MEDFORD, Ore. — More Medford School District students returned to in-person learning on Monday, and officers from the Medford Police Department were watching to ensure that drivers observed the school speed zones.

MPD put out extra patrols in some school zones on Monday morning, emphasizing traffic safety and taking an "education first approach," the agency said.

"It is the goal of the Medford Police Department to improve traffic safety through education and enforcement," MPD said.

During the course of just two hours on the morning of March 1, MPD's Traffic Team and School Resource Officers issued 29 warnings for speed violations in a number of school zones. There were five citation issued for drivers going from 17 to 22 miles per-hour over the posted speed limit, and 11 citations for other violations.

The other violations included two cases of driving with a suspended license, two cases of driving uninsured, one for operating without driving privileges, four for failure to use a seatbelt, one for driving with an open container, and one for minor in possession of alcohol.

"We ask that drivers be aware of school zones and use caution when driving through them. It is important to know that fines for speed violations increase significantly when they are within a designated school zone," Medford Police said.

Zones adjacent to school grounds will have signage displaying the speed limit of 20 miles per-hour when flashing, or on school days from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Zones at school crosswalks away from school grounds will have signs displaying to speed limit of 20 miles per-hour when flashing or when children are present.

The first of Medford School District's students, beginning with grades K-1, started back to school last Monday. Grades 2-3 started on Thursday, and Monday saw the introduction of grades 4-6.