Can Houston school crosswalk guards stop traffic on a main street to allow cars to exit onto a side street?

HOUSTON – Question 2:

“Can school gatekeepers stop traffic on a main street to allow cars to exit onto a side street even when there are no pedestrians in the crosswalk?”

Answer:

According to Sergeant Sasha Latham of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, a gatekeeper’s duty is not only to order vehicles to yield to pedestrians, but also to direct traffic in a crosswalk zone. So, to answer your question, yes if the gatekeeper is in that zone.

““If you’re in that area and the crossing guard asks you to stop, you have to obey his commands as if he were a peace officer asking you to stop. But you have to remember that they’re doing everything they can to keep the kids safe as they go to school… I don’t think anyone would disagree with that. So if they ask you to stop, just stop,” said Sergeant Latham.