The 2013-14 school year is underway which means school buses have been out on rural roads picking up and dropping off students in Greene County.

The Jefferson-Scranton School District has designated seven school buses for rural routes and Sheriff Steve Haupert wants remind you that it is also illegal to pass a school bus on gravel and rural roads.

He states that the fine for a first offense is the same as passing one in town, $566, but bus drivers have the right to write down any vehicle’s description, including a license plate number, of anyone who passes them illegally on rural roads when the stop arm is out and the red lights are flashing and report those vehicles to the Law Enforcement Center.

Sheriff Haupert comments that is all about safety for kids to get to and from school and rural roads are some of the most dangerous areas that people need to take extra precaution during school time to be aware of suddenly stopping school buses when transporting students.