NCHP Targeting Drivers Passing Stopped School Buses

On October 18, the North Carolina Highway Patrol will be launching a week-long school bus safety initiative in hopes of reducing the risk of personal injury to students.

The NCHP says that every school day, more than 2,300 drivers illegally pass a stopped school bus in North Carolina. The Patrol hopes that the initiative, named “Operation Stop Arm,” will help reduce that number.

During the week, troopers driving both marked and unmarked patrol vehicles will be patrolling school zones, following buses, and handing out tickets in an effort to reduce crashes.

Troopers will be aggressive during the initiative in enforcing stop arm violations and other traffic violations in and around school zones. The NCHP expects the initiative to reduce the number of violations and school bus collisions.

Passing a stopped a school bus is a Class 2 misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to five license points and fines of $200.