BPD Participates in 'Operation Yellow Blitz'

As part of a statewide effort to curb incidences of vehicles passing school buses as they stop to pick up students, the Bedford Police Department participated in Operation Yellow Blitz on Wednesday, according to a press release from BPD.

"Operation Yellow Blitz is an appeal by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, in conjunction with local law enforcement and school pupil transportation providers, to draw attention to the national problem of vehicles driving past school buses that are picking-up and discharging school pupils," according to the press release.

Officer Marc Saucier said while there have been instances in Bedford of motorists passing buses that are stopped to pick up or drop off students in the past, there have recently been few.

"We do get complaints from bus drivers and parents when they see a car pass a stopped bus," Saucier said.

BPD officers drove around in unmarked vehicles along with RMV officials on Wednesday, following school buses on their routes to ensure drivers weren't passing them as they stopped for students. 

"It's something we try to do every day but we can't be everywhere at once," Saucier said. 

During participation in Tuesday's statewide effort, BPD officers followed 15 school buses and issued one citation, according to Saucier. 

Motorists often refrain from passing school buses when the notice a police cruiser behind them or on the side of the road monitoring the bus stop, Saucier said, which makes unmarked cars ideal for this kind of task. 

"A lot of times when a driver sees a cruiser behind the bus they stop," Saucier said. "We try to get out in unmarked cars as much as possible."