Area law enforcement starts crackdown on school bus laws

All local law enforcement agencies including the Montana Highway Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Libby Police Department and Troy Police Department, are combining efforts and increasing patrols to crackdown on the number of motorists that are making bad school bus passes on a daily basis.  

These passes occur when the bus is stopped, the red flashers are activated and the bus is loading or unloading children.  The number of bad passes has risen dramatically this year indicated by the number of public complaints received by school bus drivers and the number of citations already issued by law enforcement officers.

“One thing that I have noticed while following the busses around on routine patrol is that some drivers have the tendency to speed up and try to get past the bus when the yellow overhead lights are activated in an effort to beat the red lights,” said Sgt. Duane Bowers of the Libby detachment of the Montana Highway Patrol.

Bowers said passing a bus is in direct violation of Montana Law 61-8-351 (2), which specifically states that “the driver of a vehicle shall slow to a rate of speed that is reasonable and must be prepared to stop when meeting or overtaking a school bus from either direction.

“Please remember, the red lights on a school bus are a child’s indication that the area is safe, and it is time to get on board.  It would be a senseless tragedy if a child was hurt or killed because someone was trying to shave 30 seconds off of his or her commute time,” he said.

Persons with questions may call Bowers at 293-5150.