11/26/2025
Great idea to help support awareness of safety at school bus stops.
Starting Dec. 1, the Faribault Police Department will be launching “operation BUSted.” 🚍
The 2025-2026 School Year is going down in history for all the wrong reasons – school bus stop-arm violations continue to set records.
We’ve received a total of 71 reports this year, versus 53 in 2024.
This is unacceptable – and we won’t sit idly by allowing our youth to be put in danger.
That’s why the Faribault Police Department will be visiting various bus stops in Faribault to remind kids about bus-stop safety, including staying out of the roadway, looking both ways before crossing a street, and ensuring all traffic is stopped before boarding the bus.
Kids who exhibit proper etiquette may just get ‘BUSted’ – which carries a hefty penalty: Hot Chocolate, courtesy of Caribou Coffee - Hy-Vee, and a Faribault Police Department sticker!
But this isn’t just about the kids – it allows us to increase our presence amongst regular vehicular traffic during school route times and, as a result, show violators we’re serious about protecting our kids.
And we promise, if a violator is ‘BUSted’ – their penalty will not be hot chocolate, but rather a $500 fine and possible criminal charges.
The law is simple: Yellow 🟡 lights mean slow down and prepare to stop. Red 🔴 lights and stop-arms mean stop. School zones ⚠ are slow zones.
Additionally, all motorists are required to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that displays red 🔴 flashing lights and an extended stop-arm. Those who don't face a $500 fine and possible criminal charges.
Let’s work together to ensure no family suffers due to a driver’s carelessness.
Slow down. Stay alert. Stop for buses.
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Interested in having an officer stop by your kiddo’s bus stop? Send Sgt. Brandon Gliem an email at [email protected] and let us know!
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CC: Faribault Public Schools Roosevelt Early Learning Center Jefferson Elementary School Lincoln Elementary School Divine Mercy Catholic School Faribault Transportation
