MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Troop F Headquarters - 2920 North Shamrock Road - Jefferson City, MO 65102


NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Sergeant Scott B. White
573-751-1000
F160302
March 22, 2016

EMPHASIS: Increased School Bus Stop Arm Violations In Audrain County


Captain Michael A. Turner, commanding officer of Troop F, Jefferson City, announced today that Mexico, MO, area law enforcement 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 Section 304.050 RSMo., creating a hazardous situation for children loading and unloading buses. Since August 21, 2015, school bus drivers with Mexico Public Schools have reported 90 school bus stop arm violations. A list of dates and locations for the reported violations is posted directly beneath this news release on the Patrol’s website: http://notes.mshp.dps.mo.gov/si01/si01p001.nsf

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 to allow the children to load/unload in a safe manner.

Motorists and vehicle owners who loan their vehicles should be aware of the following, “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 on roadways known for school bus routes. According to Captain Turner, “This is a serious law because our children deserve to be safe when they load and unload from a school bus. Pay attention watch for the flashing lights and signs displayed by school buses when they stop. Kids are counting on it!”
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Mexico Public Schools School Bus Stop Arm Violations.doc