Evanston speeders are getting one week of grace.

A law raising the penalties for speeding in school zones takes effect Friday, but violators will only be issued warning citations during the first week, Evanston Police Department Cmdr. Tom Guenther said.

Under the Education Enforcement program, police will issue warning citations to violators of traffic laws until March 5, Guenther said. However, he said this does not include drivers in crashes or reckless or negligent drivers.

“The goal is to raise awareness and get drivers to slow down and pay attention when in Evanston,” Guenther said. “It’s not to collect money. It’s to raise awareness.”

The new law raised the fine for speeding in a school zone from $150 to $500. Its guidelines for school zone speeds are the same: no more than 20 miles per hour in a designated zone between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on school days.

Ald. Don Wilson (4th) proposed the law to the Evanston City Council earlier this month.

Wilson said he received calls from residents concerned about speeders in school zones.

“The reason for (the law) was to try to get drivers to be more compliant with school zones and speeding restrictions,” he said. “It’s a way to deter people from violating the laws and also get people’s attention to face it as an issue.”

Wilson said the city publicized the new law through the city’s Web site, blog and e-mail listservs.

“We’re doing our best to make sure everyone knows,” he said.

Althea Ricketts, president of the Parent Teacher Association for Evanston/Skokie School District 65, told THE DAILY earlier this month she thought the law would benefit parents’ mental health in addition to their children’s safety.

“I don’t know if it’ll have a direct impact on children, but I think it’ll give parents a calmer sense when their children have to maneuver through crosswalks,” Ricketts said.

Guenther said obeying traffic laws will make Evanston school zones safer for children.

“If drivers pay attention to school zones, this will increase safety in school zones,” he said.

Under the new law, speeding tickets will no longer be issued by the state, Guenther said.

Instead of cases being heard at the Skokie Second Municipal District Courthouse, they will be heard in Evanston’s Division of Administrative Hearings, he said.

Normal enforcement of the law will begin March 8.[email protected]