School crossings
24Arrangements for patrolling school crossings.
(1)Arrangements may be made by the appropriate authority for the patrolling of places where children cross roads on their way to or from school, during periods between the hours of eight in the morning and half-past five in the afternoon when children are so on their way, by persons appointed by or on behalf of the appropriate authority, other than constables.
(2)For the purposes of subsection (1) above, in its application to England and Wales, the appropriate authority shall be—
(a)as respects places not in the metropolitan police district, other than places in the City of London, the council of the county or county borough in which the places in question are,
(b)as respects places in the City of London, the Common Council of the City, and
(c)as respects places in the metropolitan police district, the commissioner of police of the metropolis;
and for the purposes of that subsection in its application to Scotland, the appropriate authority shall be—
(i)as respects places in a county (exclusive of any large burgh, and inclusive of any small burgh, situate therein), the county council, and
(ii)as respects places in a large burgh, the town council of the burgh.
(3)The functions of the appropriate authority for the purpose of arrangements under subsection (1) above shall include the duty to satisfy themselves of the adequate qualifications of persons appointed to patrol, and to provide requisite training of persons to be appointed.
(4)In taking decisions as to making arrangements in England or Wales under subsection (1) above the council of a county, and the commissioner of police of the metropolis, shall have regard to any representations made to them or him by local authorities for localities in the county, or in the metropolitan police district, as the case may be, and in taking decisions as to making arrangements in Scotland under that subsection a county council shall have regard to any representations made to them by the council of any district or small burgh situated in that county, and the town council of a large burgh, other than a county of a city, shall have regard to any representations made to them by the education authority in whose area the burgh is situated.
(5)Any arrangements made in England or Wales under subsection (1) above by the council of a county or county borough as respects places in that county or borough may include an agreement between that council and the police authority for the police area in which those places are for the performance by the police authority, on such terms as may be specified in the agreement, of such functions for the purposes of the arrangements as may be so specified; and any arrangements made in Scotland by a council under that subsection may include an agreement between the council and any other local authority whose area for any purpose comprises the place to which the arrangements relate for the performance by that other local authority, on such terms as may be specified in the agreement, of such functions for the purposes of the arrangements as may be so specified.
(6)For the purposes of any arrangements made under subsection (1) above by the commissioner of police of the metropolis, there shall be paid out of the metropolitan police fund such expenditure as the Secretary of State may direct to be so paid.
(7)In this section, in its application to Scotland,—
(a)" district ", " large burgh " and " small burgh " have the same meanings respectively as in the [1947 c. 43.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947;
(b)" education authority " has the same meaning as in the [1962 c. 47.] Education (Scotland) Act 1962 ;
(c)" local authority " has the same meaning as in the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947, save that it also includes a joint police committee within the meaning of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967.
25Stopping of vehicles at school crossings.
(1)When between the hours of eight in the morning and half-past five in the afternoon a vehicle is approaching a place in a road where children on their way to or from school are crossing or seeking to cross the road, a school crossing patrol wearing a uniform approved by the Secretary of State shall have power, by exhibiting a prescribed sign, to require the person driving or propelling the vehicle to stop it.
(2)When a person has been required under subsection (1) above to stop a vehicle—
(a)he shall cause the vehicle to stop before reaching the place where the children are crossing or seeking to cross and so as not to stop or impede their crossing; and
(b)the vehicle shall not be put in motion again so as to reach the place in question so long as the sign continues to be exhibited;
and a person who fails to comply with paragraph (a) above, or who causes a vehicle to be put in motion in contravention of paragraph (b) above, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50.
(3)In this section—
(a)" prescribed sign " means a sign of a size, colour and type prescribed by regulations made by the appropriate Minister, or, if authorisation is given by the appropriate Minister for the use of signs of a description not so prescribed, a sign of that description; and regulations under this subsection may provide for the attachment of reflectors to signs, or for the illumination of signs; and
(b)" school crossing patrol " means a person appointed to patrol in accordance with arrangements made under section 24 of this Act.
(4)For the purposes of this section—
(a)where it is proved that a sign was exhibited by a school crossing patrol, it shall be presumed to be of a size, colour and type prescribed, or of a description authorised, under the foregoing provisions of this section, and if it was exhibited in circumstances in which it was required by the regulations to be illuminated, to have been illuminated in the prescribed manner, unless the contrary is proved ;
(b)where it is proved that a school crossing patrol was wearing uniform, the uniform shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be a uniform approved by the Secretary of State ; and
(c)where it is proved that a prescribed sign was exhibited by a school crossing patrol at a place in a road where children were crossing or seeking to cross the road, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that those children were on their way to or from school.