By Shannon Lukens. (Courtesy photo Dena Freeman.)
The South Routt School District is concerned about people illegally passing stopped school buses, especially near the Stagecoach area. School Resource Officer Stephen Harbison with the Routt County Sheriff’s office says they are getting a lot of complaints.
“When the flashing red lights go on, you’re supposed to stop and wait until the bus is done offloading and loading students. Once the red flashers and the bus stop red arm is retracted, then you can pass safely if lawful.”
Harbison has pictures of at least five vehicles passing school buses illegally in February, and he plans to issue citations. He asks that if you see someone illegally passing a stopped bus, please try to get a picture of a license plate and email him to SHarbison@co.routt.co.us
Or contact SOROCO Transportation Director Delbert Bostock at 970-870-2690 with the license plate number.
In January, a large semi-truck is on camera, going very fast in the passing lane by a SoRoCo school bus, when the bus was stopped and the flashing red bus stop sign was out. It happened on Hwy 131 just before McCoy. A car was waiting on the opposite side of the road for kids on the bus. That’s when a very large Chips Ahoy truck blew through the stop sign, on a double yellow, icy road.
Colorado State Patrol says a summons was given to a 38-year-old man from Aurora, Colorado, for “Failed to stop for a stopped school bus displaying flashing red lights.”
The video was released by the SoRoCo School District.
Video of the SoRoCo School Bus