Nearly 300 Drivers Caught Passing Stopped Buses During 1st Week Of School

Drivers who pass stopped school buses can face fines of up to $250 from cameras or $570 and three license points if stopped by police.

By Gaby Arancibia, Patch Staff

Sep 2, 2026 10:26 AM EDT

Montgomery County Police said 269 citations were issued during the first week of school against residents who illegally drove past stopped school buses. (Jenna Fisher/Patch)

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Nearly 300 traffic citations were issued to drivers who illegally passed a stopped school bus in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Police said Wednesday that a total of 269 citations were distributed during the first week of school.

Officials have not said what areas in the county saw the highest number of school bus-related traffic violations.

Ahead of the 2026-2027 school year, the department issued a reminder to drivers that specifically pointed out instances when travelers can and cannot pass a school bus.

As noted by Montgomery County Police, drivers may only bypass a stopped school bus when the bus is separated by a physical median, such as a concrete barrier or grassy area.

If no barrier exists in the roadway, all drivers must stop at least 20 feet from the school bus on both sides of the road until the flashing and extended "stop" sign on the bus is retracted.

Ahead of the new school year, Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada called on residents to "do their part by being extra cautious driving, slow down, look out for kids and parents crossing the street, and never pass a stopped school bus."

"We want to ensure that all of our students are safe traveling to and from school," he said.

What About Last School Year?

Looking back on the 2025-2026 school year, the police department said the county tallied a total of 40,854 citations for drivers who passed a bus.

The figure, according to police, was a 19.1% decrease in mailed citations from the previous school year.

Authorities determined the areas with the highest number of citations during the 2025-26 school year were:

5100 block of River Road in Bethesda
7100 block of Arlington Road in Bethesda
8800 block of Colesville Road in Silver Spring

Drivers who violate the rule are subject to fines of up to $250 if caught by a camera, which is fitted on most school buses. A $570 fine and three points on a driver's license can be issued when stopped by a police officer.