Beech Tree News Network

A recent rash of school bus stop arm violations has prompted school and law enforcement officials to team up in an effort to promote school bus safety. School bus drivers are reporting numerous violations of the state law that requires motorist to stop when the school bus stop sign is extended. The new turning lanes in the city seem to be causing most of the confusion.

“The three sites experiencing the most problems are 231 in front of the Feed Mill, Veteran’s Memorial Highway in front of the Academic Complex, and on Main Street in front of King’s Drug Store. “says Butler County School’s Director of Transportation Jeff Jennings. "The district is considering the purchase of stop arm cameras to help aid law enforcement officials."
Since Butler County buses do not make stops on any four-lane roads, when you see a school bus stop sign on any Butler County road, you must stop.
Sheriff Scottie Ward and Interim Police Chief Paul Burden agree that school bus safety is of great importance and they encourage motorist to slow down whenever they see a school bus activate its caution lights and stop whenever the flashing red lights are visible. Sheriff Ward noted that the fine for running a school bus stop sign is severe. The Class B misdemeanor carries a fine of $250 and up to 90 days in jail. Chief Burden has asked his officers to “pay special attention to school buses in order to help protect our youngest citizens.”

189.370 Passing stopped school or church bus prohibited -- Application to properly marked vehicles -- Rebuttable presumption as to identity of violator.

(1) If any school or church bus used in the transportation of children is stopped upon a highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers, with the stop arm and signal lights activated, the operator of a vehicle approaching from any direction shall bring his vehicle to a stop and shall not proceed until the bus has completed receiving or discharging passengers and has been put into motion. The stop requirement provided for in this section shall not apply to vehicles approaching a stopped bus from the opposite direction upon a highway of four (4) or more lanes.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall be applicable only when the bus displays the markings and equipment required by Kentucky minimum specifications for school buses.

(3) If any vehicle is witnessed to be in violation of subsection (1) 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 the vehicle is registered or leased was the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation and is subject to the penalties as provided for in KRS 189.990(5).

Effective: July 15, 1988 History: Amended 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 262, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1988. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 443, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1986. -- Amended 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 65, sec. 3. -- Amended 1960 Ky. Acts ch. 123, sec. 2. -- Amended 1950 Ky. Acts ch. 96, sec. 1. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2739g-46a, 2739g-691.