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.

Faribault School Bus
Faribault School Bus.  Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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