Pequot Sees Jump in Stop Arm Violations

The Pequot Lakes School District has had 10 school bus stop arm violations in the last 25 school days. Officials are alarmed, because there were only 6 such violations for all of the last school year.

School Transportation and Safety Director, Randy Ryan, tells KLKS News, the violators have ranged from young drivers to old. He says some were blatant, and others just didn't know the rules.

State law requires buses to put their orange lights on 100 feet in advance of stopping when traveling 35 miles per hour or less, and 300 feet when traveling faster. When the stop arm comes out, all traffic must stop in both directions.

A violation, when students are not endangered, is a misdemeanor which carries a fine of up to $1000 and 90 days in jail. When students are endangered, or when passing on the right, it becomes a gross misdemeanor and the fine can go up to $3000 and jail time of up to a year.