646 Motorists Ticketed in N.Y. for Illegally Passing Stopped School Buses in 1 Day

September 9, 2019

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other officials rode a school bus to a press conference on Monday, June 11, 2018 to promote new legislation to improve student safety at schools.

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Sept. 4 that state police will increase patrols to crackdown on dangerous drivers and keep students safe as the new school year begins. There are 50,000 or more incidences of illegal passing of stopped school buses every school day, estimated the New York Association for Pupil Transportation. The school bus report is included below in its unedited form.

The Governor urged motorists to watch for students as they walk or bike to school, follow posted speed limits, and obey the law by stopping whenever the red lights on a school bus are flashing and its stop arms extended. This enforcement and awareness initiative supports ongoing safety measures the Governor has implemented to ensure the protection of New York’s students.

“No matter how a child gets to school—whether on a school bus, a bike, a scooter, or on foot—they should feel safe,” Governor Cuomo said. “I urge every driver to do their part—be alert and follow the rules of the road. Drivers who put children’s lives in danger will be held responsible.”

In addition to stepping up patrols, State Police will again be partnering with AAA for their annual “School’s Open—Drive Carefully” campaign. State police will be displaying AAA’s “School’s Open” bumper stickers on all marked patrol cars, as an added reminder to motorists to be on the lookout for students.

State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, “Traffic safety is a top priority for our agency. As school buses return and kids walk through our neighborhoods, state troopers will ramp up enforcement and raise driver awareness to prevent injuries and save lives. We ask everyone—parents, neighbors, and motorists—to work with law enforcement and pay attention behind the wheel to ensure safe travel for all children. We want to make sure this school year is a safe one for our smallest New Yorkers.”

Mark J.F. Schroeder, DMV commissioner and chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, said, “As the new school year begins, I urge all motorists to pay careful attention to when and where children may be on their way to or from school. And if you see a school bus come to a halt, turn on its red flashing lights and put out its “Stop” sign, do not pass it for any reason. A moment’s impatience could mean a lifetime of pain for a family and dire consequences for yourself.”

Governor Cuomo has prioritized student safety and just last month signed legislation authorizing school districts to install stop-arm cameras to catch drivers who unlawfully pass a stopped school bus. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) estimates that 50,000 motor vehicles illegally pass school buses every day across the state.

In May, more than 640 drivers statewide were ticketed for illegally passing stopped school buses during “Operation Safe Stop,” a one-day enforcement effort. State police and local law enforcement also issued 1,991 tickets for other traffic violations and made 74 arrests for offenses including drunk driving and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. This enforcement effort included 702 police officers from 75 law enforcement agencies.

Tickets were issued for passing a school bus [in one day] in the following regions:

No. of Tickets Issued for Passing a
Region School Bus on One Day Only

Capital Region 13

Central New York 1

Long Island 25

Mid-Hudson 10

Mohawk Valley 2

New York City 571

Southern Tier 1

Western New York 6

NYS Police (Statewide) 17

Total 646
________________________________________________________________________

Operation Safe Stop is supported by the GTSC, New York State Education Department, New York Association for Pupil Transportation, New York State School Bus Contractors Association, student transportation industry, and state and local law enforcement agencies.

Drivers convicted of passing a stopped school bus face a fine of $250 to $400 and five points on their license for a first violation. For three violations in three years, drivers face a maximum fine of $1,000, a revoked driver license for a minimum of six months and could face jail time.

Last year, Governor Cuomo also signed an executive order to protect more than 1 million New York City school children from speeding vehicles. The Governor’s action paved the way for the city to reinstate its school zone speed camera program.

Also in 2018, Governor Cuomo signed a bill strengthening the state’s requirements for random drug and alcohol testing for all school bus drivers. The law also prohibits bus drivers from drinking alcohol at least eight hours prior to their shift, an increase from the previous six-hour limit.

John Corlett, a spokesperson for AAA New York State, said, “We all need to show extra caution when driving as schools reopen and students return to the classroom after a summer of sun and fun. Drivers should be particularly alert for children darting out between parked cars on busy streets and boarding or exiting school buses. Vigilance plays a key role to ensure the safety of all school children.”

David Christopher, executive director of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation, said, “NYAPT has advocated for years for a stop-arm camera law in New York state and we are very pleased the law has finally passed. We believe the new law will help in reducing the serious issue of illegal passing of stopped school buses in our state. NYAPT surveys estimate there are over 50,000 incidences of illegal passing of stopped school buses each school day. Each illegal passing incidence creates a threat to students we are charged with transporting to and from school safely. We ask the motoring public to drive without distraction and stop for stopped school buses with red lights flashing. A child’s life depends on it!”