Pass a stopped DC school bus with its stop-arm activated? Prepare for $500 fine

The District’s bite on drivers who don’t slow down when school buses are stopped is now $500 sharper.

D.C.’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) said ticketing for the Stop-Arm Safety Program began Saturday.

This move follows a 45-day warning period, which launched April 29, when drivers who were caught illegally passing a stopped bus with its stop-arm activated received only a warning.

D.C. placed stop-arm cameras on 25 school buses maintained by OSSE, with a fleet that includes over 600 buses.

DDOT acting director Sharon Kershbaum said the program demonstrates the department’s commitment “to the safety of all our students, every day, particularly the thousands of students with disabilities who receive bus transportation to access their education.”

She said it “aligns seamlessly with the District’s commitment to Vision Zero, aiming to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by promoting safe behaviors and implementing innovative safety measures, and helps ensure the safety of our most vulnerable students.”

Citations will now be “issued for motorists who illegally pass an OSSE school bus that is stopped with its stop-arm activated. Videos of violations and license plate images will be reviewed by DDOT for verification before a warning or a notice of infraction is issued.

Violators face a $500 fine,” according to a DDOT news release.

In neighboring Maryland, violation of these laws brings a $250 fine if caught on camera. If stopped by a police officer, the fine can be up to $570 and be accompanied by a three-point driver’s license penalty.

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