Platte County Missouri Sheriff's Office

10/21/2026

🛑 STOP and STAY for School Buses. 🚌 IT'S THE LAW!

Many students rely on school buses to get them to and from school safely. School buses are designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries, and in every state, stop arm laws exist to protect children from other motorists.

Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicle.

Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Drivers must stop their vehicle before they reach the bus and wait until the lights stop flashing, the extended stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving (or the bus driver signals to proceed) before they can start driving again.

Effective 8/28/2026 with the passage of SB 1421, any driver convicted of an offense of failing to stop for a school bus that is receiving or discharging students shall be assessed 5 points. In addition, a driver found guilty of such offense is subject to the following:

First offense: court ordered driver's license suspension, 90 days, or as designated by the court and a fine of at least $500 but not more than $1,000

Second offense within 5 years: suspension of driver's license for 90 days and a fine of at least $1,000 but not more than $2,000

Third or subsequent offense within 5 years: suspension of driver's license for 180 days and a fine of at least $1,500 but not more than $3,000

Penalties are heightened if a child is struck, injured, or killed.

10/20/2026

When to Stop for School Buses

Pursuant to Section 304.050 RSMo, drivers shall stop upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus which has stopped on the highway to load or unload children and whose driver has extended their stop arm and activated their flashing lights.

Therefore, when operating on a two-lane road, with or without a middle turning lane (including a two-lane road that is a one-way street), all drivers must stop their vehicle, regardless of their direction, and wait until the lights stop flashing, the extended stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they start driving again.

On a four-lane road, with or without a turning lane, barrier, or median between, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are not required to stop but should still use caution in the event children run across the road.

If traveling through an intersection or 4-way stop, only vehicles traveling toward, behind, or turning into the direction of the school bus must stop. Vehicles traveling non-parallel or turning in the opposite direction of the school bus are not required to stop (for the school bus) but should still use caution in the event children run across the road.

When a school bus is stopped to load or unload children and has not activated their flashing lights or extended their stop arm, such as in a loading zone at a school, drivers are not required to stop but should operate with caution.

10/19/2026

October 19th starts MoDOT/NHTSA's Bus Safety Week and Teen Driving Campaign. The Platte County Sheriff's Office will have added patrols conducting High Visibility Enforcement all throughout Platte County this week.

10/18/2026

Please join us in celebrating Patrol Sergeant Jessica Duda as she marks 8 years of service with the Platte County Sheriff's Office! 🚓✨

From everyday patrols to critical moments—like her lifesaving actions at a major crash scene earlier this year—Sergeant Duda consistently demonstrates what true leadership and dedication look like. Her hard work is an invaluable part of what keeps our community safe and makes our agency great.

Thank you, Sergeant Duda, for eight years of exceptional service and unwavering commitment to Platte County! 🤝🎉

10/18/2026

We want to extend a huge congratulations to School Resource Officer Deputy Anthony Contrini on 5 years of service with the Platte County Sheriff's Office! 🖤💛

Thank you, Deputy Contrini, for your unwavering hard work, dedication, and the vital role you play in keeping our students, staff, and school community safe. Your commitment is a huge part of what makes our community great!

Drop a comment below to thank Officer Contrini for his service! 👇

10/17/2026

Help us congratulate one of our own! 🤝

Today, we are celebrating Executive Services Sergeant Dylan Flanagan for reaching 10 years of service with the Platte County Sheriff's Office.

A decade of service means countless hours dedicated to keeping our community safe, organized, and moving forward. Sergeant Flanagan, your hard work behind the scenes and on the front lines makes a real difference.

10/15/2026

Please join the Platte County Sheriff's Office as we congratulate Deputy Sage Osborn on celebrating 6 years of service! 🎉🚔

Deputy Osborn’s hard work, commitment, and daily dedication are a massive part of what keeps our community safe and makes our agency great. Thank you for your continued service, Deputy Osborn! 🙌👮‍♂️

Drop a comment below to help us celebrate this milestone! 👇👇

10/14/2026

10/13/2026

As we enter 🎗️Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are reminded of how health advocacy directly impacts our communities and workplaces.

Breast cancer affects millions of families worldwide. This October, let's look beyond the pink ribbons and focus on actionable support: prioritizing routine health screenings, supporting medical research, and lifting up colleagues and loved ones navigating a diagnosis.

Take a moment today to check in on your health and encourage those around you to do the same.