N.Y. police to crack down on school bus passers

You're in a hurry, so you decide to hit the gas, zip around the bus and continue on your way.If you're going to be driving somewhere in Putnam County on Wednesday, you might want to think again.Officers from the Putnam County Sheriff''s Office will be on the road that day looking for motorists who violate the state law requiring drivers to stop for school buses picking up or discharging passengers.The penalty for first-time offenders is a $250 fine and five points against their driving record.The enforcement effort is part of Operation Safe Stop, a statewide program designed to increase awareness of the law, said Capt. William McNamara, spokesman for the sheriff's office."We've been doing this for several years, and we hope that it serves as a reminder for motorists," McNamara said.Officers will be either riding buses or following them in unmarked cars, especially in areas that have a history of illegal passing complaints."One car passing a stopped school bus is one car too many," said Peter Ferone, supervisor of transportation for the Carmel Central School District.The district operates 100 buses and transports more than 5,000 students every day to schools in Carmel, Kent, Patterson, Stormville and part of East Fishkill, Ferone said.Typically, bus drivers report about 25 cases per year where cars pass them while they are picking up or dropping off students. Fortunately, Ferone said, none of the incidents have resulted in injuries to students.Bus drivers are normally issued a form on which they write down the license plate number of the offending vehicle. The form is then forwarded to authorities in Albany, who send out the tickets, Ferone said. But sometimes, the car is going too fast for the driver to see the plate.McNamara said the sheriff's department receives money from the state to pay the officers involved in the enforcement effort."Its a good idea, because it makes everyone aware," Ferone said.Contact John Pirroat jpirro@newstimesor at (203) 731-3342 The penalty for first-time offenders is a $250 fine and five points against their driving record. shoes

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