(WSBT) Bus drivers and police call it a serious problem that's getting worse.

The crackdown is on to stop dangerous drivers from ignoring the laws designed to keep students safe at the bus stop.

Police in Elkhart County followed school buses Monday to catch drivers in the act. It's part of county-wide initiative to ticket people who disregard school bus traffic laws.

Not stopping can cost you between $200-$1,000 for a ticket.

Police say they hope this will deter people from going around the stop arm. They call it reckless and dangerous driving, and bus drivers say they see it nearly every day.

Ron Smeltzer has been driving a school bus for 11 years.

"It’s the law, they're supposed to be stopping for them and they're not doing it,” he told WSBT News.

He's seen the same problem get worse.

"On County Line [Road] over there it happens two or three times even at one stop,” he said.

Drivers — who don't stop when Ron does — ignore school bus traffic laws and, police say, put children's lives in danger.

"We've had a couple close calls here recently where people have slammed on the brakes and slid into yards,” said Capt. Sean Holmes of the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.

So Monday, police agencies across Elkhart County shined their spotlight on drivers who pass the red light and stop arm on the school bus. Teams of officers followed buses to catch offenders in the act.

A ticket will cost $200 - $1,000, no exceptions, no excuses.

For bus drivers, it’s a no-nonsense way to stop dangerous drivers.

“So I hope some of them get caught and maybe we can solve some of these problems,” Smeltzer said.

We're not sure yet how many tickets they handed out Monday; they're still tallying those numbers.

This is made possible through a $60,000 dangerous driving grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Police say they'll continue to do this until the money runs out.

Click on the link in the Related Content box for tips on safe driving near schools and school buses.