Full Notification

Sun Prairie Police Department Media Release

From: Lieutenant Kevin Konopacki

Date: 02/28/2014

Subject: Problems Continue With Motorists Not Stopping When a School Bus Activates its Flashing Red Warning Lights at Westside Elementary School and Sacred Hearts School

The police department continues to receive complaints that some motorists driving in the area by Westside Elementary School and Sacred Hearts School are not complying when bus drivers at those two schools activate their flashing red warning lights and stop sign arm. When a school bus does activate the flashing red warning lights, motorists who approach the front or rear of that bus are required to stop their vehicle not less than 20 feet from the bus and shall remain stopped until the bus operator extinguishes the flashing red warning lights.

Over the next month, the police department will be proactively monitoring those school areas for any violations in the interest of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students in the community. Furthermore, those motorists who violate that requirement will also be reported to the police department by the bus company for further action.

As part of the police department’s continuous traffic education safety program, those motorists who violate the school bus flashing red warning light law will be issued warnings for the month of March. However starting in April motorist who violate this law will be issued citations. The fine amount for failing to stop for a school bus is $250 with 4 demerit points applied to the violator’s driver’s license.