More than 800 Drivers Cited for Passing Stopped School Buses

Since January 825 citations have been issued to drivers who passed a stopped school bus that has its stop sign and stop arm extended, Montgomery County Council President Craig Rice said Monday.

The council’s education and public safety committees met to get an update on the issue and other school issues Monday.

According to County Spokeswoman Lucille Baur, of the 825 citations issued through September, 21 of those cases are being appealed by drivers in court.

The Council passed legislation in March 2012 enabling the County to implement school bus safety cameras. The purpose of the cameras is to monitor and enforce violations where vehicles pass a stopped school bus that has its flashing signals, stop sign and stop arm extended. The current fine is $125 per violation.

The Police Department implemented the program in January 2014. Twenty-five buses had cameras at that time and 75 additional buses were to be wired. That would allow police to move cameras among high priority routes as needed.

The Police Department indicates that of the 75 additional buses to be wired, 10 have been completed. There are no plans to install more cameras at this time.

School bus camera @MCPS funding is a Budget Priority @MoCoCouncilMD pic.twitter.com/My35DSgZkf

— Craig Rice (@RicePolitics) October 13, 2014

About Krista Brick

Krista Brick is a multi-media journalist with Montgomery Community Media.

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