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In unmarked cars and cruisers, police watching for motorists who pass stopped school buses today in St. Lawrence County

Posted 4/16/15

State police patrols along bus routes in St. Lawrence County will increase today, April 16, as part of Operation Safe Stop. The initiative is designed to increase enforcement and awareness for …

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In unmarked cars and cruisers, police watching for motorists who pass stopped school buses today in St. Lawrence County

Posted

State police patrols along bus routes in St. Lawrence County will increase today, April 16, as part of Operation Safe Stop.

The initiative is designed to increase enforcement and awareness for motorists that pass a stopped school bus when children are getting on or off the bus.

Troopers warn that passing a stopped school bus while children are loading or unloading is both dangerous and illegal.

New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico said, “Keeping our children safe when they go off to school is a high priority. Passing a stopped school bus while kids are getting on or off can cause a tragic accident. I urge all motorists to obey the law and observe flashing red bus lights. Our Troopers will be out on the road and enforcing this law for any motorist who does not stop for a stopped school bus. Let's work together to ensure that our kids are safe and to avoid any tragedies.”

State police will use both marked vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of the operation in order to more easily identify motorists who are passing a stopped school bus. CITE vehicles allow troopers to better observe driving violations. The vehicles blend in with every day traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

During the 2014 Operation Safe Stop campaign, troopers issued more than 120 tickets.

A ticket could cost up to $400 for first offense, plus a court surcharge and five points on a driving license if convicted of failing to stop for a school bus.

Two-thirds of the infractions for passing a stopped school bus in St. Lawrence County were in Massena and Potsdam, according to recent tracking throughout the area.

To read more about that story, click here.