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updated 1:10 p.m. ET Feb. 3, 2007

KEWASKUM, Wis. - Police Chief Richard Knoebel says he wasn’t about to take the easy way out when he accidentally drove past a stopped school bus with its emergency lights flashing.

For violating traffic laws, Knoebel wrote himself a ticket for $235, docked himself four points on his driving record and paid the fine the next day.

It happened in September but didn’t make news until after the fine appeared in court records and was reported by a West Bend newspaper.

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Knoebel says he doesn’t mind getting the belated attention, if it serves to raise awareness.

“If it brings notice to people that they should be stopping for school buses, I don’t mind the notoriety,” he said.

He said he was on patrol on four-lane U.S. 45 when he was distracted by a stopped dump truck. He saw a car coming from behind and thought it might hit the truck, so he moved to pass the truck before he saw the stopped school bus in the far lane.

He said he didn’t realize he had passed the bus until it was too late.