BonnerSprings.com

Traffic violations that can put children’s lives in danger are on the rise again.

School bus drivers for Bonner Springs-Edwardsville USD 204 continue to complain about motorists who ignore signal arm stop signs when buses are pulled over to load or unload students. So the Bonner Springs Police Department is warning drivers it will step up enforcement of this issue once school is back in session.

Bonner Springs Police Lt. Rick Schubert said the department had been receiving complaints about cars passing school buses despite their flashing lights and stop signs extended. He said police had decided to do some enforcement, placing an officer on selected buses to radio a patrol car to issue a citation if they witnessed someone breaking the traffic law.

“We’ve had complaints and done enforcement in the past, and the problems seemed to dissipate,” Schubert said.

Just last week, the department started receiving calls once again from residents who had noticed cars passing stopped buses, and they confirmed with USD 204’s transportation department that the violations have become a problem again.

“It’s a safety issue and a violation, and we’re going to do our best to make sure people stop doing it,” Schubert said. “… We want to keep the kids safe.”

Debbie Elmer, transportation director, said there were 15 buses transporting children in the district each day, and most of the violations seem to occur on Kansas Avenue and Loring Lane, but there are also violations in the more densely-populated areas of town.

“I think a lot of times the driver doesn’t even recognize that what they’re doing is illegal,” Elmer said. “They need to know that that stop sign is for them.”

Bus drivers call in to the transportation department whenever they see a violation, but they can’t always get a license plate number. Thankfully, Elmer said, a child has never been hit in Bonner Springs or Edwardsville because a motorist ignored the school bus stop sign, but “we have had close calls.”

Schubert said the fine for passing a stopped school bus with its flashing lights on is $300, but he hoped that residents would take note so the police wouldn’t have to issue many citations.

“I would much rather inform them than hand out tickets,” he said.

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