N.C. Troopers To Ride School Buses To Catch 'Stop Arm' Violators

RALEIGH, N.C. — Highway Patrol troopers are determined to catch drivers who put students at risk by passing school buses when they have their "stop arm" extended.

Typically, bus drivers try to help catch offenders by reading the license plate number of the offender and giving it to law enforcement officers.

Under Operation Stop Arm, buses carrying troopers will be followed by an unmarked patrol car. If a violator is spotted, the trooper on the bus will radio to the other trooper, who will stop the offender.

Drivers are urged to follow the rules:

On a two-lane road with a center turn lane, all traffic from both directions must stop.

On a four-lane road with no median, all traffic from both directions must stop.

On a divided four-lane highway with median separation, only traffic following the bus must stop.

On a road with four or more lanes, with a center turn lane, only traffic following the bus must stop.

Passing a stopped school bus will cost motorists five points against their driver's license. At six points, the state sends out warning notices. At eight points, the state can revoke your license.

Troopers say every day, 2,000 North Carolina drivers speed past stopped school buses. The program is part of "Watch Out For The Child Week" in North Carolina.

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