Middletown police say school bus cameras continue catching drivers illegally passing stopped buses

Middletown Police Say School Bus Cameras Continue Catching Drivers Illegally Passing Stopped Buses

by
June 2, 2026
·

Middletown Township police say school bus cameras are still recording an average of seven violations per day as officials continue efforts to improve student safety.

Middletown Township, PA – Drivers in Middletown Township continue to be cited for illegally passing stopped school buses, with police reporting that enforcement cameras are documenting an average of seven violations each day.

The Middletown Township Police Department provided an update on its BusPatrol school bus safety program Tuesday, noting that another 43 school days have passed since the department’s last public report on enforcement activity.

Key Points

• Police say school bus cameras are still capturing about seven violations per day.
• Officials confirmed all drivers shown in recently released footage received citations.
• A portion of every fine is dedicated to funding school bus safety initiatives.

According to police, some drivers continue attempting to avoid detection by pulling onto the shoulder as buses load and unload students. Officials said the camera system is still able to record violations in those situations.

The department emphasized that every motorist shown in the latest enforcement videos was cited for violating Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping laws.

Funding supports school bus safety

Police also highlighted provisions within Pennsylvania law that direct a portion of collected penalties toward student safety programs.

Under state law, officials said part of each citation is specifically allocated to support school bus safety initiatives, ensuring that some of the revenue generated through enforcement is reinvested into protecting students rather than being placed solely into a general fund.

Common excuses continue

The department also shared several explanations reportedly offered by drivers who received citations.

Among the reasons cited were drivers claiming children were boarding on the opposite side of the bus, believing a turn in front of the bus did not constitute passing, not seeing children actively boarding, or assuming they did not need to stop because the bus was in another lane.

Police reminded motorists that Pennsylvania law requires drivers to stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm, except in limited situations involving divided highways.

Officials said the continued violations underscore the importance of enforcement efforts aimed at preventing crashes and protecting children entering and exiting school buses.

Phil Stilton
Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

  1. New Jersey Town Where ICE Agent Was Run Down Passes Resolution Urging Repeal of Sanctuary State Policies
  2. New Jersey Dem Lawmakers Move to Expand Assault Rifle Ban As Court Rules Existing Law Unconstitutional
  3. FIFA Is Now Selling World Cup Grass Paid for by New Jersey Taxpayers
  4. Flood Watch, Severe Thunderstorm Risk, and Possible EF2 Tornado Threat Across New Jersey Today