Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers about school zone laws

RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WVNS) — As the school year begins, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office reminded drivers about school zone laws.

According to a press release from the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, members of the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office and the West Virginia Southern Regional Highway Safety Program will patrol bus routes school zones throughout the school year due to buses and children being on and around roadways.

The Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office stated that people will be cited or arrested when they are caught not following state laws involving school zones and school buses.

According to the press release, West Virginia law states:

• When around a stopped school bus with flashing lights and extended stop arms, drivers should stop before getting too close, and remain stopped until the bus continues to move and the lights stop flashing. It includes when children are getting on or off of the bus on streets, private roads, highways, driveways, and parking lots. Drivers who are on different roads or different parts of a highway where people cannot cross the road do not need to stop.

According to the press release, repercussions for people who do not follow laws regarding stopped school buses include:

• Passing a stopped school bus could result in at least a $500 fine and a maximum of six months in jail.
• Injuring someone when passing a stopped school bus is a felony. Those who injure someone while passing stopped school buses could be fined up to $2,000 and go to prison for one to three years.
• A person could go to jail for one to ten years, with up to $3,000 fines for the felony offense of causing a death by passing a stopped school bus.

A person who does not follow West Virginia laws about school buses could face:

• Arrest
• Fines
• Jail time
• Driving privileges could also be revoked for those who do not follow the law, and a person can lose their drivers license from between 30 and 180 days if they are found guilty of passing a stopped school bus.

The press release from the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office not only stated that people should follow laws regarding stopped school buses, but also speed limits in school zones. They stated that a person could face up to $500 fines, a maximum of six months in jail depending on the circumstances, and the risk of suspended driving privileges.

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