcement issues in the Anna area.

Each week the chief receives requests for information from people in the Anna area. This column is the personal opinion of Kenny Jenks and is based on his 28+ years of policing experience. It is not necessarily the official opinion of the City of Anna or the Anna Police Department.

Q: Dear Chief,

In a school zone, with the lights flashing, are you allowed to pass on either side of a car trying to make a turn in either direction? I was always taught that you cannot pass a car in a school zone, period. I occasionally see this happening at the high school on Texas 5 while the lights are flashing.

Doug, Tara Farms

Dear Doug,

It is not a bad practice for you not to pass in a school zone. I am not, however, aware of any statute that prohibits drivers from passing just because the pass occurs within a school zone.

Transportation Code Chapter 545, subchapter B, deals with passing on Texas roadways. There is no prohibition for passing while in a school zone in that chapter. However, if the pass to the right or left of a vehicle does occur in the school zone, as long as the other laws in effect are obeyed, there would not be a violation. For example:

While the school zone is active, you are traveling south in the area of the high school on Texas 5. A vehicle in front of you pulls into the right-turn lane to go into the school. You would be allowed to pass that vehicle to the left using the main lane of traffic as long as you did not cross a solid yellow line in your lane, exceed the school zone speed limit, or fail to maintain the single lane you were using. Conversely, if you were traveling north in the same zone, and a vehicle was stopped waiting to turn left into the school, you could pass on the improved shoulder as long as there were no parked cars on that shoulder, you did not exceed the school zone speed limit, and the pass was made with safety.

I would also hope that the motorists in the area of any school during school zone hours use plenty of caution when driving through. Passes of any kind need to be made with safety. Thanks for the email.

National Night Out in Texas occurs this Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Join us at Slayter Creek Park for an event sponsored by the Anna Police Department. There will be Halloween handouts, a public safety display, and booths set up in the pavilion. Anna fire personnel will be present as well cooking hot dogs and hamburgers (thanks guys!). Come meet your neighbors and spend some time with your police and firefighters.

Is it October already? Check your registration and inspection stickers. Are they expired?

Phone numbers: Emergency? Dial 911. To have a police officer sent to you in a non-emergency, call 972-547-5350. During normal business hours, the APD number is 972-924-2848.

For crime prevention information, visit www.annacrimewatch.org or www.annatexas.gov and go to the police pages. If you have a question or comment, email kjenks@annatexas.gov.