Over 200 fines issues for passing stopped school buses

Posted 1/16/23

WESTOVER — The BusPatrol system used by the Sheriff’s Office and Somerset County Public Schools to curb drivers from passing stopped school buses has resulted in more than 200 citations …

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Over 200 fines issues for passing stopped school buses

Posted

WESTOVER — The BusPatrol system used by the Sheriff’s Office and Somerset County Public Schools to curb drivers from passing stopped school buses has resulted in more than 200 citations being issued since the program started last April.

According to Maryland law, when a school bus has signaled it is stopped to pickup or discharge passengers motorists must stop at least 20 feet from the front or rear of the vehicle, depending on the direction of travel.

Technology installed by BusPatrol begins recording video when the amber warning lights followed by red lights and extension of the stop arm activate. Any vehicle entering into the danger zone is recorded and photographed so the vehicle’s license plate can be read, said Cpl. Lemuel White, who is also an assistant driver trainer for SCPS.

He reviews the video and if a violation is confirmed the motor vehicle owner is mailed a $250 fine which is a civil penalty with no points.

Corporal White said if the infraction is witnessed by a police officer on the road it would be a $500 fine and three points.

“I’ve been to court three times since August where someone’s tried to challenge me,” Cpl. White said. “And the first thing I do is play the video, and the judge goes ‘Really, you want to challenge this?’ and they lose.”

The system went live on buses on April 11. From that date through Dec. 12 there were 232 violations of which 220 led to citations. Of those 32 are overdue for payment, which if it’s on a Maryland driver will result in the non-renewal of the vehicle’s registration.

“Hotspots” include UMES Boulevard and Somerset Avenue in Princess Anne, with Crisfield Highway at 55 miles per hour much of the way the highest speed road where buses stop for students, Cpl. White said.

One of the things he looks for when confirming a violation is that the bus driver followed all of the required protocols, for example, not waving a motorist to continue on when stopping.

It’s been an education for bus drivers as well, said Michael Bartemy, supervisor of transportation and operations. “Our drivers have been really receptive to it.”

For student education a remote-controlled model “Buster the School Bus” is used in elementary schools and will be returning this year to see if children retained what they learned in the fall. Corporal White even used it to conduct a program at Holly Grove Christian School, with SCPS approval.

The five-year program requires a monthly per bus technology fee to BusPatrol but when citations are over that amount the excess revenue is split 60/40 with the Sheriff’s Office.

Mr. Bartemy said through the installation of updated GPS and other software at no cost to the county it’s already saved SCPS around $30,000. The contract runs for five years.

“I don’t think people realize the danger that face our students getting on the bus, on the bus, and getting off the bus,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Gaddis said. “This is fantastic to educate our students and our bus contractors…so people can see that it’s happened 220 times since April 11.”

There are 40 buses used by SCPS with the cameras installed, Mr. Bartemy said, and Cpl. White said that in addition to the Sheriff’s Office the State Police and both municipal police departments monitor bus safety.

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