Texas Highway Patrol troopers are going under cover to catch drivers breaking the law.

Video

KVUE's Jessica Vess reports

> More KVUE News Video

• View larger
• E-mail clip
• More video

Search Video:

> > >

They’re focusing this week on drivers who try going around school buses while they're making a stop. Wednesday morning, troopers were in Manor ISD.

The troopers aren't following the buses in their patrol cars. Instead, they're actually riding along inside the bus.

The Texas Department of Public Safety says it's putting troopers in the buses while they pick up children for school.

Those troopers are watching for drivers who don't stop while the bus is stopped.

"There are children on the bus and it's the safety of the children on the bus as well as the bus driver. Without these laws and without these regulations, if we didn't have them then it wouldn't be safe to transport our children to and from school," said Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Robbie Barrera.

If they see a driver go around the bus while its flashing red lights are on and children are getting on and off the bus, the trooper will radio to other nearby troopers who are waiting in their patrol cars.

Those troopers will then drive out to ticket the driver breaking the law.

"There are small children and we try to teach our children what those rules are and to watch for cars; look the left, look to the right and then look to the left again. They don't always remember that so as adults it's our responsibility for us to be the responsible person and to be aware of what the rules and regulations are and to try to keep them safe," said Barrera.

All this week, which is National School Bus Safety Week, troopers will visit different school districts to perform similar ride-alongs.

Afterward, troopers say there will be periodic operations. If you're caught breaking the law, you face a fine up to $1,000.

According to national statistics, about 26 million children ride a school bus every day in the U.S.