People keep running this stop sign:

[Ilsa]

It's the stop sign (extends out the side of the bus) and flashing red lights on my son's school bus. He's disabled and rides a school bus for disabled children. The helpers on the bus have to hand a child directly to a parent or identified caregiver; no latchkey. You won't believe how many times over the last three years I've screamed at drivers, shook my fist at them and several times, even chased them down the street. I've called the police, but they won't do shit.

But I'm amazed how often people ignore the flashing lights and stop signs on our residential street and speed up through the stop. The last one I saw was today. She lives down the street and works for the school district and even knows my child.

I figure it's typical "driving rights" attitude here in Texas. Jeebus, I wish we'd get a "10.5" here. (Referencing the stupid NBC earthquake movie coming up.)

[Liberal Gramma]

1. In Washington it is illegal

to pass a school bus when the red lights are flashing. Any school bus. The penalty is a fine of about $250. You might check your own local ordinances: if Texas has such a law, a photo of the offender might be enough to bring 'em to justice.

[Castilleja]

10. It is also illegal in Texas

I would call the police, and see if they can come and watch for it, or maybe the photo or the video camera would work as well. That is a scary thing to know that people are just ignoring the lights AND the sign. The bus driver should really be making a note of drivers and their tag #s and report them!

*I should add that I don't think bad driving is exclusive to the state of Texas. :eyes:

[Liberal Gramma]

14. Have you contacted the school district?

The place to call is the director of transportation. In our school district, at the beginning of the school year, police officers ride the buses for the first week or so and ticket drivers who don't stop for the flashing reds, just to get everyone thinking about it again. The local paper runs a story every year about it, too.

[lectrobyte]

12. a camcorder and a police report or two should do the trick...

I've lived in several states, everyone seems to take the school bus thing seriously. If that doesn't work, send the tapes to your local TV news station -- they love to do those "could your child be killed tomorrow" stories.

[mopaul]

2. parents should be issued citation books to nab the law breakers

i always stop at stopped buses.

[AndyP]

3. have a camcorder?

take it with you and zoom in on the plate and send it to the cops and demand a ticket. I admit I've done that once or twice but it was by accident (when I was younger) now I'm a lot more aware and stop everytime and give them plenty of space.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

4. Can you contact the media?

A few years ago, my county was having the same problem. Indeed, several students were being injured every year. A local TV station traveled with a bus each evening and reported on the issue. Once a few muckety-mucks got their faces on the 6 pm news for something other than their "civic accomplishments," people realized it wasn't being taken seriously and the police department was shown to be incompetent and apathetic.

[Walt Starr]

5. Get a digital video camera

and zoom in on the license plates when they do this. You'll have a video record of the criminals in action.

[wicket]

6. that's so insane!

They should be arrested!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRR :grr:

[Richardo]

7. I've found Texans (in Houston) to be VERY aware of school zones and buses

But there's a bus driver that TEARS though our neighborhood. Must be going 40-50 on a two lane, no outlet quasi-rural road. I haven't been able to catch the number yet, but I'm reporting the idiot ASAP.

I'm praying for your son's safety.

[Liberal Christian]

15. If a bus is tearing through your neighborhood at the same time every day

the bus company should be able to figure out who the driver is by where you live and what time of day it is.

Unless, of course, you live on the same street as the bus barns, so all the busses have to pass your place to get "home."

[Richardo]

17. No, it's the same guy/gal. I just haven't been able to catch up yet...

...and I don;t leave the neightborhood at the same time every morning.

Someday soon, though... :evilgrin:

[Ilsa]

18. If the parents of the kids on that bus

knew that the driver was speeding, they'd be demanding a new driver.

[havocmom]

8. Any chance you could have someone take pictures of this every time

it happens? A digital camera would be good. Then put the photos on a CD, make copies, give some to your local law enforcement along with a plea that they consider patrolling during the bus trips. Give one copy to the newspaper or TV station.

Make a lot of noise and something will be done.

[happyending]

9. jeez

There has GOT to be a solution to this problem.

[TX-RAT]

11. Get the license plate numbers and turn them in to law enforcement

That can get you arrested in TX. Contact the police and complain, they might set up a unit on your st.

[drfemoe]

13. Get the license plate number

and notify the local police or city hall. They have been known to mail citations in such cases. I used to know a (Texas) school bus driver who did this all the time. People got tickets in the mail. Ask the driver if he/she will go with you.

[OneTwentyoNine]

16. The fine here if caught is in the $100.00-200.00 range..

[Ilsa]

19. It's hard to get the number, but I'm thinking about using

my digital camera on zoom to capture it. There is probably about a $200 fine here, but I'm not certain. If I get enough pix, I might even start a website, like the FUH2 site, just to let off steam.

One time the school bus was over an hour late. I was scared to death that they had turned over and my 3 yr old child (speechless at that time) was hurt or wandering the streets with no inclination about road safety, etc. I called the transportation dept to complain and they said they knew the bus was going to be late because the driver had called it in (they have radios). There were about 6-7 kids on the bus but they said it was too many to call the parents to ease their minds! (Did I mention that I live in a shithead town?)

Thanks, everyone, for your support. I needed to vent. Now I need to get some people arrested.