LINCOLN COUNTY, Ore. — As National School Bus Safety Week wraps up Friday under the theme “Safe Stops. Stronger Communities,” the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Newport, Lincoln City, Toledo and Waldport are urging drivers countywide to heed flashing red school bus lights amid rising complaints of illegal passing.

With fall days darkening and students back in class, authorities have issued several citations carrying fines up to $2,000 in recent weeks for motorists failing to stop as buses load and unload children, according to local reports. Violations spike in crosswalk zones, endangering young pedestrians at schools including Crestview in Waldport, Toledo High, Newport High, and Oceanlake Elementary and Taft 7-12 in Lincoln City.

Oregon law under ORS 811.155 mandates drivers from either direction stop at least 10 feet from a bus with red safety lights activated, remaining until signals stop. It’s a Class A violation with penalties from $225 to $2,000. Starting this year, a new state law (HB 4147) allows stop-arm cameras on buses to capture offenders, adding civil fines up to $250.

The issue looms large nationally: A 2025 projection from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation estimates 45 million illegal passes during the school year, drawn from driver logs spotting over 77,000 violations in one day. In Lincoln County School District, serving 5,122 students amid enrollment dips, bus operators and residents log similar close calls yearly, though detailed local tallies are sparse.

The district contracts with First Student, which has managed coastal routes since 2019, transporting over 3,000 students daily. The provider’s FirstView app enables real-time tracking for safer family coordination and supports ongoing driver recruitment.

“School is back, and so are the buses — stop means stop, no exceptions,” the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office posted in a recent safety alert. Drivers: Ease off the gas, watch for lights and prioritize the little ones. Lives depend on it.