10,922 Drivers Ilegally Passed Montgomery School Buses Since October: Police

ROCKVILLE, MD — Despite public awareness campaigns and cameras on some of Montgomery County's fleet of school buses, nearly 11,000 drivers have zoomed past stopped buses in the last six months. Between Oct. 13, 2016, and March 31, 2017, Montgomery County's automated school bus camera program has caught 10,922 drivers passing stopped school buses illegally. In the 169-day period, that's an average of 65 violations daily.

There are 1,307 school buses in the county. Currently, 217 of them are equipped with cameras, a number which will jump to 500 by the end of the calendar year, according to Montgomery Community Media. As the school bus camera program expands, it is becoming increasingly clear that many drivers are not following the law, and are not stopping and waiting for school children to be completely clear before continuing.

"It’s quite concerning and alarming,” said Police Captain Tom Didone, according to Montgomery Community Media. “Many people think the problem only occurs on major arterial roadways," he said, but videos reveal that the problem is widespead.

The most common places for drivers to break this law, according to the surveillance footage, are:

• 5000-5200 block of River Road (665 citations)
• 900-1700 block of East-West Highway (621 citations)
• 8000-14200 block of Georgia Avenue (556 citations)
• 2200 – 3700 block of Bel Pre Road (526 citations)
• 8300 – 8900 block of 16th Street (328 citations)

As of now, there is a $125 fine for passing a stopped school bus, if caught by the cameras. Didone said that fine will increase to $250 as of Oct. 1. However, if a police officer directly sees such a violation, the fine is $570 and a three-point citation.

The Law:
When a driver passes a stopped school bus with red flashing lights, it is often because he/she doesn't know the law, is impatient, or is distracted.

When approaching a stopped school bus with activated flashing red lights, Maryland law requires that drivers traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Drivers approaching the bus from the opposite direction must also stop if there is no physical barrier, such as a median. Remember: “Paint (the line markings on the roadway) does not protect (children crossing the street).”

As Patch previously reported, the fine for a camera catching a driver illegally passing a school bus is $125, with a ticket sent in the mail.

If the police happen to witness a driver illegally passing a school bus, the police can pull the driver over and hand over a moving violation that carries a fine of as much as $570.

School Bus Camera Safety Enforcement Program:
The county's School Bus Camera Safety Enforcement Program began in January 2014, with cameras that record vehicles that pass stopped school buses with activated flashing red lights. Violations captured by these cameras are reviewed by the police department’s Automated Traffic Enforcement Unit and citations are mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

Penalties for Violating the Law:

Bus Cameras: The camera-generated fine is $125; no points are associated with a citation issued through this program.

Officer issued traffic citation: A citation issued by a police officer carries a $570 fine and three points on a driver’s record.

What to Do When Approaching a School Bus:

• When a school bus stops, the flashing red lights go on and the stop sign flaps come out, drivers in BOTH directions are required to stop. This is the most dangerous time with children getting on or off the bus.
• It is against the law to pass a stopped school bus with its flashing red lights activated and stop-sign arm extended.
• Never pass on the right side of the bus, where children enter or exit. This is illegal and can have tragic results.
• Two-lane road: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic in both directions must stop.
• Two-lane road with center turn lane: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic in both directions must stop.
• Four-lane road without a center median: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic in both directions must stop.
• Divided highway of four lanes or more with a center median: When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following behind the bus must stop.

About 100,000 students in the district ride the school buses, according to Montgomery Community Media. To find out more about the program, visit the County website's bus safety page.

Article image via Montgomery Community Media