Governor Eric J. Holcomb Monday announced grant funding for increased traffic enforcement at school-bus stops. About 230 Indiana police agencies receive federal grants for highly visible traffic enforcement including speeding, aggressive driving and school bus stop-arm violations. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute is awarding approximately $380,000 to 39 agencies for overtime school-bus stop enforcement over the next two months.
“Indiana police officers will be enforcing increased fines and penalties for drivers who recklessly pass bus stops and drive aggressively,” Governor Holcomb said. “This is one of many steps that Indiana is taking to protect the safety of school children as classes resume.”
Governor Holcomb signed a new school-bus safety law that took effect July 1. State law requires a school bus to use flashing lights and extend its stop arm while loading and unloading students along a roadway. State law also requires drivers to stop while the arm is extended. On highways divided by a physical barrier or unimproved median, traffic traveling in the opposite direction as the school bus may proceed with due caution.
Law-enforcement agencies awarded additional grant funding include the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department for $3,300 and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department for $2,500.
Below in alphabetical order are the other agencies receiving the grant. Police agencies may apply for future traffic-enforcement grants, including school-bus stop enforcement grants, through Aug. 30 at www.in.gov/cji.
- Avon Police: $7,812
- Boone County Sheriff: $23,650
- Brown County Sheriff: $10,000
- Cedar Lake Police: $4,000
- Connersville Police: $3,111
- Chesterton Police: $12,000
- Decatur County Sheriff: $3,000
- Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation Police: $1,238
- Fort Wayne Police: $49,975
- Griffith Police: $5,000
- Hamilton County Sheriff: $5,000
- Hammond Police: $8,000
- Hancock County Sheriff: $6,000
- Hobart Police: $10,000
- Howard County Sheriff: $3,000
- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police: $44,000
- Jackson County Sheriff: $39,680
- La Porte Police: $3,000
- Lowell Police: $4,000
- Madison County Sheriff: $6,500
- Merrillville Police: $6,000
- Mishawaka Police: $25,000
- Morgan County Sheriff: $10,000
- Muncie Police: $6,000
- New Castle Police: $5,500
- Newburgh Police: $4,000
- Paoli Police: $1,050
- Peru Police: $7,936
- Princeton Police: $4,000
- Rockport Police: $4,713
- Scott County Sheriff: $7,353
- Sellersburg Police: $10,000
- Seymour Police: $3,000
- Tell City Police: $1,200
- Tippecanoe County Sheriff: $15,750
- Vigo County Sheriff: $9,120
- Winona Lake Police: $8,000
