Culpeper focusing on passing buses

Passing a school bus that is picking up or dropping off children is not only dangerous but illegal. That's the message Culpeper town police are trying to impress on motorists.

"The last thing we want is a child being injured or killed because someone did not stop for a school bus," said Chief Chris Jenkins.

The police department's special operations division is urging its officers to be especially aware of any vehicle that pass buses that are stopped and have their red lights flashing.

State code requires traffic in both directions to stop for a school bus on any undivided highway.

Since the new school year began, town police have issued two reckless driving citations for motorists who passed stopped buses, according to public information officer Wally Bunker.

--Donnie Johnston