It's been almost three years since I packed up my stuff in Houston, Texas, and moved to the Quad Cities. Of course, I noticed many changes instantly, (I still hate the cold) but there are others that I'm still noticing.  One is that at least on the Iowa side don't pay attention to school zone speed limits.

In the suburb I lived in Texas I knew every school zone around me because if I didn't slow down to 25 and in some cases 20, good chance a ticket would be coming my way.  The cops watched them like hawks.  So, for the most part, everybody slowed down to a crawl.  I'm talking not even 1 mph over the limit.

With my child in school I am forced to drive past three school zones.  I'm not going to say anybody slows down.  But I feel more people are speeding than not.

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What are the fines for speeding in a school zone in Iowa?

Well for most speeding violations, the fines are really not that bad according to drivinglaws.org:

  • $20 for exceeding the speed limit by not more than five miles per hour
  • $40 for exceeding the speed limit by more than five but not more than ten miles per hour
  • $80 for exceeding the speed limit by more than ten but not more than 15 miles per hour
  • $90 for exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 but not more than 20 miles per hour, and
  • $100 plus $5 for each mile per hour in excess of 20 miles per hour over the limit.

However, for speeding in a school zone?  The fine is generally $100.  And for a driver going more than 10 mph over the limit in a school zone, you could face up to 30 days in jail and/or $65 to $625 in fines.  That will ruin your drive to work.

Now I will add, for some reason here in Iowa, the school zone speed limits last from 7 am-5 pm when school is in session.  Why at 10 am when the kid should be in school do we have to slow down?  Just make us slow down during the arrive and depart hours.  Let's be smart about this.

Also, the speed zones at High Schools.  Come on.  Those kids better know to look out for cars.  Of course, it might be more dangerous at a High School not because of them walking around, but because so many of them are driving around!

So next time you drive through a school zone just know these fines are no joke.  And if you are behind me while I am going the school zone speed limit don't get mad cause you have to slow down.  It's been drilled into me like a catchy song to slow down in a school zone.

Are You QC AF? Take The Test.

If you are from the Quad Cities, there are certain things you do and say that folks from outside the area might not understand. Weather you’ve lived here your entire life, or just a couple years, it’s time to put your QC to the test to find out if you are “QC AF”.
Below are 25 questions to test your knowledge and life experience of the Quad Cities. Keep track and see where you rank. Then share it, if you aren’t ashamed, to show how QC you are.

25-20 points – You are QC AF!
19-15 points – Reppin’ the QC strong.
15-10 points – Average. You put the “C” in the QC.
10-5 points – Do you even QC bro.
5-0 points – Move back to Chicago.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Iowa

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Iowa using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

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