By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Law enforcement officers this week will be riding school buses to watch for law breakers who endanger children by passing buses when they are not supposed to.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office announced this morning the project in which it will work with the Washington State Patrol and two un-named school districts.
The emphasis on stop paddle violators will include an officer observing traffic and then radioing out to other officers who can pull over and cite offending motorists, according to the sheriff’s office.
The fine for passing a school bus when its red stop sign paddle is flipped out and activated is $394.
Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown indicated they’re keeping under wraps which districts are involved, as a way to motivate motorists everywhere in the county to be more cautious.
Sheriff Steve Mansfield said his office has a zero tolerance policy regarding the important issue that protects youngsters.
“There is no more important responsibility society has than to keep our children safe,” Mansfield stated in a news release.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Actually Kathy, that starts in Congress, where they have repeatedly, and consistently cut funding for law enforcement, while state and local legislation continues to attack unions, which by the way, cover police, medical, and fire aid.
Child abuse is a systemic problem and if law enforcement does not sufficiently manage issues that often lead to child abuse, ie drugs and alcohol, children are generally the ones who suffer. This is not to say that all drug and alcohol consumers abuse their kids, and visa versa. However, it is an indisputable fact, that substance abuse, and child abuse, often come in pairs.
Until you go round and round with Lewis County Child Protective Services, and rely on local law enforcement to arrest abusers, which CPS does not do, dont lecture me about the role of law enforcement in regards to child abuse.
“Toledo school district is one of them so watch out”
Uh hello you should be watching out anyway for the school buses to be stopped and red lights flashing. Remember they are carrying kids who do not always think about looking both ways. This should not be thought of as a bad thing. If someone passes a school bus with flashing lights on there is a potential for a kid to be coming out of nowhere.
Whenever a story comes out on here about someone abusing a child there is a hue and cry about law enforcement not doing enough. Now they are trying to stop actions that also can hurt or kill a child and the support does not seem to be there. Am I missing something?
Sounds like a worthy cause, but I wonder if a bus driver will be cited when they have a dozen or so cars backed up on 508 in the Onalaska area?
Toledo school district is one of them so watch out.
“With the exception of drug trafficking, drunk driving, and of course child abuse.”
Without using the ambiguous phrase “everyone knows that…” exactly what examples of these are you saying are ignored by the Sheriff?
Lisarae=
I agree with you 100%,but i do not blame Mansfield.Money talks ________walks & that starts at the white house..
There is always a covert operation rolling our way!!
Sheriff Steve Mansfield said his office has a zero tolerance policy regarding the important issue that protects youngsters…….
With the exception of drug trafficking, drunk driving, and of course child abuse.