As the new school year began, one of the Island's state lawmakers renewed his call Thursday for doubling school zone moving violation fines.

St. Sen. Carl Marcellino (R-Oyster Bay) made his plea outside Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School.

"We don't want to see any more children injured and hurt," he said.

A national study found 65 percent of drivers speed through school zones at times kids are most vulnerable to traffic. The school speed limit in New York state is 20 miles per hour between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The Republican-controlled state Senate has passed Marcellino's legislation on the issue for three straight years. The state Assembly, with a Democratic majority, did not act, though the majority party said they'd propose a similar bill this session.

Marcellino proposes the doubling of fines for all moving violations, which include speeding and talking on cell phones. His bill would also extend the school zone to a quarter-mile within the state and 200 yards in New York City.

"We're serious about this," Marcellino said. "We want people to pay attention when they drive near schools."