Police cracking down on school bus stop laws

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Drivers in Michiana are blatantly disregarding school bus stop arms even after the tragedy that left three children dead in Fulton County Tuesday.

On Logan Street, a Mishawaka couple has been filming drivers passing the school bus with its stop arms out. This has been a problem since the beginning of the school year for them.

Lt. Tim Williams of Mishawaka Police has seen the videos the couple posted online.

“It’s a very serious violation because our children’s lives are so important,” Williams said.

Amber Hodges recorded the video which now has over 10,000 shares on Facebook. Her husband Ryan said they just want police to enforce the area because he’s afraid of more children being hit at their bus stops.

“It’s bound to happen you know I hate to say it but it’s bound to happen,” Hodges said. “People don’t pay attention. They are either on their phones or in a hurry.”

Mishawaka Police said they will be stepping up enforcement of this issue starting today (Friday).

“It’s considered reckless driving, the officer can actually arrest that person, take them to jail, and make them bond out, they can give them a citation,” Williams said.

In Indiana, on a two-lane road like Logan Street, drivers in both directions are legally required to come to a full stop.

On a four-lane road, even one with a center turning lane, drivers in both directions are also required to stop.

The only time you are not required to stop for a school bus is if there is a median separating the directions of travel.

Joel Hale lives in front of the bus stop experiencing the problems on Logan Street.

“For the past three days, the bus has been here in the morning to pick them up and people just fly right through the sign, they don’t care,” Hale says.

Hale sees drivers everyday drive around stopped school buses in front of his home. Because of the problem, Amber and Ryan have asked him to walk their children across the street when they’re not there.

“When those lights turn red and that stop sign comes out, you need to be stopped,” Williams said. “Whether it’s a two lane road or a four lane road or a four lane with a center turn lane, you have to obey that in both directions.”