Operation Stop Arm Concludes 2007 Operations. How Did They Do?

A press release by the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety stated that North Carolina Governor Mike Easley earlier this year announced that October 15-19 had been designated as Watch Out for the Child week.

Annually the state of North Carolina designates one week to remind drivers that they must stop when a school bus' stop sign arm is extended as well as obey the regulations and laws in and around school zones. According to data collected during the annual week long operation as well as throughout the year, it is estimated that during each school day there are more than 2,300 drivers who violate North Carolina's school bus stop arm law.

During the week of Watch Out for the Child, North Carolina State Highway Patrol offices worked to aggressively enforce stop arm and other traffic violations near school zones. Using a combination of both marked and unmarked patrol cars, State Troopers fanned out across the state to enforce school zone laws. The data from the 2007 Watch Out for the Child Week indicated that there were 13,900 buses which participated in the week long event. Of these buses, there were 2,310 violations reported. The overall numbers indicate that of the total buses participating there were only 16.62% which had no occurrence of a violation.

"We must protect our children from traffic dangers," said Colonel W. Fletcher Clay, commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. "The Highway Patrol will conduct this school bus campaign simultaneously in all North Carolina counties cracking down on stop arm violations. Motorists who try to pass a stopped school bus will be charged with the violation."

According to North Carolina State law, an individual caught passing a stopped school bus is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor, which, if convicted, carries a fine of up to $200.00 and five points on their driver's license.