ST. PAUL — Tyler Bus Service Inc., which operates in Pipestone, Murray and Lyon counties in Minnesota, has been given a grant of $16,988.56 for six school bus stop arm camera systems.
The grant is one of 27 given to school and transportation companies for that purpose in the sixth and final round of grants by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.
The grant project combines enforcement, education and awareness efforts so drivers obey the law and stop for buses with flashing lights and stop arms extended. The cameras are helping schools and law enforcement find the violators and hold them accountable.
The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services conducts an annual illegal passing survey in Minnesota. Participating school bus drivers observed 464 stop arm violations in a single day during the 2023 survey.
OTS announced $14 million in state-funded grant awards in phases one through six during 2022 and 2023.
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The project is a partnership with law enforcement agencies including the Minnesota State Patrol, police departments and sheriff’s offices statewide. Grant applicants provided support letters from local law enforcement agencies, an outreach plan and demonstrated need by sharing violation numbers from the last two years.
State law requires all vehicles to stop for school buses when the bus driver activates the flashing lights and has the stop arm fully extended. Drivers who violate the law face a $500 fine. Drivers can face criminal charges for passing a school bus on the right, passing when a child is outside the bus, or injuring or killing a child.
On undivided roads, motorists traveling both directions must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is displaying red flashing lights and an extended stop arm. Traffic traveling the opposite direction on a divided roadway with a separating median such as a cement wall or boulevard is not required to stop.
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