The state Department of Traffic Safety is rolling out another round of grants for school bus stop arm camera systems. Spokesman Mike Hanson says this latest round of funding $2.9 million dollars to 21 schools and transportation companies around Minnesota.
“We’ve seen a growing and very concerning issue on Minnesota roads with drivers who are disregarding the extended stop arms when school buses are picking up or dropping off our kids before or after school,” adds Hanson. “The cameras will take photos of the license plate of vehicles that goes through that extended stop arm and then that violation is reported by the transportation provider to local law enforcement for follow-up.”
State law requires all vehicles to stop for school buses when the bus driver activates the flashing lights and the stop arm is fully extended. Motorists must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus displaying red flashing lights or a stop arm approaching from the rear and from the opposite direction on undivided roads.
In the past five years, law enforcement cited 4,652 drivers for stop-arm violations.