School Bus Safety Discussed on AM Minnesota

Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn, Faribault Police Chief Andy Bohlen and hopefully Held Bus Service of Kenyon owner John Held will be guests on today's KDHL AM Minnesota show at 9:30AM.

I say hopefully because John will be in a Kenyon-Wanamingo school district meeting and hopes to conclude in time to join us by telephone. Held Bus provides transportation for the Kenyon-Wanamingo school district.

It won't be long and kids will be back in school and it seems every year there are a number of stop arm violations in our state.

Minnesota Department of Public Safety numbers for 2016 show there were 1,318 drivers ticketed for stop arm violations. From 2011-2016 that number is 8,794.

A school bus stop arm survey of 3,659 bus drivers across Minnesota found 703 violations in one day.

The fine for a violation was raised from $300 to $500 last legislative session and went into effect August 1.

Minnesota law says drivers must stop 20 feet from a bus displaying its flashing lights and stop arm. That 20-foot distance is not only for those behind a bus but also approaching from the opposite direction on an undivided road.

It is also against the law to pass a school bus on the right per state statute 169.444.