School bus stop arm violations a major problem H-D has reported 47 violations this school year

By: 
Greg Forbes

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Hampton-Dumont and law enforcement officials want to remind drivers that school bus stop signs are not optional.
Dan Schipper, H-D Transportation Director, said since the beginning of the school year, the district has reported 47 stop arm violations, more than doubling the number seen last year. Violations have occurred as recently as last Thursday, Schipper said. He said 70 percent of the violations occur in city limits.
Schipper said the nature of the violations varies. Some motorists go through stop arms at 55 miles per hour while others drive around the bus from behind. Some come to a complete stop before proceeding through. All three instances are against the law, Schipper said.
“Once it’s (stop arm) out, it’s out,” he said. “You can’t move until it’s not.”
Thankfully, Schipper said, a driver ignoring the stop arm has not struck students. However, he said students have had to stop in the roadway to allow a driver to go through.
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