By BJ LEWIS

bvl001@latech.edu

 

Ruston has seen an increasing number of complaints from school bus drivers who report vehicles passing them at student pick-up or drop-off locations.

“It’s all over town,” Sgt. Curtis Hawkins, public information officer for the Ruston Police Department, said. “But mainly it’s occurring on four-lane roadways like Tech Drive.”

Hawkins said bus drivers are having a larger than usual number of vehicles passing once they have their swinging stop signs out.

“Even if the school bus is in the far right lane and letting the kids off to the right, all motorists going both ways are required to stop,” Hawkins said.

Stopping is a state law and Hawkins said drivers will turn in affidavits, and citations will be written.

“The fine for passing a stopped school bus is at minimum $316,” Hawkins said. Included in that could also be community service, taking a driver improvement course or probation.

Hawkins said the department is using non-traditional police vehicles to catch these drivers.

Darren Ambrose, a bus driver, said he has written up more affidavits at his stop by the Waffle House, located at 1121 Cooktown Rd., than anywhere else in Ruston.

“I’ll take the lane next to the business and houses,” Ambrose said. “We call it a right-hand pick up. Students just step from the curb into the bus. It’s the safest pick up.”

Ambrose said some motorists simply drive around the bus as if they do not have the time to wait.

“What I am allowed to do by law is take the license plate of a motorist who overtakes me,” Ambrose said. “[I] fill that out as best I can with a description. I don’t know who they are; that’s not my business. I turn that into the [police department], and they give them a ticket.”

Ambrose said most motorists have high regard for the school bus, recognize and respect it and will stop 50-75 feet back from the bus.

“People help the driver in trying to protect the safety of the children,” Ambrose said.

Hawkins said driving is about paying attention, which is better for the school and the child.

“If someone were to hit a child, the driver’s going to have to live with that,” Hawkins said. “What about if it was your younger brother or sister getting off the bus?”

Brittany Wilson, a doctoral student of engineering, said drivers do not need to fly by the buses and need to be aware of them.

“Sometimes kids just don’t look,” Wilson said. “Drivers need to take responsibility for themselves. I watch everyone on the street [when I drive] to protect myself.”