New Milford Police Begin Using Cameras to Catch Drivers Passing Stopped School Buses

According to a release from the New Milford Police Department, a new school bus safety enforcement program is now underway in town, and drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses could soon find themselves facing a $250 fine.

The program launched on October 19 as part of National School Bus Safety Week, which runs through October 23. New Milford police are using cameras mounted on school buses to identify motorists who drive past a bus while its stop arm is extended, and its red lights are flashing.

The goal is to protect children during some of the most vulnerable moments of their school day, including when they're boarding a bus, getting off or crossing the street.

Let's be honest: we've all seen drivers do some questionable things behind the wheel, but passing a stopped school bus is a particularly dangerous move. Those flashing red lights and the extended stop sign aren't suggestions. They're there because kids could be crossing the road, and you never know when a child might step out from in front of a bus.

Here's how the new program works. During the first 30 days of enforcement, drivers caught violating the law will receive a warning. After that initial grace period, motorists caught illegally passing a stopped school bus will be subject to a $250 fine.

The camera system gives police another way to identify violations, even when an officer isn't nearby to witness what's happening. It's part of the department's larger effort to keep students safe throughout the community.

National School Bus Safety Week continues through October 23, but the message from police applies all year long: slow down, pay attention and stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended.

New Milford Police Department

Getting to your destination a few seconds faster isn't worth putting a child's life at risk. And with this new program now in operation, drivers in New Milford have another reason to think twice before trying to beat a school bus.