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.