Full Notification

Nature of Incident: School Bus Safety, Loading and Unloading Children.
Location: City of Moorpark
Date & Time: November 26, 2013
Unit(s) Responsible: Moorpark Police Department, 610 Spring Rd. Moorpark, Ca. 93021
Narrative:
Although school maybe currently on break, the Moorpark Police Department would like to remind drivers of the importance to pay attention to school buses that are stopped for the purpose of loading and or unloading children.
Per the California Vehicle Code 22454(a), motorists are required by law to stop for school buses that are stopped and operating flashing red lights, with or without a stop sign displayed. This includes motorists that are approaching the stopped bus from behind and or approaching the bus from the front.
With that being said, motorists are not required to stop for a school bus on a divided highway and or multiple-lane highway when the school bus is on the other roadway. In Moorpark, two examples of this would be Tierra Rejada Road from the #23 freeway to L.A. Ave. which is a raised center median divided highway and Spring Road from L.A. Ave. to Flynn Road which is a multiple-lane divided (double yellow lines delineating a center median) highway.
Assembly Bill 1297 enacted in January 1998 makes it mandatory for school bus driver’s to operate the flashing reds lights and stop sign, if so equipped, when the bus is stopped for the purpose of loading or unloading children, even if the children will not be crossing the street. The Bill, also known as the “Thomas Edward Lanni School Bus Safety Act” was put into place for the purpose of making it safer for school children in and around school buses that are loading or unloading.
It is every driver’s responsibility to obey all traffic laws and drive with courtesy and care in and around school bus stops. Please help us keep the children safe. We encourage citizens with questions and the media to contact Senior Deputy Nolan Stoyko at the Moorpark Station.
Prepared by: Senior Deputy Nolan Stoyko #2979 (805) 532-2711
Media Release Date: November 26, 2013
Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant John Reilly (805) 532-2700
Approved by: Stephen Wade, Captain (805) 532-2705