Hundreds Of Bellevue Drivers Ignoring School Bus Stop Signs

BELLEVUE, WA — About eight months after the Bellevue School District installed "stop paddle" cameras on school buses, hundreds of drivers in Bellevue are still getting caught ignoring the stop signs, according to the district.

In May alone, 250 drivers were caught on camera driving past buses with stop paddles deployed — and the district only has cameras installed on 27 buses, or 20 percent of the bus fleet. Since January, 780 drivers have been caught by the cameras, according to the district.

Obeying the stop paddles helps keep kids safe — but it also saves drivers money. Drivers caught illegally passing a bus get a $419 ticket.

Bellevue installed cameras on two school buses in 2017. That pilot program was expanded in October 2018. Drivers got a grace period in December, but fines began going out on Jan. 7.

The last day of school in Bellevue is June 21, but it's important to keep the law in mind at all times.

When should you stop when a school bus has its "stop" paddle deployed? Here's what state law says:

• On a two lane road separated by a dividing line: both directions of traffic have to stop.
• On a two lane road separated by a turning lane: traffic behind the bus and in the turning lane have to stop. Traffic in the opposite lane must proceed with caution.
• On a road with three or more travel lanes: the lanes behind the bus must stop. Lanes traveling in the opposite direction must proceed with caution.
• On a two-lane road separated by a median strip: traffic behind the bus must stop. Traffic in the opposite direction must proceed with caution.