A violation that I - both as a prosecutor and an experienced Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney - get tons of questions about concern those little yellow school busses and their stop-signs.
Well, according to Minnesota law, when a school bus is stopped on a street or highway and is
displaying an extended stop-signal arm and flashing red lights, an individual approaching the bus, in his/her vehicle, is required to stop within at least 20 feet
of said bus. Then, the driver must not move their vehicle until the
school bus stop-signal arm is retracted and the red lights stop
flashing. Failure to do so is a crime.
It is also illegal to pass (or attempt to pass) a school bus on the
right-hand, passenger-door side of the bus while the school bus is
displaying the "pre-warning" flashing amber signals.
What You Need to Know
Anyone who who fails to stop a vehicle while a school bus has its
stop-arm extended is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a minimum
fine of $300.
However, that same person could be convicted of a Gross Misdemeanor if they fail to stop their motor vehicle and commit either or both of the following:
- Passing or attempting to pass the school bus in a motor vehicle on the right-hand, passenger-door side of the bus
- Passing or attempting to pass the school bus in a motor vehicle when
a school child is outside of and on the street used by the school bus
or on the adjacent sidewalk.
The law is harsh in these settings because the lives of children in danger. Therefore, police and prosecutors take these crimes very seriously.
As such, you should, if you ever find yourself charged with illegally passing a school bus, should
talk with an experienced Minnesota Traffic Attorney . The Rolloff Law Office can walk you through the steps of your case
and plot a course for successful defense. Call today to set up a FREE CONSULTATION: (612) 234-1165
If you have been arrested or cited for Shoplifting – you may think the situation is bad. However, don’t just give up and assume there is nothing to do. You’re facing a possible Theft charge that can have devastating effects on your future.In a shoplifting case, like any other, an experienced Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney should look at a case from three ways:
1. Do you have any factual defenses?Assuming everything in the police reports is true and accurate, does it all add up to the elements of the charge you’re accused of? If you’re charged with theft, can they prove that you had the specific intent to steal? How can they overcome whether or not it was an accident or mistake on your part? I know these are subtle distinctions, but they are necessary elements of the crime the government must be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.From there, we know that the reports are not always 100% accurate. What in the report doesn't add up? Are times, sequences or witness statements conflicting with each other? Are there obvious errors in what happened that can be easily torn apart? When I consult with my clients, we review the facts of the case down to the smallest detail to see where the gaps in the case are.2. Do you have any legal defenses?Because most shoplifting cases involve a “private person’s arrest” (sometimes called a “citizen’s arrest”) by the store personnel, they are not necessarily under the same rules as the police. Under the law of the State of Minnesota, they do have a right to detain a person they suspect of shoplifting. If they search you, they don’t have to have a warrant or probable cause like the police do. But that doesn't mean that they can do whatever they want. The store loss prevention officers (a.k.a. security) must still act within the law and appropriately. I have had cases where the loss prevention agents spied into dressing rooms – a clear violation of criminal law. This can absolutely be used to our advantage in your defense. Similarly, if the store security guards used excessive force, that can lead to a tremendous advantage to you either in negotiating your case or fighting it at trial.From there, the actions by the police – Miranda warnings, searches or other police procedures can factor into how to defend your case.3. If the facts and the law are against you, how can we best protect you?Assuming the facts and the law are stacking up against you, what can be done? Often, there can be alternative dispositions worked out, hopefully to avoid a conviction for a misdemeanor theft offense. Diversion, deferred entry of judgment, reduction to a misdemeanor or non-theft related charge are all potential outcomes.
Every case is unique, but by working with the Rolloff Law Office, well before your court date, there are things we can do to help put you in the best possible position for a good outcome in your case when we go to court.
Don’t wait until the last minute before you are due to appear in court. Give call the Rolloff Law Office today to set up a free consultation: (612) 234-1165.
