Police Issued More Than 54,000 School Bus Citations to Motorists in 2018-19

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FANTASTIC!

People drive around buses All.The.Time in my Silver Spring neighborhood. Even the parents who drive their kids to the bus stop. I don't understand it! You are dropping your OWN kid off at the bus stop, and then you zoom around the bus??

Glad they are cracking down.

I got a ticket from one of these. A bus stopped in front of a day care curb. I was three lanes away on the other side of the bus where there is no sidewalk. Since there was no median on this four lane road, I was breaking the law. If there is a median separating the right two lanes and left two lanes, then passing the bus is legal.

Apparently, these bus tickets have clogged the local courts, since the buses are required to run the yellow flashing lights for at least 100 feet(?) before deploying the red blinking stop signs. A lot of bus drivers don't do this.

these bus tickets have clogged the local courts, since the buses are required to run the yellow flashing lights for at least 100 feet(?) before deploying the red blinking stop signs. A lot of bus drivers don't do this.

There is no calibration on these cameras. They just take a picture of anything and everything and the guys that went to jail hope you will pay the fine to support their legal fund.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have gotten a few that are bull shit - we were stopping but triggers the camera anyway, or had evidently stopped a millimeter ahead of where we were supposed to. They just print the tickets bc they know people won’t fight them.

I also didn’t know that you are supposed to stop even on the other side of a six lane road with a meridian (even when the kids aren’t going to be crossing). That seems excessive.

They print the tickets and almost no one pays. The money isn't being collected or the "company" is pocketing the cash before they report it to MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have gotten a few that are bull shit - we were stopping but triggers the camera anyway, or had evidently stopped a millimeter ahead of where we were supposed to. They just print the tickets bc they know people won’t fight them.

I also didn’t know that you are supposed to stop even on the other side of a six lane road with a meridian (even when the kids aren’t going to be crossing). That seems excessive.

They print the tickets and almost no one pays. The money isn't being collected or the "company" is pocketing the cash before they report it to MCPS.

Do you also not pay if you get a parking ticket?

Cross Safe- School Bus Tickets A ticket issued through Montgomery County’s automated traffic enforcement program is a civil violation similar to a parking violation. You may pay the fine, which is an admission of guilt, or you may request a hearing. According to Maryland State law, the registered vehicle owner is responsible for the citation.
Pay by Phone – 1-877-504-7080 –8:00-5:00 m-f – you may have to leave a message and they will return your call.
Pay in person – Montgomery County Div. of Finance - 255 Rockville Pike Suite L-15 Rockville MD 20850 ( entrance on Monroe St)
Pay by Mail- Montgomery County, MD
School Bus Safety Camera Program

PO Box 826993

Philadelphia, PA 19182-6993

Write the citation number and license plate number on your check or money order TO ENSURE PROPER CREDIT. Returned checks are subject to electronic redeposit for the face amount and a returned check fee of $35.00. DO NOT SEND CASH.

d. Pay by web- www.alertbus.com – (use Google or Mozilla) – accepts Visa/Mastercard/Discover

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/howto/pay.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

these bus tickets have clogged the local courts, since the buses are required to run the yellow flashing lights for at least 100 feet(?) before deploying the red blinking stop signs. A lot of bus drivers don't do this.

There is no calibration on these cameras. They just take a picture of anything and everything and the guys that went to jail hope you will pay the fine to support their legal fund.

What calibration is necessary? These aren't speed cameras. They're did-you-pass-the-stopped-school-bus cameras.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have gotten a few that are bull shit - we were stopping but triggers the camera anyway, or had evidently stopped a millimeter ahead of where we were supposed to. They just print the tickets bc they know people won’t fight them.

I also didn’t know that you are supposed to stop even on the other side of a six lane road with a meridian (even when the kids aren’t going to be crossing). That seems excessive.

They print the tickets and almost no one pays. The money isn't being collected or the "company" is pocketing the cash before they report it to MCPS.

Do you also not pay if you get a parking ticket?

