Via press release:
The Bismarck Police Department is partnering with the North Dakota Highway Patrol to conduct a “Trooper on a Bus” event. The special enforcement, targeting drivers who fail to stop for school buses displaying their flashing red lights, will be conducted next week.
The program involves a trooper riding on a school bus during a regular route to observe drivers. If a violation occurs, the trooper will radio the information to a police officer in a nearby squad car. A traffic stop will be initiated and enforcement action taken. These efforts remind the public of dangers created when motorists fail to stop for school buses when children are loading and unloading.
The enforcement consequence for failing to stop as required for a school bus is a $50 fine and six points on the violator’s driving record.
According to Bismarck City Ordinance 12-09-18, “The driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus stopped on the highway shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus when there is in operation on the school bus the flashing red lights specified in NDCC Section 39-21-18, and a driver may not proceed until such school bus resumes motion or he is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the flashing red lights are no longer actuated.”
The ordinance is designed to protect children who are getting on or off the school bus. Please be alert for school buses displaying their red flashing lights and stop. Help keep our children safe.
