Police Enforcing 'Don't Block the Box' in Downtown Austin

Starting Monday, Austin police officers and member of the Austin Transportation Department will be out enforcing “Don’t Block the Box” areas along Guadalupe Street during rush hours.

They will be at the following locations from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6:30 p.m.:

• Guadalupe St. at MLK Blvd.
• Guadalupe St. at 21st St.
• Guadalupe St. at 24th St.
• Guadalupe St. at Dean Keeton St.

Officers will be looking for the following violations and will be issuing tickets to drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists:

• Red light violations
• Blocking intersections
• Failure to stop at proper place
• Failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalk
• Failure to yield to pedestrian control device
• Driving in bus lanes
• Reckless driving
• Unsafe movements
• Removing delivery trucks during peak times that block or interfere with traffic

The “Don’t Block the Box” campaign was implemented in Austin in early April.

City officials said that additional “Don’t Block the Box” signs will be put up in various locations across Austin during the upcoming weeks.

“Drivers should know, whether or not there is a sign or an officer at the location, it is still illegal to block the box,” officials said in a press release.

[PHOTO: City of Austin]