Thousands Ticketed For Passing Stopped School Buses: Police

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD - Thousands of Anne Arundel County drivers have been ticketed for illegally passing stopped school buses, police announced this week.

WMAR reported that the 2022-2023 school year was the first where buses were equipped with cameras to ticket violators.

More than 18,000 offenders were ticketed in the first year of this program, the Anne Arundel County Police Department said.

Officers on Thursday released this video of drivers passing stopped school buses. It showed close calls in Glen Burnie, Severn and Crownsville. 

"It's crucial to remind motorists to never pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing," authorities said in the video." The flashing lights and extended stop arm are signals that children may be crossing the road. Passing a stopped school bus in this situation is not only illegal but also extremely dangerous."

Drivers must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus with its stop arm extended and its red lights flashing. 

Stopping is not required if the bus is on the other side of a divided roadway with a median or barrier between the driver and the bus. 

Those ticketed by school bus cameras will get a $250 fine and no points on their driver's license.

If a police officer catches this, the penalty is $570 and three points.

More information on the law is available in this Maryland State Police post.

This graphic shows that drivers must not pass stopped school buses unless there is a median between them and the bus. (Courtesy of the Maryland State Police)

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