Teens Break MD University Bus Window After Driver Denies A Ride

MARYLAND — A University of Maryland shuttle bus driver claims the window on his bus was broken by three teenagers whom he told to disembark the bus for not wearing personal protective masks. The University of Maryland Police Department confirmed the incident and is trying to find the individuals responsible for the damage to the bus.

According to a letter sent to school officials by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1072 union and shared by WUSA9, the driver said the three teenagers boarded his bus and weren't wearing face masks. The driver informed them they needed to wear masks on the bus, so the teens lifted up their shirts and jackets and put those over their faces. The bus driver told the teens that using their clothing wouldn't work and asked them to leave.

However, when the bus pulled away from the campus bus stop in the 3800 block of Berwyn House Road, the driver said he heard a loud crash and found a broken bus window. He also saw the teens running away from the bus stop.

Newsweek reports that the university asks students and faculty to wear face masks in both indoor and outdoor public spaces on campus to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. AFSCME Local 1072 took to Twitter after the incident, noting that bus drivers being unable to enforce passengers wearing masks actually is "unlawful" considering the state's mask mandate.

The university noted in a response letter that shuttle drivers can "forego a stop if they see any threat to safety," including instances where passengers are not wearing face masks.

University of Maryland's COVID-19 dashboard showed 158 new virus cases between Aug. 30 and Sept.5, accounting for individuals who tested positive after having been present on the campus during the previous two weeks, Newsweek noted.

"This is a very unfortunate incident, and we fully support our employee who put first the health and safety of everyone on the bus," the university's statement read, according to WUSA9. "We have put several measures in place to support our drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including that bus drivers have the authority to not stop and pick up passengers if they feel there are already too many people on the bus. We are beginning the process to communicate to drivers the authority they have to forgo a stop if they see any threat to safety, which includes situations at the bus where people are not wearing masks."

UMD DOTS HAS PROHIBITED BUS DRIVERS FROM ENFORCING THE MASK MANDATE ON BUSES. They are now required to let people without a mask board. An incident occured on Sept. 2, 2020 when a UMD bus driver stopped to pick up 2 students who were not wearing masks... (THREAD)
— AFSCME Local 1072 (@afscme_1072) September 5, 2020