Plymouth Police Urge Drivers To Be Aware of School Bus Stop Law

With most kids returning to school next week, local police want to remind drivers to stop for school buses that have the lights flashing and arm extended.

“We hear constant stories about vehicles running school bus stop arms when kids are getting on and off the buses all year long, all school year long,” said Plymouth Public Safety Director Erik Fadden. “So that just makes us feel more pressure to make sure that we’re getting the message out.”

Minnesota law requires drivers traveling in all directions to stop for buses on undivided roads.

Safety officials urge drivers to watch out for school buses and students.

Plymouth police say a number of students have been hit in the past, but now with all of the distractions people have in their cars, the risk is even greater.

“People are always on their phones, you see that quite often,” said Fadden. “And if you’re not paying attention to what you should be in front of you on the road, it just makes it that much more dangerous, especially when kids are trying to get on and off the school bus.”

Plymouth police say they’ll be on the lookout for violators next week. Anyone who fails to stop for a bus with its arm extended could have to pay a $500 fine.

Related: More School Buses To Have Cameras To Catch Stop-Arm Violators

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