Bus safety

It's a sting operation of an unusual kind involving police and school buses.

Cape Girardeau police have been riding school buses at random in an effort to nab some drivers. The police are looking for motorists who aren't stopping when the school bus flashes its red stoplights and extends it stop arm.

A new Missouri law that took effect in late August makes the penalties greater for motorists who don't stop for school buses. On the first violation, a driver could lose his license for 90 days. For a second offense, the penalty rises to a 120-day suspension.

Previously, the penalties could have been fines ranging from $5 to $500, a year in jail or both. Now the fines can still be levied and the driver's license gets pulled as well.

Cape Girardeau police say most of the violations they see aren't severe, but citations have been written. Police have received complaints from residents but didn't have enough information to track down the drivers in question.

So officers are riding the buses, hoping that motorists will take greater care and that children will go home with reminders for their parents, older siblings and grandparents.

Motorists sometimes need reminders about driving safety. With shorter daylight hours ahead, it's important that drivers take extra care to watch for children as they cross the streets to board or leave a bus.