To enhance safety for school children, North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) Troopers in the southwest region will partner with school officials from the Bowman County School District to conduct a ‘Trooper on a Bus’ enforcement effort on Tuesday, April 30.
During ‘Trooper on a Bus,’ an NDHP trooper rides along on a regular bus route and observes drivers. If a violation occurs, the trooper will radio the information to another trooper in a nearby squad car where a traffic stop will be initiated with enforcement action taken.
NDHP Safety and Education Officer Sgt. Wade Kadrmas states,” North Dakota laws protect students who are getting off and on a school bus by making it illegal for drivers to pass a school bus dropping off or picking up students, regardless of the direction of approach.”
The consequence for a driver failing to stop as required for a school bus is a $100 fine and six points assessed to their driver’s license. NDHP’s ‘Trooper on a Bus’ is one of many activities used to enhance public safety and to spread awareness of related traffic laws to include the dangers of failing to stop for school buses when children are loading and unloading.