Drivers Zoom Past Stopped Buses, Harford Sheriff's Office To Increase Patrols

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Since school started nearly three months ago, 1,228 tickets have been issued to drivers who passed a school bus that was stopped with its red lights activated. To curb this growing problem, the sheriff's office will be heightening school bus enforcement across the county.

Maryland law requires all vehicles to stop at least 20 feet behind or in front of the bus when it is stopped with its red lights activated. This applies to all traffic no matter how many lanes there are.

If there is a barrier between travel lanes, such as a raised median or a grass culvert, drivers approaching the bus do not need to stop. But those moving the same direction must still stop.

"Many of our 'hot spots' involve multi-lane roads. In fact, our biggest problem area is on Route 543 just south of the Bel Air Bypass. There are multiple lanes of travel in each direction, but no physical barrier. If you are anywhere on this section of road and the bus is stopped with red lights activated, you must stop," the Harford County Sheriff's Office stated. "It is vitally important that we all do our part to keep our kids safe. This is especially important when they are entering or exiting a school bus."

As a reminder, an automated citation costs $250, but if a deputy pulls a driver over, the fine jumps to $570 and could add three points to a driving record.