Katy council bans U-turns on Morton Road near school; enforcement set after posting

The City of Katy council on March 23 adopted an ordinance adding a traffic-control item to prohibit U-turns on Morton Road between Elder Road and Patna Drive and authorized a penalty not to exceed $200 for violations.

Council members raised safety concerns tied to school traffic and asked the police chief about enforcement. Chief Woytek (identified in the agenda introduction as the officer who would lead the pledges) said the prohibition "will allow us to enforce" maneuvers that were previously difficult to ticket and explained the typical timing and steps for enforcement: staff will publish the notice in the paper, signs can be posted immediately, and the penalty becomes enforceable 15 days from the publication date. The chief noted most problems occur during school hours and staff are coordinating with the school to notify parents.

Council also discussed whether the school could change drop-off/pick-up configurations; the chief said future school expansion plans might alter traffic patterns but that the current layout leaves limited alternatives for a new entrance or exit. The council approved the ordinance and authorized the city secretary to publish the caption of the ordinance as required.

The ordinance includes a standard severability clause and sets a $200 maximum penalty for violations. Staff said signs will be placed at the intersecting streets and the city typically posts traffic-control signs on separate poles at each intersection. Once the publication period is complete and the 15-day waiting period passes, officers may issue citations for violations.