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Police across New York State are on high alert today (April 24) as part of the annual Operation Safe Stop Day, aiming to ensure the safety of children getting on and off school buses. Officers are focusing on identifying and penalizing drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses, a dangerous behavior that occurs approximately 110,000 times each school day statewide.
The initiative, a collaborative effort involving law enforcement, school personnel, and traffic safety organizations, seeks to educate the public about the risks and legal consequences of passing stopped school buses. According to NYAPT, each incident of illegal passing endangers children's lives, emphasizing the importance of stopping for school buses with flashing red lights.
Fines for violating this law range from $250 to $1,500 for repeat offenders, who may also face license revocation. The New York State Police are using both marked and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles to catch violators, as reported by the New York State Police.
Operation Safe Stop is part of a broader traffic safety campaign, which includes other initiatives like the "No Empty Chair" campaign, focusing on various traffic safety violations throughout the week. The combined efforts aim to reduce dangerous driving behaviors and enhance road safety for all, especially young students.