Teacher in trouble for driving past stopped Minn. school bus, flashers and all

(CBS) MINNEAPOLIS - A Northfield, Minn. school teacher is accused of driving past a bus with its stop arm out while children were boarding the bus from a rural road, according to charges filed Thursday.

Deborah Hadas, 57, was charged with a school bus stop arm violation, a gross misdemeanor, in connection with the incident that occurred back on the morning of Nov. 22, 2011.

CBS Minnesota reports that according to a complaint, a woman reported the transgression to police at about 6:56 a.m. that day at a Dakota County residence. The complaint states as she was saying goodbye to her kids that day, she saw a vehicle over her left shoulder drive past the bus while it had its lights on and stop arm out. And she said it wasn't the first time that particular car had done that.

Once her kids were on the bus, the woman followed the car to get its license plate number.

Hadas told police she drives on the road daily and is aware of the bus stop's location. According to the complaint, Hadas said that as she approached, the bus wasn't completely stopped and its arm wasn't completely extended so she thought the bus driver wanted her to drive by.

Hadas also told police the red lights on the bus weren't flashing when she drove by, but they were on when she passed it. She told police she regrets the incident and didn't intend to break the law.

CBS Minnesota reports that, if convicted, Hadas faces up to a year in jail and a $3,000 fine.