A school bus stop on one of the busiest highways in Tampa Bay had been terrifying parents – until ABC Action News I-team Reporter Jackie Callaway stepped in and asked local authorities for help.
Drivers had been speeding past the Gandy Boulevard stop near the greyhound race track – ignoring the flashing stop signs and endangering the elementary school children who get on and off the bus at the Twin Cities Mobile Home Park.
“So many ignorant drivers run the stop,” said Briana, whose 5-year-old daughter rides the bus.
Geraldine, who picks up her two grandkids at this stop said, “It scares me. Every day it scares me.”
After watching several cell phone videos taken by concerned parents, I-team reporter Jackie Callaway contacted the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
A day after our call, deputies showed up in force. Nearly every single school day – for the last two weeks – squad cars have kept watch over the bus stop and handed out tickets to drivers who blow past the stopped school bus.
ABC Action News rode along with Deputy Howard Miller as he busted the drivers who failed to yield to the stopped school bus. He says authorities have written as many as five tickets each morning and afternoon – at $271 per violation.
Parents and grandparents said they’ve seen a big difference since the patrols have been policing drivers in the area.
“It makes me feel a lot better,” said Geraldine.
