The Southern Tier Chapter of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation is shining the light on the problem of motorists passing stopped school buses.

Operation Safe Stop happens April 21 and is a cooperative project supported by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the New York State Education Department and transportation officials.

NYAPT is pushing for legislation that will install cameras on the stop arms of school buses as motorists, thousands of them, pass stopped school buses on the right-hand side every day.

For now, the first time fine for a motorist passing a stopped bus is 250 to 400 dollars with five points on a driver’s license and a possible jail sentence of 30 days.  Officials say, of course, no matter what the penalty, nothing can replace a child killed or injured by a car passing a stopped school bus.

 

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