Franklin Co. school bus driver arrested for DWI, blows .10

LOUISBURG, N.C. - A Franklin County Schools bus driver was arrested Thursday morning on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.
School officials said Barbara Thorne has been placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated.
Louisburg Police Chief Rick Lassiter said police were alerted by an assistant principal at the school who reported smelling alcohol on Thorne's breath around 10:30 a.m. when she arrived at Terrell Lane Middle School Thursday morning with a bus full of students.
Lassiter said a Louisburg police officer determined there was probable cause that Thorne was under the influence of alcohol. Thorne was given a breathalyzer test about an hour and a half after the principal first smelled the alcohol. She blew a .10 at the time.
Lassiter said Thorne was released on a $1,000 unsecured bond and her license has been taken away. She is scheduled to appear in court on January 6th.
The Franklin County School District released a statement saying, "The safety and well-being of our students is Franklin County Schools' first priority and we will continue to strive for excellence in all facets of our community. School officials work tirelessly to ensure the continued safety of every student - incidents such as this do not represent the dedication and integrity of Franklin County Schools' faculty and staff."
All students on board bus number 196 were OK.
One parent with children at the school, Linda Hayes, was stunned by the events.
"Kids are precious cargo," she said. "You should think about that. ... You've got lives at stake."
The state requires all school bus drivers to have a valid commercial drivers license. However drivers will lose their CDL for one year if they operate a commercial vehicle with a BAC of .04 or more. For a second offense, the driver will lose their CDL permanently.
WNCN checked with the Wake County Public School System for its policies on school bus drivers. The system has 850 full-time drivers and 50 part-time. Drivers must:

• Be 18 years old.
• Possess a valid NC driver's license.
• Have had a valid driver's license for a minimum of two years.
• Have a clean driving record in the past 12 months:
• Have no conviction of any moving violation
• Have no pending charge of any moving violation
• Have more than one charge of any moving violation, regardless of disposition within past 60 months

The Durham Public Schools said it employs approximately 291 bus drivers who are required to go through a pre-employment screening process that includes:

• DMV drivers license record check to determine eligibility
• Criminal Record Check performed by human resources
• Pre-employment drug testing
• DMV Driver Certification Class, which includes classroom training and behind-the-wheel training
• Employment packet with a list of references

Cumberland County Schools said it employs about 550 drivers who must attend a three-day CDL class taught by the Division of Motor Vehicles that includes three days of on-road training with a DMV instructor.
CCS further said human resources conducts a background check on its eligible drivers, including a driving record check by both the Transportation Department and the DMV.
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