Brownsburg, IN — As students head back to the classroom, the Brownsburg Police Department reminds motorists to stop for school buses or face the consequences. Over the next couple of weeks, officers will be increasing patrols to prevent stop-arm violations, speeding and other forms of reckless driving
around school buses and in school zones.
The department joins more than 200 police agencies across the state for the back-to-school Stop Arm Violation Enforcement campaign — better known as SAVE. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) funds the overtime patrols.
“Our two biggest concerns this time of year are drivers not paying attention to the road and speeding,” said Chief Joseph Grimes. “Most of the stop-arm violations we encounter stem from those actions, and drivers need to be held accountable. Help us keep kids safe by slowing down, putting away the distractions and stopping for buses.”
To prevent unsafe driving, officers will be conducting high-visibility patrols in the morning and afternoon hours, as well as working to raise awareness about the importance of school bus safety and following the law.
Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the overhead lights on a school bus are flashing yellow. Once the lights turn red and the stop arm extends, drivers are required to stop on all roads with one exception. On highways divided by a physical barrier, such as a concrete wall or grassy median, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop.
Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a Class A Infraction. Violators could pay a fine of up to $10,000, have their license suspended for up to 90 days for the first offense or up to 1 year for the second.
