Suffolk cops hand out 2,700 school zone tickets

A significant number of drivers had to be reminded that school's open and to drive carefully this month, with Suffolk police officers writing more than 2,700 tickets in an effort to promote a safer environment for kids.

Police said the tickets, accompanied by 59 arrests, were tallied in school zones throughout the county between Sept. 7 and Sept. 23.

Offenses included speeding, tailgating, passing stopped school buses during loading and unloading of students and junior driver's license violations. Police did not detail the arrests during the crackdown.

"These enhanced patrols were designed to set a tone for safety as the school year started," Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said in a statement released this week."Motorists must be made aware the dangers distracted driving pose, not only in school zones, but on the roads in general."

As Commissioner Richard Dormer said: "It is incredibly important to keep the children of Suffolk County safe from hazardous drivers."

Police said school zone safety enforcement will continue throughout the academic year, using marked and unmarked patrols.