Operation Safe Stop In Bucks Co. Targets Drivers Violating Bus Laws

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Police departments in Bucks County, including Newtown Township and Northampton Township, will be participating in Operation Safe Stop today.

The statewide public awareness and enforcement campaign is designed to remind drivers about the laws regarding stopping for school buses and to reduce the number of illegal passes that put students at risk.

“If you see a Police Officer either on the school bus or following in a marked/unmarked patrol vehicle, please do not be alarmed as we are there to make sure everyone is driving safely,” police said.

Operation Safe Stop’s main goal is to educate the public and enforce Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law (75 Pa.C.S. § 3345). It aims to raise awareness about the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended — one of the biggest safety risks for students who are getting on or off the bus.

In Pennsylvania, illegally passing a stopped school bus can result in a $250 fine, five points on your driving record and a 60-day license suspension.

Every year, thousands of illegal passes are reported in Pennsylvania. Operation Safe Stop brings attention to the issue, helps prevent tragedies, and reinforces that school bus safety is a shared responsibility between drivers, transportation providers, schools, and communities.