By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Trooper Rob Herbstreith and officer Kevin Koston are liaisons to Niles Community Schools. Herbstreith works for the State Police, while Koston works for Niles City Police.
But both officers also work in accident investigation for their respective departments. As investigators, Koston said, they hate to see accidents involving children. As school liaisons, they realize the need to keep the students safe.
So the two teamed together to create a way to decrease school bus-related traffic violations that can lead to injured children. Koston and Herbstreith, who share the only mutual office between the State and City Police at the Niles Law Enforcement Complex, created a ride-a-long program in which they can spot traffic violators from the school buses.
To do so, the two came up with a plan. Beginning about a month ago, Koston picks random school buses on random routes to ride on, either in the morning or afternoon. He observes traffic from the bus, and when he sees any driver fail to stop for the buses flashing stop sign, he radios Herbstreith, who follows the bus in a patrol car. Herbstreith then pulls over and tickets the violator.
Herbstreith follows the bus and tickets drivers because Koston cannot. Part of Niles' school district runs into Cass County, where Koston doesn't have jurisdiction.
Should a violator be spotted across the county line, Herbstreith must be the one to pull the person over because he is with the State Police.
Koston and Herbstreith have found thus far in the campaign that running the school buses' flashing stop sign isn't the biggest violation.
Herbstreith said the biggest problem area is on East Main Street between Silverbrook Street and Ream Road.
He added they also have problems on South 11th Street, where in oncoming traffic think they don't have to stop because the road is so wide. As long as there is no median, Herbstreith said, all cars on the road must stop for a school bus.
The officers said now that word about the patrol is getting out, people are starting to realize that they must slow down and be more careful around school buses.
As far as Koston and Herbstreith are concerned, there is no excuse for refusing to stop for a bus. Not only does it put the children's safety in jeopardy, but it could result in serious consequences for the driver.
Failing to stop for a school bus results in a $250 fine for the driver and three points against his license. Once a driver gets 12 points on his license, it is suspended.
Both officers said they have received great responses from students, parents and the schools.
All realize that this program is an effort to protect the safety of the kids.
With the success of the Niles ride-a-long program, Herbstreith said he plans to expand it to Brandywine schools.
As a city officer, Koston may not have the jurisdiction to go on Brandywine ride-a-longs, but Herbstreith said he would do the program with another trooper if he had to.