Thursday, April 28 is OPERATION SAFE STOP DAY in New York State. During “Safe Stop,” police officers are on board school buses and in marked and unmarked patrol units on selected bus routes that have a history of illegal passing complaints. Some of Monroe-Woodbury Central School District’s buses will be participating in this initiative.
Police will issue tickets to drivers who pass stopped school buses (Section 1174 of the Vehicle & Traffic Law).
Important information from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Committee:
WHAT IS OPERATION SAFE STOP?
Operation Safe Stop seeks to promote school bus safety through education and enforcement efforts. The goal of Operation Safe Stop is to proactively educate motorists about the dangers of passing stopped school buses. Safe Stop is a cooperative project supported by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the New York State Education Department, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation, the New York State School Bus Contractors Association, the student transportation industry and state, county, city and local law enforcement agencies.
DID YOU KNOW:
An estimated 50,000 motor vehicles illegally pass New York State school buses every day.
During the 2019 Operation Safe Stop Education and Enforcement Day, 646 drivers were ticketed for passing stopped school buses statewide.
THE LAW SAYS:
It is illegal – and very dangerous – to pass a stopped school bus when the large red lights located on top of the bus are flashing. Flashing lights mean the bus is picking up or discharging students.
You must stop whether you are approaching the school bus from the front or overtaking it from the rear.
You must always stop for flashing red lights, even on divided and multilane highways and on school grounds.
The first-time fine for illegally passing a school bus is a $250 to $400 fine, 5 points on your license, and/or possibly 30 days in jail.
Worse yet, the memory of hitting or killing a child may be one you carry for the rest of your life!
Penalties for passing a stopped school bus:
First Conviction: Minimum fine: $250.00; Maximum fine: $400.00; Possible imprisonment: Up to 30 days
Second Conviction (within 3 years): Minimum fine: $600.00; Maximum fine: $750.00; Possible imprisonment: Up to 180 days
Third or Subsequent Convictions (within 3 years): Minimum fine: $750.00; Maximum fine: $1,000.00; Possible imprisonment: Up to 180 days
Reminders:
Yellow lights mean the bus is going to stop. Slow down!
Red lights mean students are getting on or off the bus. STOP! STOP! STOP!
Visit the Safe Stop webpage for more information.
