Control That Impulse: Don't Pass Stopped School Buses on Thursday

On April 3rd, 2014, the Clarkstown Police Department is participating in the statewide selective traffic enforcement effort "Operation Safe-Stop".  This program is  coordinated and funded by the NYS Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) through a Police Traffic Services Grant.

During "Operation Safe Stop," police officers will be monitoring school buses in marked and unmarked patrol units on selected bus routes that have a history of illegal passing complaints. Police will issue tickets to drivers who pass stopped school buses (Section 1174 of the Vehicle & Traffic Law).  

THE LAW SAYS:

·       It is illegal - and very dangerous - to pass a stopped school bus when the large red lights located on top of the bus are flashing. Flashing lights mean the bus is picking up or discharging students.

·       You must stop whether you are approaching the school bus from the front or overtaking it from the rear.

·       You must always stop for flashing red lights, even on divided and multilane highways and on school grounds.

·       The first-time fine for illegally passing a school bus is a $250 to $400 fine, 5 points on your license, and/or possibly 30 days in jail.

Operation Safe Stop seeks to promote school bus safety through this annual education and enforcement effort. Operation Safe Stop is a cooperative project supported by the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, the New York State Education Department, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation, the New York State School Bus Contractors Association, the student transportation industry and state, county, city and local law enforcement agencies.