Everyone knows passing a stopped school bus can get you pulled over and a heavy fine, but doing so while drunk earns you a trip to jail. A 63-year-old Stafford woman received her third DUI charge yesterday afternoon.

On August 29th at approximately 3:38 p.m. many students were on their way home. One bus full of students was stopped near the 2000 block of Richmond Highway when a driver ignored the bus stop sign and drove right past it. Luckily, Deputy S.C. Martin observed the disregard for basic traffic laws and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.

The driver, Ellen Brandon, had clear signs of being intoxicated, including the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her breath. She also had half a liter of wine in the vehicle, and admitted to consuming half a liter of wine prior to driving. It was further discovered her license was revoked due to a prior DUI incident.

Brandon was charged with driving under the influence third offense in ten years with a blood alcohol content between .15 and .2, felony endangerment, driving after forfeiture of her license, and not stopping for a school bus. She was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

Driver sober, and don’t pass a stopped bus, or get pulled over.