- April 19, 2024
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The Sheriff's Office issued 181 traffic citations and made two misdemeanor arrests during a recent two-day operation to make the school commute safer for students.
BY THE OBSERVER STAFF
In an effort to crack down on school bus-related traffic violations, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office issued 181 citations and made two misdemeanor arrests during a recent two-day operation.
The operation focused on drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses.
“When it comes to student safety, one of the biggest dangers is from drivers who ignore the law and illegally pass stopped buses,” Sheriff Ben Johnson said in a statement. “For the protection of our children, drivers need to remain alert and avoid distractions while behind the wheel. Had our deputies not been there, any one of those violations could have resulted in tragedy.”
Deputies were camped out in unmarked cars for the operation, targeting a series of morning and afternoon bus routes school officials have identified as areas of frequent violation.
According to the VCSO, drivers must come to a complete stop when approaching a school bus displaying a stop sign. Drivers are not allowed to pass the bus until the stop sign has been withdrawn.
The only exception is when a driver is traveling in the opposite direction on a road that has at least five feet of unpaved space, a raised median or a physical barrier between lanes.
Violators are subject to a minimum $271 fine.
