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Parent urges Mobile City Council to audit school zones, equip crossing guards
Summary
A Mobile parent told the City Council that many school zones lack required signage and crossing guards lack authorized stop paddles and reflective gear, asking the council to audit zones, bring them into compliance with the 2009 MUTCD and equip crossing guards now rather than waiting for federal updates.
Jacob Cooper, identifying himself as a parent, told the Mobile City Council on Nov. 4 that several school zones in the city are missing “important warning signs” and that crossing guards are being sent into the field without equipment compliant with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
"The very signs that tell drivers a child is nearby, that a school zone has begun, or that the reduced speed is in effect," Cooper said, are missing in multiple locations. He told the council the missing signage threatens children walking to and from school and cited the MUTCD and an Alabama code citation he read during his remarks.
Cooper asked the council to take three specific steps: audit every school zone and verify that signs, beacons and pavement markings required by the 2009 MUTCD are in place and operating; bring the zones into compliance with that MUTCD now and prepare for the eleventh edition due in January 2026; and equip every crossing guard with a reflective vest, whistle and an official stop paddle.
"We can't ask guards to risk their lives without lawful tools," Cooper said. He added that hand signals alone are not legally enforceable traffic control and therefore are insufficient equipment for crossing guards.
Councilman Penn thanked Cooper for the presentation and said the issue had been discussed in pre-council and that the administration and council would "look and work forward" on school-zone concerns. No formal motion or vote resulted from the public comment.
The council did not provide a timetable or commit to a specific audit plan during the meeting. Cooper referenced the "2009 edition" of the MUTCD and a citation he identified as "Alabama code 32 5 8 30 b" when describing the legal basis for his request.
