Bus stop-arm violations put kids in jeopardy

Now that summer is coming to a close it is time for our children to head back to school. This means school buses and school bus stops will be a part of the daily commute for all of us. With another school year starting, I wanted to take a quick moment to remind everyone to slow down and be extra cautious around school buses and school bus stops. The law requires we stop when the school bus stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing. Unfortunately, school bus stop-arm violations are all too common in Indiana and in Porter County.

Last April, Indiana Department of Education conducted a one-day study with thousands of bus drivers across the state participating. For just one day, 6,665 bus drivers from 195 school districts took part in the observational survey where the bus drivers counted stop-arm violations. In just one day, the drivers recorded an astounding 2,041 violations. Needless to say any one of the violations could have resulted in the unspeakable tragedy of a child losing their life.

Under Indiana law, disregarding a school bus stop-arm is a Class A Infraction that could result in a substantial fine, a license suspension and the potential for the increased costs of insurance for the violator. If an offender is charged with recklessly disregarding a stop-arm violation, the offense is elevated to a Class A misdemeanor to which stiffer penalties apply. Additional and much harsher sentences apply if an injury or death occurs as the result of the reckless disregard of the stop-arm.

Thus, as you might imagine we take these violations very seriously here in the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office given the risk the violations present to our children. I want to thank everyone for taking extra special precautions to obey the stop-arms during the entire school year.