News Release



For further information please contact:

Sgt. Larry W. Plunkett, Jr (573) 840-9500

plunkl@mshp.state.mo.us

#: 2005-01-02

Date: January 20, 2005



EMPHASIS: Increased Stop Arm Violation Reports in Cape/Jackson Area





Captain George Ridens, Commanding Officer of Troop E, announced today that zones in the Cape Girardeau/Jackson area are responding to a recent increase in School Bus stop arm violations reported by local school bus drivers. According to the complaints received, motorists are frequently violating the state’s law concerning school bus stop arms, listed in Chapter 304.050 RSMO, creating a hazardous situation for children loading and unloading buses.



The statute requires “the driver of a vehicle upon a highway upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus which has stopped on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children, and whose driver has in the manner prescribed by law given the signal to stop, shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus and shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion, or until signaled by its driver to proceed.”



Motorists are also reminded that four-lane and divided roadways have slightly differing requirements. Motorists traveling on separate roadways or those proceeding in the opposite direction on a highway containing four or more lanes of traffic are not required to stop. However, motorists traveling on a divided or four-lane highway in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop for the stop arm and must allow for the children to load/unload in a safe manner. According to information received by the Patrol, this is a common problem along US 61 and other multi-lane roadways in the Cape/Jackson area.



Another section of the law motorists and vehicle owners who loan their vehicles should be aware of, states, “If any vehicle is witnessed by a peace officer or the driver of a school bus to have violated the provisions of this section and the identity of the operator is not otherwise apparent, it shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person in whose name such vehicle is registered committed the violation.” In other words, if the driver of the suspect vehicle cannot be identified, the vehicle owner will be cited for the violation and required to make a court appearance.



The Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages everyone to allow extra travel time during the early morning and afternoon hours known for school bus routes. According to Captain Ridens, “This is a serious law because our children deserve to be safe when they load and unload from a school bus. Drive safely and watch for the flashing lights and signs displayed by school buses when they stop. Kids are counting on it!”



Any person who violates this provision of Chapter 304.050 could be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor in a court of competent jurisdiction.

For more information concerning this issue or your media outlet is interested in broadcasting a public service announcement concerning stop arm violations, please contact Sergeant Larry W. Plunkett, Jr. at 573-840-9500, or visit the Patrol’s website at www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov.