BY MARY JANE FARMER

HERALD DEMOCRAT

SHERMAN -- The Texas Department of Public Safety and Sherman Independent School District teamed up Thursday to crack down on motorists illegally passing school buses.

National School Bus Safety Week culminates on F4ideqy. The trooper ride-along program is an annual event for the two agencies.

This year, Senior Trooper Kevin Galyon and troopers Travis Randolph and Tarif Alkhatib teamed up with Sherman schools, as they have in the past. Randolph rode along on one school bus which made stops to load up students at several schools and then transported them to their homes. Randolph, on the bus, was in direct communication with Alkhatib and Galyon in following DPS cars, and when he saw a driver acting illegally, he notified the troopers in their patrol cars, who then located, informed and cited the offenders.

Sherman ISD Director of Transportation Randy Reddell said that the district has 49 school buses on regular rounds, running between 5:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Then, he added, there are numerous other ones running on special assignments, such as to and from sports activities, and that the school bus program actually is a 24-hour daily one.

"Motorists should remember that state law requires them to stop for a school bus when its red, alternating flashing lights are on. Loading and unloading are the most dangerous times for students who ride school buses," said David Baker, DPS assistant director.

Reddell said that drivers passing school buses illegally are a major problem daily, and that he is grateful for the help the highway patrol gives to alleviate it.

Whether a bus is in front of a vehicle or the vehicle is facing it, if the lights on the bus are flashing, it's against the law to pass it. When the driver turns the lights off, the driver can move around it, but that should be done with caution, because of any students who may suddenly dart out in front of traffic.

Motorists who are cited for driving past a stopped school bus whose red alternating flashing lights are activated can expect to pay up to a $1,000 fine.