Palos Park Police Will Boost Patrols To Enforce School Bus Safety

PALOS PARK, IL — With the first day of school fast approaching, Palos Park police are reminding drivers to obey school bus arm laws. Anyone caught passing a school bus with its lights and stop arm engaged when it is stopped to pick up or discharge passengers, can expect a ticket.

The 2021-2022 school year starts Aug. 25 for Dist. 118 students, and Aug. 16 for Stagg High School students. Palos Park police will again offer their services to local schools to have an officer riding on problem routes where motorists are not stopping for school buses when students are boarding and de-boarding. Police are warning drivers ahead of time that officers could be riding on buses to witness violators and radioing ahead to patrol cars. Officers will also be enforcing school bus laws from patrol cars.

Illinois law states that it is illegal to pass a school bus when it is stopped. It doesn’t matter if the school bus is on a roadway or a parking lot. Drivers must remain stopped as long as the bus has its stop sign arm out and red lights flashing, including the following:

• On a two-lane road, all lanes of traffic in both directions have to stop when a school bus is stopped with its stop arm out.
• On a one-way street, drivers must stop for a bus with its stop arm out, regardless of the number of lanes on the street.
• On a four-lane road with at least two lanes moving in the opposite direction, only traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus are required to stop.
• Drivers must also stop at least 20 feet from the bus, when its lights are flashing and the stop arm is out.

School bus drivers can report a violator’s license plate number to the police. If that happens, the violator is required to tell the police who was driving or to face charges themselves.

Drivers convicted of school bus violations face fines of $300 for first-time offenses; and $1,000 for repeat offenders. Also, the Illinois Secretary of State will suspend your driving privileges.

School zones have serious laws, too. The speed limit for all school zones is 20 miles per hour from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days. Motorists cannot pass another car in a school zone. Pedestrians also have the right of way in school zones, cross walks, etc.

Drivers who receive tickets for these offenses MUST appear in court. If convicted, drivers face fines of $300 for first-time offenses; and $1,000 for repeat offenders. Also, the Illinois Secretary of State will suspend your driving privileges. You will also have to probably hire an attorney.