December 13, 2021
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Law enforcement issued more than 50 citations for passing school buses in five-day period - UpNorthLive.com

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 15: A school bus is stopped while picking up a student in Manhattan's East Village on January 15, 2013 in New York City. Drivers of the city's school buses are set to go on strike tomorrow after negotiations with Mayor Michael Bloomberg failed to reach an agreement; over 150,000 children will need to find an alternate method of transportation to school. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 15: A school bus is stopped while picking up a student in Manhattan's East Village on January 15, 2013 in New York City. Drivers of the city's school buses are set to go on strike tomorrow after negotiations with Mayor Michael Bloomberg failed to reach an agreement; over 150,000 children will need to find an alternate method of transportation to school. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

MICHIGAN (WPBN/WGTU) -- Michigan law enforcement is focusing on the safety of students as they travel to and from school as part of an initiative looking for drivers illegally passing school buses.

During "Operation Safe Stop", which ran from October 18 to October 22, law enforcement agencies worked with their local school districts to provide education and enforcement to their communities.

According to preliminary reports, 122 traffic stops and 50 citations were issued for the illegal passing of school buses.

When approaching a school bus, motorists must:

  • Prepare to stop when a slowing bus has its overhead yellow lights flashing
  • Stop at least 20 feet away from buses when red lights are flashing, unless driving in the opposite direction on a divided highway
  • Slow down in or near school and residential areas
  • Look for clues-such as safety patrols, crossing guards, bicycles, and playgrounds-that indicate children might be in the area
  • Watch for children between parked cars and other objects

Under Michigan law, if you pass a school bus, the following repercussions could apply:

  • Drivers who pass stopped school buses may be charged with civil infractions carrying a fine up to $500, and up to $100 in costs.
  • Drivers who pass a stopped school bus and cause a death are subject to a felony with either a fine up to $7,500 or up to 15 years in jail.
  • Drivers who pass a stopped school bus and cause an injury face a misdemeanor charge and either a fine up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail.
  • Effective October 11, 2021, a school that uses a stop-arm camera system shall provide a video or photograph for use as evidence in a proceeding for a violation of illegal passing of a school bus, if requested by an investigating law enforcement agency. A photograph or video recorded by a stop-arm camera system is admissible as evidence in a proceeding for a violation to the extent permitted by the rules of evidence of this state. However, a photograph or video recorded by a stop-arm camera system is not required for the prosecution of a violation

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, a one-day survey conducted by 1,373 Michigan bus drivers in May 2019 found 508 times a motorist passed a school bus illegally.

In 2019, there were 1,197 school bus-related crashes in Michigan according to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center.

A total of 18 agencies participated in the five-day enforcement period.



source: https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/law-enforcement-issued-more-than-50-citations-for-passing-school-buses-in-five-day-period

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