Over the past few months, the Police Department has received many complaints about cars passing school buses while loading and unloading children.  School bus drivers and citizens have complained that Longview drivers are not stopping for school buses and this is putting innocent children’s lives at great risk.  In turn, the Police Department has taken enforcement action around the City to try and curtail the problem.  We will be continuing this effort for the foreseeable future.  This type of situation is completely avoidable if drivers will simply obey the law and stop for school buses loading and unloading.   Drivers need to remember that when the lights on a school bus are flashing red they must come to a complete stop and not proceed until the lights have been turned off, regardless of the direction which the driver is headed.    If a driver is traveling in the opposite direction of the school bus and there is a raised median or divided highway, then drivers traveling the opposite direction do not have to stop.  Fines for drivers who violate this law can face stiff fines of up to $1,000.00. 

The Longview Police Department encourages drivers to be responsible and use caution each time they are near a school bus.  Safety is the first step in preventing an accident involving a school bus or its passengers.