Drivers Steer Clear of School Buses

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – School is starting this week for Muskingum County schools and Ohio State Highway Patrol is asking drivers to watch out.

Zanesville Post Commander, Lt. Matt Boyd is warning drivers to take extra time on the roadways in case they get stuck behind a bus and know that if the driver gets caught violating there will be a fine.

“We need motorists to make sure that when they’re traveling they’re watching out for the buses and anticipating buses to stop and pick up children,” Lt. Boyd said. “Allow them time to do that without getting impatient, allow room, stop in safe locations behind them to let them pick the kids up and discharge the kids safely.”

School bus violations are some of the only violations in the revised code that an officer doesn’t have to witness the violation. Bus drivers can notice the violation write down the license plate number and report it. Lt. Boyd said officers go a little more in-depth with monitoring bus violations.

“Usually a couple of times throughout the year we’ll make it a point to have officers ride on school buses,” Lt. Boyd said. “So they’ll actually ride on the school bus, look for violations, then talk to kids about safety things, while they’re on the bus. Then we’ll typically have an officer following that bus or in the area of the bus. So if that officer observes a violation, he can contact the officer that’s on patrol in that area.”

The maximum fine for school bus violations is $500.00 and a judge may impose a license suspension up to one year.