The Valparaiso Police Department made the following statement about a stop arm violation awareness campaign on its Facebook Page Monday:
“As part of a cooperative effort with the Valparaiso Community Schools, the Valparaiso Police Department, Porter County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police will be participating in a week-long campaign to bring awareness to stop arm violations. The campaign will take place between April 15, 2024, through April 19, 2024, in and around the City of Valparaiso. The goal is to educate drivers about the dangers of illegally passing a school bus when its stop arm is extended, putting Childrens’ lives at risk. The Indiana Department of Education calculates that 2,530 stop arm violations occur every single day in Indiana, totaling over 450,000 violations annually. Despite clear regulations and severe penalties for such actions, stop arm violations continue to pose a significant threat to the safety of school children across Valparaiso and beyond. Through this campaign, our local law enforcement looks to highlight the importance of obeying traffic laws and exercising caution around school buses. Help us spread the word and make our roads safer for everyone. Remember, STOP means STOP!”