I had my first ever stop arm violation yesterday! I 've had people blow thru the stop arm, but if I don't get a license plate number, I can't do anything about it. But, I got lucky. The car that ran my sign was going slow enought that I caught the plate and a description of the driver. So, when I got back to the shop, the paperwork started. I had to have a light inspection done than 3 sheets of paper work, basically telling the story on each one. It took almost 45 minuets to fill out. The paperwork is turned over right away to the local sheriff. He called me and gave me a choice of actions. I could insist that the driver be ticketed or, if I didn't want to mess with going to court, the sherriff would track the driver down and talk to them, giving a warning. If the driver turns out to be a jerk about it, he will get the ticket.
Stop arm violations are $75. $300 if it goes to court and judges have no compassion on drivers who blow thru the stop arm. I mean, it's a big yellow vehical and when it is stoped in the middle of the road, something is happening and you best see what you need to do. I even gave plenty of warning that I was making a stop. Law requires us to activate the amber warning lights (on the top of the bus) 200 ft before the student stop. I was on a busy roadway with heavy traffic, so I activated mine at least 300 ft and even waited for a break in traffic before opening the door which activates the red flashing lights and puts out the stop arm.
I really hope it doesn't go to court, but it would be interesting too...I'll update this when I knw more.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
I didn't drive off the face of the earth
but I have about driven to the end of it LOL!
May is field trip month. Every teacher gets 2 field trips a year and they all pretty much squeeze them into the months of April and May. Plus, add spring sports of track, baseball, softball, tennis and golf. Plus band festivals and academic decathalons. It has been BUSY BUSY BUSY! In 2 weeks I have logged over 25 hours just in field trips and almost 50 hours of regular routes. If I'm not driving a field trip, I'm covering for a driver who is. I'm hopping for a super good pay check. I haven't made 4 figures (in a month) but I want to be pretty close. I won't get a regular paycheck again (after May 25th) untill October 25th.
Sickness ran thru our famly. Eric came down with the chicken pox and he had them really bad. He still have pox marks on his back almost 3 weeks later. But Mollie still has not come down with them. That worries me. Chuck, my hubby was 30 when he got them and I have never seen someone so sick outside the hospital. He had a fever for a week and missed almost 2 weeks of work. Not to mention how lovely he is when he gets sick :)
I had an interesting incident yesterday. I had a bus load of grade schoolers and one of them was stung by a bee. I asked him if he was allergic and he said YES! All sorts of bad scenarios ran thru my mind, including having to do CPR. I radioed in and the head of transportation was being "base" that day and I think she had all the same thoughts as me. Thankfully, he had NO allergic reaction, but all the kids were late getting home due to me stopping every few minutes to check on him. Of course his mom was not home, but she had just pulled up when I got there and explained to her what happened. She was not worried in the least so I'm thinking he is NOT allergic to bee stings, but of course I had to treat him like he was.
Did you know that a bee flying a bus is license for all girls to start screaming at the top of their lungs??? Did you know that buses have a pretty good echo effect? Did you know that girls screams could shatter glass? Well, they didn't shatter any glass, but my nerves were shattered pretty good.
May is field trip month. Every teacher gets 2 field trips a year and they all pretty much squeeze them into the months of April and May. Plus, add spring sports of track, baseball, softball, tennis and golf. Plus band festivals and academic decathalons. It has been BUSY BUSY BUSY! In 2 weeks I have logged over 25 hours just in field trips and almost 50 hours of regular routes. If I'm not driving a field trip, I'm covering for a driver who is. I'm hopping for a super good pay check. I haven't made 4 figures (in a month) but I want to be pretty close. I won't get a regular paycheck again (after May 25th) untill October 25th.
Sickness ran thru our famly. Eric came down with the chicken pox and he had them really bad. He still have pox marks on his back almost 3 weeks later. But Mollie still has not come down with them. That worries me. Chuck, my hubby was 30 when he got them and I have never seen someone so sick outside the hospital. He had a fever for a week and missed almost 2 weeks of work. Not to mention how lovely he is when he gets sick :)
I had an interesting incident yesterday. I had a bus load of grade schoolers and one of them was stung by a bee. I asked him if he was allergic and he said YES! All sorts of bad scenarios ran thru my mind, including having to do CPR. I radioed in and the head of transportation was being "base" that day and I think she had all the same thoughts as me. Thankfully, he had NO allergic reaction, but all the kids were late getting home due to me stopping every few minutes to check on him. Of course his mom was not home, but she had just pulled up when I got there and explained to her what happened. She was not worried in the least so I'm thinking he is NOT allergic to bee stings, but of course I had to treat him like he was.
Did you know that a bee flying a bus is license for all girls to start screaming at the top of their lungs??? Did you know that buses have a pretty good echo effect? Did you know that girls screams could shatter glass? Well, they didn't shatter any glass, but my nerves were shattered pretty good.
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