Cross Safe- School Bus Tickets A ticket issued through Montgomery County’s automated traffic enforcement program is a civil violation similar to a parking violation. You may pay the fine, which is an admission of guilt, or you may request a hearing. According to Maryland State law, the registered vehicle owner is responsible for the citation.
Pay by Phone – 1-877-504-7080 –8:00-5:00 m-f – you may have to leave a message and they will return your call.
Pay in person – Montgomery County Div. of Finance - 255 Rockville Pike Suite L-15 Rockville MD 20850 ( entrance on Monroe St)
Pay by Mail- Montgomery County, MD
School Bus Safety Camera Program

PO Box 826993

Philadelphia, PA 19182-6993

Write the citation number and license plate number on your check or money order TO ENSURE PROPER CREDIT. Returned checks are subject to electronic redeposit for the face amount and a returned check fee of $35.00. DO NOT SEND CASH.

d. Pay by web- www.alertbus.com – (use Google or Mozilla) – accepts Visa/Mastercard/Discover

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/howto/pay.html

Cross Safe = BusPatrol = company shut down by FBI. (Same phone number folks)

Alertbus.com = website owned by co-owner of bus camera scheme and payments go to his house in Louisiana

Yes, most of the bus camera citations are not being paid. The money isn't being collected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

these bus tickets have clogged the local courts, since the buses are required to run the yellow flashing lights for at least 100 feet(?) before deploying the red blinking stop signs. A lot of bus drivers don't do this.

There is no calibration on these cameras. They just take a picture of anything and everything and the guys that went to jail hope you will pay the fine to support their legal fund.

What calibration is necessary? These aren't speed cameras. They're did-you-pass-the-stopped-school-bus cameras.

Good question. It shows the public needs to be educated about the law. The bus driver is required to give notice that the bus is stopping. That notice is guaged by distance. That gives the cars a chance to stop before the stop arm goes out. If the bus driver does not give sufficient notice and flips out the stop arm these cameras will still take a picture. That means if a car is next to a bus when it flips out the stop arm, that car is given a ticket even though the driver has no opportunity whatsoever to stop.

These cameras take pictures of every car, whether or not the car had a chance to stop or not. The cameras are not calibrated for Maryland law. They were set up for Dallas, Tx and Louisiana - the two jurisdictions involved in the bribery schemes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Good question. It shows the public needs to be educated about the law. The bus driver is required to give notice that the bus is stopping. That notice is guaged by distance. That gives the cars a chance to stop before the stop arm goes out. If the bus driver does not give sufficient notice and flips out the stop arm these cameras will still take a picture. That means if a car is next to a bus when it flips out the stop arm, that car is given a ticket even though the driver has no opportunity whatsoever to stop.

These cameras take pictures of every car, whether or not the car had a chance to stop or not. The cameras are not calibrated for Maryland law. They were set up for Dallas, Tx and Louisiana - the two jurisdictions involved in the bribery schemes.

You mean, about STOPPING FOR A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS?

Who are these people? Seriously? Why do you think it's ok to not stop for a stopped school bus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Good question. It shows the public needs to be educated about the law. The bus driver is required to give notice that the bus is stopping. That notice is guaged by distance. That gives the cars a chance to stop before the stop arm goes out. If the bus driver does not give sufficient notice and flips out the stop arm these cameras will still take a picture. That means if a car is next to a bus when it flips out the stop arm, that car is given a ticket even though the driver has no opportunity whatsoever to stop.

These cameras take pictures of every car, whether or not the car had a chance to stop or not. The cameras are not calibrated for Maryland law. They were set up for Dallas, Tx and Louisiana - the two jurisdictions involved in the bribery schemes.

You mean, about STOPPING FOR A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS?

Who are these people? Seriously? Why do you think it's ok to not stop for a stopped school bus?

This is hard to understand, but if your car is next to a school bus when it flips out the stop arm you can get a ticket with this system even though you had no warning that the bus was about to discharge or pick up passengers. Let's say you are at a red light next to a school bus and it flips out the stop arm as the light turns green. You get a ticket. No warning, next to bus, you are on video. Drivers know the tickets are bogus and don't pay.

