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San Jose Lawmakers Say 'Not So Fast' To 15 MPH Near Schools

SAN JOSE (KCBS)— A San Jose proposal to lower the speed limit to 15 miles per hour around schools may not fly with city leaders as they rethink the idea to perhaps leave it up to individual schools.

Councilmember Rose Herrera said the citywide blanket speed limit doesn't make sense.

KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:

"We can't reduce 45 [mph] to 15. I think in a way its misleading people if we think that one size fits all that we can just solve all the problems of people that are driving inappropriately."

Herrera added that the reduced speed limits can just be "one tool in the tool kit", but that there are other ways of slowing people down.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed shared her sentiment.

"A lot of people think that having lower speed limits around schools is a good idea, but there's a cost involved because we have to put up or change signs in some cases and we need to work with the schools to enforce it," Reed said.

Since California Assembly Bill (AB) 321 was enacted in 2008, the law that allows local jurisdictions to extend school zones to 1000 feet and reduce speed limits, only a few cities have implemented it.

On Tuesday the City Council will take up a staff recommendation that involves the voluntary program that would leave it up to each school to decide on their own speed limit.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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