10/18/15 — NCHP targets violations in school zones

View Archive

NCHP targets violations in school zones

By John Joyce
Published in News on October 18, 2015 1:50 AM

Operation Stop Arm, an annual and sometimes bi-annual, state Highway Patrol interdiction program that targets speeders in school zones, will commence this week.

The statewide campaign will run Monday through Friday, according to a NCHP press release.

Here in Wayne County, troopers from the patrol's District II Troop C will be out en force working to cut down on speeders, seat belt violations and vehicles passing school buses while the bus is stopped, its lights are flashing and its stop arm is extended.

"What we will do -- since we don't have enough manpower to actually get on the buses and ride with the students -- we will follow a few buses and we will work the school zones heavily," First Sgt. Jerry Burton said.

The Highway Patrol is working together with the state Department of Public Instruction and the state Department of Transportation to conduct the operation.

The patrol expects Operation Stop Arm will decrease violations and reduce school bus incidents involving children, the NCHP said in the press release.