Sarasota deputy urges patience, lights and no phones as e-bikes and new drivers increase school-zone risks

Deputy Chief Demetri Constantopoulos of the Sarasota County Schools Police Department urged drivers, parents and students to prioritize caution in school zones during an episode of the Sarasota County Schools In-Tune podcast, citing increased use of e-bikes, inexperienced teen drivers and low-light conditions at arrival and dismissal times.

Constantopoulos said visibility and attention are key safety measures. "If you're on a bicycle, you need to have a light, a white light in front of your bicycle and then a red light, preferably flashing, on the back of your bicycle so you can be seen by drivers," he said, adding that drivers must remain alert around crosswalks and drop-off lines.

Why it matters: the guest drew on more than 30 years of law-enforcement experience to describe crashes that have produced severe injuries and deaths among children, saying those outcomes motivate enforcement and education efforts. He stressed that crossing guards are treated as traffic control devices under Florida state statutes and must be obeyed.

Constantopoulos addressed the growing presence of e-bikes and other motorized devices around schools. "The e-bike is actually street legal... it can't go over 28 mph. If you're under 16, you do need to wear a helmet," he said. He contrasted those with e-motorcycles, which he called a different class: "An e-moto is not street legal. Now, you can ride that on private property, but you also have to have a driver's license and a motorcycle endorsement." The podcast did not specify state citations or model classifications beyond those points mentioned by the deputy chief.

On enforcement, Constantopoulos credited automated school-zone speed detection cameras with a large drop in violations at monitored sites, citing one location where they produced an "80% decrease, 80%." He said cameras reduced the need to place an officer at every location and complemented education and outreach undertaken with the Sarasota Police Department, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, North Port Police Department and Venice Police Department.

He identified common unsafe behaviors: drivers circumventing pick-up/drop-off lines, dropping students outside designated areas, passing stopped school buses when stop arms are deployed and distracted driving involving cell phones. "Put your cell phones away," he said, urging drivers to allow extra time, be patient and follow school-established protocols to reduce unpredictable movements by children near traffic.

The episode closed with a reminder to report unsafe conditions around schools—speeding, poor walking or biking conditions or other hazards—to the school or law enforcement. Host Chris Parento thanked Constantopoulos and encouraged listeners to join future episodes of the Sarasota County Schools In-Tune podcast.

Ending: No new policy decisions were announced on the episode; the discussion focused on current rules, enforcement results and practical steps listeners can take to reduce risks in school zones.