BLOOMINGTON - Summer is almost over and children are heading back to school, so law enforcement officers have a message for drivers: Start paying attention because police will be.

Drivers need to be conscious of children walking on sidewalks, riding bicycles on roads or boarding buses, said Bill Yoder, McLean County state's attorney.

School zone traffic violations can result in suspended licenses and fines, he said.

"Our goal isn't to ticket every motorist on the road. The goal is to make sure we don't have an injured child," he said.

But increased attention to laws ensuring school-time safety is planned, he added.

Yoder joined officers from five area law enforcement agencies Monday at the McLean County Law and Justice Center to present a united front in its effort to make back-to-school season safer.

Passing a stopped school bus, failing to reduce speed in school zones, and not buckling children into seat belts and other required restraints will result in punishment, said Yoder.

A conviction for passing a school bus with its stop arm lowered brings a fine and a driver's license suspension for three months, he noted.

Assistant Police Chiefs Rick Bleichner of Normal and Randy McKinley of Bloomington each detailed some of the ways their departments step up enforcement this time of year. They include adding patrols to school areas and paying close attention to traffic near stopped buses, for example.

First Student, a school bus contractor, will have cameras installed on some buses so they will be able to track cars that pass parked buses, with the stop arm visible, said Yoder.

Commander Sue Jansky of Illinois State Police District 6 said troopers will increase seat belt checks to ensure children being transported to school are kept safe.

She also encouraged all drivers to keep their eyes open because high gas prices bring a mix of vehicles onto the road.

"There are more motorcycles, scooters, pedestrians and bicycles on the roads," said Jansky.

Parents also have a role in carefully watching students walking and bicycling to school.

And officers from both departments also visit schools and talk with students about traffic safety, said Bleichner and McKinley.

The law enforcement officials also talked about teen safety. Teens drive to and from school, but they also can run into trouble driving for social occasions.

McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery, whose department handled a number of charges related to underage drinking parties last spring, encouraged parents to take the first step in educating teens:

"Talk to your child about the negative impact of alcohol consumption," he said, and always know where your children are, he added.