Back to school policing

School has been back in session several weeks now, and the first rush to fine drivers who fail to stop for a stopped school bus is likely to be the only rush.

The police admit that unless a citizen complains, police are probably not staking out bus stops for impatient drivers throughout the year.

When are they watching?

County and city law enforcement go after people breaking this law differently:

In Suwanee, police are placed where citizens report cars passing stopped buses. "Selective enforcement units are following up on complaints from bus drivers and residents." In Snellville, police perform "periodic spot checks" (the most likely time to find them is after long vacations).

Cities don't use radar in school zones because the cities and county are dickering over whose coffers should be providing safety services,  but a future option involves installing cameras on stop-arm cameras to catch the tag numbers of violators.

What should you do if you are stuck behind a stopped bus?

Just stop. Don't move your car again until the bus is moving and its flashing lights have stopped and stop-arm is retracted. And if you don't and you are caught, 6 points will be added to your driver's license.

I realize that most people end up following a bus will have to make several stops, but I promise you that the bus will turn down a different road eventually and that you will learn when to avoid certain routes.

Bus picture courtsey of Gwinnett Co Public Schools

Atlanta DUI Lawyers Clark & Towne

We're on the big three social networking sites and now You Tube too! 
Twitter: twitter.com/jessicatowne
Facebook: companies.to/clarktowne/
LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/clarktowne
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ClarkTowneAttorneys