Information provided by PA State Police:
With the start of the new school year, the Pennsylvania State Police will be increasing patrol efforts to reduce the amount of motor vehicle violations that occur in conjunction with students returning to school. Special enforcement details shall be conducted during the next several weeks throughout Franklin County to address these violations.
Typical violations include speeding, stop and crosswalk violations, reduced speed in school zones and school bus stopping violations.
Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law requires motorists approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended to stop at least 10 feet from the bus. Motorists approaching from all directions are required to stop. However, motorists who encounter a school bus stopping on the opposite side of a divided highway are not required to stop; lanes of a divided highway are clearly separated by a divider such as concrete barriers or grassy medians. S.R. 30 only has a few of these sections. A turning lane is not a dividing barrier!
Student drivers are also reminded of two new changes in the law. Anyone under the age of 18 must wear a seatbelt while riding in a motor vehicle. This is a primary violation so a driver can be stopped for an observation of this violation. Also, texting while driving is prohibited. The new Vehicle Code Section 3316, Prohibiting Text-Based Communications is a primary violation, and it carries a $50.00 fine.