VWPD reminds about stopping for buses

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Driving by or passing a stopped school bus can prove to be a costly mistake.

The Van Wert Police Department has reported a recent increase in school buses being passed while stopped for the loading or unloading of students, a violation of Ohio law punishable by a hefty fine and a possible license suspension.

Police Chief Doug Weigle said buses are now equipped with video cameras, which record any and all such violations.

“The process is extremely simple,” Weigle said. “When school bus drivers observe the violation, he or she will simply come to the department and report the incident and the officer will get the video from the school and it will show the violation.”

“It will give us the vehicle and the license plate,” Weigle continued. “There is really no escaping the citation being issued. The video pretty much seals the case in court.”

“Our protocol is to contact law enforcement whether it be the Van Wert Police Department, Van Wert County Sheriff or Ohio State Highway Patrol immediately upon experiencing a motorist’s violation of the stop arm/red lights,” Van Wert City Schools Assistant Superintendent Bill Clifton confirmed. “Our drivers refer to this violation as ‘running our reds’ or ‘ignoring the stop arm.’ Typically, our drivers will either go in-person to the appropriate law enforcement agency after their route is completed and there they file a report.

Motorists often claim they weren’t paying attention or don’t understand the school bus law, but Weigle said it’s not a “warning” offense, meaning a citation will be issued for each violation.

Van Wert City Law Director John Hatcher said the penalty for passing stopped school bus includes a mandatory court appearance and a fine of up to $500 and a license suspension if convicted.

“The license suspension is a class seven which is a suspension of up to one year,” Hatcher explained. “There is no typical suspension. The factors that I look at when I make a sentence recommendation are the facts surrounding the violation and the driving record of the offender.”

Ohio law states that each vehicle must stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of a stopped school bus.