School Transportation Officials Warn Of Passing Stopped School Bus Law

Edmonson County school bus (EV file photo by M. Newkirk)

Edmonson Voice Staff
Transportation Director of Edmonson Schools, Lannie Deweese is urging residents to be advised of the law concerning passing school buses. Deweese said there is a specific problem area within the city limits of Brownsville.

Deweese said that there have been four or five violations in the past three days within the three lane portion of HWY 259 (north, south, and turning lanes) from the Minit Mart to the post office.

"What we're seeing is that apparently drivers in the opposite lane don't realize that they have to stop when there are less than four lanes," Deweese said. "We urge everyone to understand that Kentucky law says unless there are four lanes or more, traffic has to stop in all directions for school buses that have activated their stop lights and equipment."

Deweese said the department has recently installed cameras on the outside of four buses that are capable of taking photos of license plates from vehicles of offenders. "As our budget allows, we hope to have these cameras installed on all buses soon." 

Deweese also noted the specific Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) on passing school buses:

189.370 Passing stopped school or church bus prohibited -- Application to properly marked vehicles -- Rebuttable presumption as to identity of violator.

(1) If any school or church bus used in the transportation of children is stopped upon a highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers, with the stop arm and signal lights activated, the operator of a vehicle approaching from any direction shall bring his vehicle to a stop and shall not proceed until the bus has completed receiving or discharging passengers and has been put into motion. The stop requirement provided for in this section shall not apply to vehicles approaching a stopped bus from the opposite direction upon a highway of four (4) or more lanes.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall be applicable only when the bus displays the markings and equipment required by Kentucky minimum specifications for school buses.

(3) If any vehicle is witnessed to be in violation of subsection (1) of this section and the identity of the operator is not otherwise apparent, it shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person in whose name the vehicle is registered or leased was the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation and is subject to the penalties as provided for in KRS 189.990(5).

​Effective: July 15, 1988 History: Amended 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 262, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1988. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 443, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1986. -- Amended 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 65, sec. 3. -- Amended 1960 Ky. Acts ch. 123, sec. 2. -- Amended 1950 Ky. Acts ch. 96, sec. 1. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2739g-46a, 2739g-691.

Since all Edmonson County school buses run routes that are three lanes or less, when you see a school bus activate it's caution and stoplights, just stop. Sheriff Shane Doyle says the penalty for being caught not stopping for a school bus is steep.

"The first offense is a Class B misdemeanor, which carries up to 90 days in jail and a $250 fine," Doyle said. "The second offense is a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $500 and possibly one year in jail."

Doyle said the ultimate goal is to keep kids safe. "It only takes a few seconds to stop for a school bus," he said. "I know Chief Jewell and the city officers are working hard to enforce this law as well. If you're caught violating these laws, you will be issued a citation."