(La Porte County, IN) - The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office will be increasing the number of deputies this spring on roadways to ensure that students remain safe when traveling to and from school. 

 

Over the next couple of weeks, police said deputies would be positioned along bus routes and in school zones where they will be on high alert for stop-arm violations, speeding, and other forms of reckless driving.

 

The overtime patrols are part of the state’s Stop Arm Violation Enforcement (SAVE) program. They are funded with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).

 

“Every time you see a bus, slow down, be ready to stop and watch for children,” said La Porte County Police Captain Derek J. Allen. 

Allen also said that drivers should speed up to beat a bus under no circumstances.

 

“If the overhead lights flash red and the stop-arm extends, you are required by law to stop,” Allen said.

Disregarding a school bus stop-arm is a Class A Infraction punishable by a driver’s license being suspended for up to 90 days for the first offense and up to a year for a second offense. Violators can also be slapped with as much as a $10,000 fine.