Stop arm cameras on Clarke Community School District school buses have aided in the arrest of drivers who pass a school bus illegally. Despite serious consequences, these laws are still being broken, and questions surrounding the treatment of smaller vehicle school transportation are adding to the confusion.
Smaller transporation vehicles
Certain students get back and forth to school in smaller vehicles used by the school district. While considered “school buses” in nearly every sense, these vans and SUVs are not protected by the same laws.
“Drivers don’t have to stop,” Clarke Superintendent Steve Seid said.
However, because these vehicles don’t have flashing safety lights or stop arms, like a traditional school bus, they operate differently to keep students safe.
“The drivers are directed to pull into the driveway to load and unload,” said Seid.
The smaller vehicles use the same loading and unloading area as cars at the schools, and then drop children off in the safest areas once they are off school property. Parents should never have to worry about the risk of other drivers. In the event there is a problem, Seid encouraged parents to call Transportation Director Rick Perin.
Traditional school buses
The laws on passing yellow school buses haven’t changed. Drivers must wait on either side of a bus with flashing lights or an extended stop arm. The punishment for passing unlawfully is severe.
“We’re starting to install stop sign cameras on our buses, so when someone blows a stop sign on a bus, it takes a photo,” said Seid. “We turn it over to the police department.”
First-time offenders face a 30-day license suspension, along with hefty fees and possible jail time. Second-time offenders lost their license for 60 days, pay up to $1875 in fines and face up to a year in jail. And that’s not all.
“They’re required to appear in court,” Osceola Police Sergeant Curtus Jaconbsen said.
Since the beginning of the year, several citations have been issued for unlawful passing.