MORGANTOWN, WV — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department is reporting a school; bus violation by a motorist on the first day of classes.
On Tuesday, the first day of classes the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department began a new initiative to enforce school bus safety, and the was put into action, leading to immediate results. Samuel Harvey Given was cited for illegally passing a school bus on Beechurst Avenue in Morgantown.
On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town, Sheriff Todd Forbes said it’s very unfortunate motorists have to be reminded about safety around school buses and students.
“It’s really sad we had to talk about it in the first place and it’s more sad that we have to talk about the couple people that were cited for passing school buses,” Forbes said.
People may think a school bus violation comes with a ticket, fines, and possibly some points, but Forbes reminds motorists the violations come with an immediate suspension of your driving priviledges.
“The first offense is the madatory loss of your driver’s license for 30 days, a second offense is six months, and a third is a one year suspension of your driver’s license,” Forbes said.
The Sheriff’s Office will continue increased patrols to enforce traffic laws and prevent careless driving around schools and bus stops.
“I would hope some folks around here would take this a littlemore serios,” Forbes said. ” We are there to protect the safety of the kids and I can’t believe we have to talk nabout this.”
The Sheriff’s Office reminds the public of the following laws:
Passing a stopped school bus with its lights flashing and stop arm extended is illegal. Drivers must stop in both directions unless there is a median separating the lanes of traffic.
The speed limit in a designated school zone is 15 mph when children are present.
Drivers should always be prepared to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.
Increased patrols will continue in the coming weeks across the county to ensure a safe transition into the school year.
“Just remember it’s your kids, it’s my kids, it’s everybody’s kids on these buses, and the drivers so please show some caution and common sense,” Monongalia County Commission President Jeff Arnett said.