Bensalem Police Cracking Down On School Bus Violations

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —Since equipping school buses with cameras at the start of the school year, the Bensalem Township Police Department has issued more than 3,500 violations for motorists failing to stop for buses —an average of 32 violations each school day.

Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo announced the number of violations during his "Mayor's Show" with Police Director William McVey Wednesday. The township is also instituting stronger fines and driver's license penalties.

The school district and police department began its "Bus Patrol: Video Stop Arm Enforcement" program with the violations falling under PA Vehicle Code Section 3345.1.

Each violation comes with a $300 civil penalty that is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle.

No points or driver's license suspension are associated with this civil penalty.

"That comes to an average of 32 violations per school day. This is unacceptable," police and the mayor said.

Police have identified two "hot spots" for these violations:

• Knights Road between Dunksferry Road and Street Road.
• Bristol Pike between Hulmeville Road and Tennis Avenue.

The police department's motor patrol unit has been deployed to these areas for targeted enforcement of school bus stop arm violations.

If a police officer stops and issues a state citation for this violation, motorists will be subject to 5 points on a driver's license, a 60-day driver's license suspension, and a $250 fine upon conviction.

The mayor and McVey said that all police officers have been directed to enforce these on-view violations and any that are not detected by police officers will be cited via the "Bus Patrol: Video Stop Arm Enforcement."

"You won't get away with it. We need to protect our children. Please pay attention and stop for the red lights on school buses before another tragedy occurs," officials said.