Arlington, WA Police Department

09/01/2026

Happy first day of school, Arlington students! 🏫🚌

Mayor Vanney and Chief Ventura were happy to welcome students and families this morning at Kent Prairie Elementary as they kicked off a new school year.

We hope every student has a year filled with learning, new friendships, fun, and opportunities to shine. Please help keep our students safe by slowing down, staying alert in school zones, and watching for students walking, biking, and riding the bus.

Here’s to a safe, successful, and community-filled school year! 💙

Thanks to Arlington Police Chief Jonathan Ventura, Arlington Mayor Don Vanney, and Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Chrys Sweeting for joining students and driver Teri Sparks on a bus ride to their school! Have a great school year!

08/26/2026

YES, it really is that serious. 🛑🚌

When a school bus is stopped on the roadway with flashing red lights and its stop arm extended, drivers must stop before reaching the bus and remain stopped until the bus starts moving or the visual signals are turned off.

The rule is simple:
🛑 Same direction as the bus? STOP.
🛑 Two-lane road? Traffic in both directions must stop.
🛑 Three or more marked traffic lanes? Vehicles traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Drivers approaching from the opposite direction may proceed with caution.
🛑 Two-way center turn lane? Vehicles traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Opposite-direction traffic may proceed with caution.

⚠️ Important: It is dangerous and illegal for vehicles following a school bus to use the center turn lane to pass the bus.
The exceptions apply only to drivers meeting the stopped bus from the opposite direction.
When in doubt, slow down, watch carefully for children, and never pass a school bus when you are required to stop.

🚨 And yes, there are serious consequences. Passing a stopped school bus when you are required to stop carries a monetary penalty equal to twice the standard traffic-infraction penalty.

📍 See a recurring school-zone or bus-stop safety concern within Arlington city limits? Submit a nomination for APD review.

Nomination form: https://www.arlingtonwa.gov/forms.aspx?FID=72
Learn more about Operation Safe Stop: https://www.arlingtonwa.gov/923/Operation-Safe-Stop

08/25/2026

🚌 Stopped School Bus: Who Must Stop?
When a school bus is stopped on the roadway with flashing red lights and its stop arm extended, drivers must stop before reaching the bus and remain stopped until the bus begins moving or the visual signals are turned off.
The rule is simple:

➡️Traveling in the same direction as the bus? STOP.
➡️Two-lane road? Traffic in both directions must stop.
➡️Three or more marked traffic lanes? Vehicles traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Drivers approaching from the opposite direction may proceed with caution.
➡️Two-way center turn lane? Vehicles traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Opposite-direction traffic may proceed with caution. It is dangerous and illegal for vehicles following a school bus to use the center turn lane to pass.

These exceptions apply only to drivers approaching the stopped bus from the opposite direction. When in doubt, slow down, watch carefully for children, and never pass a school bus when you are required to stop.

Passing a stopped school bus when required to stop carries a monetary penalty equal to twice the standard traffic-infraction penalty. The penalty may not be waived, reduced, or suspended.
🔗Link: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61.370

Operation Safe Stop supports safer school routes through education, visible patrols, and enforcement when appropriate.

See a recurring school-zone or bus-stop safety concern within Arlington city limits?

Submit a nomination for our officers to review: https://www.arlingtonwa.gov/forms.aspx?FID=72

Learn more about Operation Safe Stop, here: https://www.arlingtonwa.gov/923/Operation-Safe-Stop

08/21/2026

🚗 Making the most of summer this weekend? Plan your sober ride home before you go.

Whether you’re heading to a barbecue, concert, lake day, or gathering with friends, make a plan to get home safely. Choose a designated driver, call a rideshare or taxi, use public transportation, or stay overnight.

Snohomish County DUI & Target Zero Task Force has advised that extra DUI patrols will be out this weekend looking for impaired drivers.

Going to enjoy the last of summer this weekend? Have a plan for a sober ride home! Extra DUI patrols will be out looking for impaired drivers.

08/19/2026

🚨 School is back. Eyes up. Phones down. Kids around.

Operation Safe Stop is here to help make Arlington’s school routes safer for every student, whether they walk, bike, ride the bus, or get dropped off.

Remember:
➡️When you see a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm: STOP.
➡️When you enter a school zone: slow down.
➡️When you approach a crosswalk: watch for students.

APD officers will be increasing visibility near schools and selected bus stops, focusing on education and enforcement to help keep children safe.

🚌 See a bus stop or school-area safety concern? Nominate it for review. Your report can help identify traffic-safety trends and prioritize patrol attention within Arlington city limits.

Learn more: https://www.arlingtonwa.gov/923/Operation-Safe-Stop
Nomination Form: https://www.arlingtonwa.gov/forms.aspx?FID=72

08/17/2026

Welcome to Operation Safe Stop!

🚸As students head back to school, Arlington Police Department is increasing education and enforcement around school zones, crosswalks, and bus stops.
Operation Safe Stop focuses on helping drivers follow Washington laws related to school zone speeds, school bus stop arms and flashing red lights, and pedestrian safety. Officers will provide visible patrols near schools and selected bus stops to help protect students walking, biking, riding buses, and being dropped off.

💡Know a location with ongoing safety concerns? Nominate a bus stop or student travel route within Arlington city limits for review. Your information helps APD identify trends and prioritize available patrol resources.

Learn more here: https://www.arlingtonwa.gov/923/Operation-Safe-Stop

Nomination Form: https://www.arlingtonwa.gov/forms.aspx?FID=72

Please note: This form is not monitored in real time and does not guarantee enforcement or officer presence.

For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergency police response, call Snohomish County 911 at 425-407-3999. See less

08/14/2026

🚌 APD Launches Operation Safe Stop 🚔

🚸As students head back to school, Arlington Police Department is increasing education and enforcement around school zones, crosswalks, and bus stops.
Operation Safe Stop focuses on helping drivers follow Washington laws related to school zone speeds, school bus stop arms and flashing red lights, and pedestrian safety. Officers will provide visible patrols near schools and selected bus stops to help protect students walking, biking, riding buses, and being dropped off.

💡Know a location with ongoing safety concerns? Nominate a bus stop or student travel route within Arlington city limits for review. Your information helps APD identify trends and prioritize available patrol resources.

Learn more here: https://www.arlingtonwa.gov/923/Operation-Safe-Stop

Nomination Form: https://www.arlingtonwa.gov/forms.aspx?FID=72

Please note: This form is not monitored in real time and does not guarantee enforcement or officer presence.

For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergency police response, call Snohomish County 911 at 425-407-3999. See less

08/12/2026

Thank you, Arlington, for joining us for National Night Out this August!

We appreciated the opportunity to spend the evening with neighbors, families, local organizations, and our public safety partners. Events like this help strengthen the connections that make Arlington a safe, welcoming, and engaged community.

Enjoy this video from A Huge Production highlighting the event!
Video link: https://youtu.be/YMc4pfIuyJI

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, participated, and helped make the evening a success.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.