West Windsor Police Launch Adopt A Bus Enforcement Program

WEST WINDSOR, NJ — West Windsor police are putting school-bus safety on their routes.

Under the Police Department's Adopt A Bus program, officers will follow buses on random routes to watch for local drivers who break New Jersey's school-bus laws, according to an alert issued Monday.

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The initiative involves every officer, detective, traffic officer and command staff member, including Police Chief Garofalo. Marked and unmarked police vehicles will participate.

"When you see red flashing lights and the stop sign arm extended, stop — at least 25 feet away," police said.

State guidance says drivers traveling in either direction on an undivided road must stop at least 25 feet from a bus displaying flashing red lights. Drivers approaching from the opposite side of a road divided by a median or physical barrier may pass at no more than 10 mph.

The New Jersey Office of School Bus Safety says loading and unloading are the most dangerous parts of a school-bus trip because some motorists disregard flashing lights and drive around stopped buses.

Improperly passing a stopped school bus adds five points to a driver's record, according to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

"Every child's safety is everyone's responsibility," West Windsor police said.

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