These people are the majority of the people getting these citations because they aren't paying them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Good question. It shows the public needs to be educated about the law. The bus driver is required to give notice that the bus is stopping. That notice is guaged by distance. That gives the cars a chance to stop before the stop arm goes out. If the bus driver does not give sufficient notice and flips out the stop arm these cameras will still take a picture. That means if a car is next to a bus when it flips out the stop arm, that car is given a ticket even though the driver has no opportunity whatsoever to stop.

These cameras take pictures of every car, whether or not the car had a chance to stop or not. The cameras are not calibrated for Maryland law. They were set up for Dallas, Tx and Louisiana - the two jurisdictions involved in the bribery schemes.

You mean, about STOPPING FOR A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS?

Who are these people? Seriously? Why do you think it's ok to not stop for a stopped school bus?

Do you live in Montgomery County?

Likely, these are the same drivers who drive without car insurance, because they see it as a ‘victimless’ crime. Or, the same drivers who hit another vehicle and just drive away because nobody was there to see it.

Without enforcement, people break the laws. Especially in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is hard to understand, but if your car is next to a school bus when it flips out the stop arm you can get a ticket with this system even though you had no warning that the bus was about to discharge or pick up passengers. Let's say you are at a red light next to a school bus and it flips out the stop arm as the light turns green. You get a ticket. No warning, next to bus, you are on video. Drivers know the tickets are bogus and don't pay.

These people are the majority of the people getting these citations because they aren't paying them.

This is how many times I've been in a car at a red light next to a school bus, and it flipped out the stop arm as the light turned green: zero.

This is how many times I've seen people drive past school buses stopped at school bus stops: lots and lots and lots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is hard to understand, but if your car is next to a school bus when it flips out the stop arm you can get a ticket with this system even though you had no warning that the bus was about to discharge or pick up passengers. Let's say you are at a red light next to a school bus and it flips out the stop arm as the light turns green. You get a ticket. No warning, next to bus, you are on video. Drivers know the tickets are bogus and don't pay.

These people are the majority of the people getting these citations because they aren't paying them.

This is how many times I've been in a car at a red light next to a school bus, and it flipped out the stop arm as the light turned green: zero.

This is how many times I've seen people drive past school buses stopped at school bus stops: lots and lots and lots.

That was an example to attempt to explain that these cameras are not calibrated for distance and do not distinguish cars that actually pass legally stopped school buses and cars that are simply next to school buses.

Lots and lots and lots does not verify that the law was followed with regard to the bus driver's notice of stopping or as to the location of the car. Just as with the speed cameras, calibration is important in this process as to hold the cars accountable. Without verification, these citations can not hold up in court and fines aren't collected.

If you like fines based on a company model that is designed to funnel money to people in prison, then you love this plan. Other drivers are apparently not falling for this model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
That was an example to attempt to explain that these cameras are not calibrated for distance and do not distinguish cars that actually pass legally stopped school buses and cars that are simply next to school buses.

Lots and lots and lots does not verify that the law was followed with regard to the bus driver's notice of stopping or as to the location of the car. Just as with the speed cameras, calibration is important in this process as to hold the cars accountable. Without verification, these citations can not hold up in court and fines aren't collected.

If you like fines based on a company model that is designed to funnel money to people in prison, then you love this plan. Other drivers are apparently not falling for this model.

I like fines based on the idea that drivers should obey the law by stopping for school buses that are stopped.

Montgomery County police issued 54,458 citations to drivers who illegally passed stopped school buses during the 2018-19 school year. Please provide information to support your assertion that people are disputing the citations in large numbers and/or not paying.

[Anonymous]

^^^I just cross-checked with the comments on the Bethesda Beat piece and found out who's posting these comments above on DCUM.

Asking that person for supporting information is a waste of time.

[Anonymous]

The other day a bus pulled over. My mind registered “bus” so I stopped. The people behind me were not happy with me. It was a metro bus. My fault for stopping but I think the message has been driven home. Stop for the school buses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other day a bus pulled over. My mind registered “bus” so I stopped. The people behind me were not happy with me. It was a metro bus. My fault for stopping but I think the message has been driven home. Stop for the school buses.

Fines are still not being paid.