Trooper Kathy; Do schools have the authority to send kids out in the road to stop traffic? I am seeing them in the middle of the street with their flags and unsure about what they are doing. I think it is scary for everyone! School Patrol began in 1930, a whole different world. Today, many of our streets near schools are busy highways, or terribly congested areas with buses and parents picking up other students. That didn’t exist years ago. The program has always had its main focus be the safety of the students, and this program offers the student a chance at learning responsibility and teamwork at an early age. Yes, School Patrol has the authority to stop traffic if they follow the rules and procedures correctly. Their flags are legal stop signs. They should not be in the middle of the road, but just one step off the curb or slightly farther if a parked car is blocking them. The objective of school patrol is to encourage crossing at crosswalks or specified corners so as not to have children crossing in the middle of the street, but at set intersections. I would also like to remind the readers that, if people are waiting at a corner or crosswalk, the drivers do have to stop and allow pedestrians to cross, with or without patrollers. This usually does not happen. If drivers would follow the rules, the job of patrolling would not be so dangerous. Wow, a lot gets back to basic driving rules. The kids in these programs generally love the responsibility, not to mention the special perks that may come with it. A pizza party and/or trip to ValleyFair are worth getting up early during the cold winter months. Sometimes they are picked to attend Legionville (a camp sponsored by the American Legion) located near Brainerd.If you have any questions regarding traffic safety or traffic law, please write to Sgt. Kathy Pederson at MN State Patrol, PO Box 344B, Marshall, MN 56258. Sgt. Pederson will not offer advise on specific situations or real events, which involve law enforcement.
