Detroit Lakes Woman Charged In Bus Stop Arm Case
Detroit Lakes (trfnews.i234.me) — A North Dakota woman is facing a gross misdemeanor charge in Becker County District Court after authorities say she drove past a stopped school bus in Detroit Lakes.
Elizabeth Genevieve Wallner, of Lisbon, North Dakota, is charged with a school bus stop arm violation. The case was filed in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District under court file number 03-CR-26-683.
The charge stems from an incident reported on March 24, 2026, at about 7:43 a.m. in Detroit Lakes. According to the complaint, a 2021 Subaru Forester registered to Wallner allegedly passed an Olander school bus.
Authorities say the bus had its red lights activated. The stop arm was also extended at the time.
The child was near the bus
The complaint states that a child was outside the bus when the Subaru passed. The child was about to board the school bus, according to court documents.
Under Minnesota Statute 169.444, drivers must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when its stop arm is extended, and red lights are flashing.
The law also says drivers must remain stopped until the stop arm is retracted. They must also wait until the red lights are no longer flashing.
Gross Misdemeanor Charge Filed
Wallner is charged under Minnesota Statute 169.444, subdivision 2(b). The complaint lists the offense as a gross misdemeanor.
If convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail. It also carries a possible fine of up to $3,000.
According to the probable cause statement, investigators later spoke with Wallner. The complaint says she stated she was driving the Subaru when the alleged violation occurred.
No conviction has been entered in the case. A criminal complaint is only an allegation. Wallner is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Court records and future case updates may be available through Minnesota Court Records Online. General court access information is also available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
School bus stop arm cases are treated seriously because children may be near the roadway. Minnesota law requires drivers to stop when school bus warning signals are active.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
