PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Portsmouth police are cracking down on drivers who illegally pass school buses.
Over spring break, Portsmouth Public Schools (PPS) staff installed stop arm cameras on ten school buses. The cameras were activated on Monday.
“Distracted driving is at an all-time high right now, and a lot of times, people don’t even realize they run a school bus stop arm," said Micheal King, coordinator of transportation services at PPS.
King said he's seen the danger firsthand.
“I’ve been out myself driving routes where, you know, I’ve had students getting off of the bus and a car actually went around the bus and passed the stop arm," he said.
Portsmouth resident Jeanne Bobbit has seen it, too.
“They just keep going, and they don’t know if a child is coming across there or not, and that’s someone’s precious treasure," Bobbit said.
Elexcia Washington, a public information officer with the Portsmouth Police Department (PPD), explained the cameras begin recording if a car doesn't stop while the stop arm is extended.
"It's really simple. You don't stop, the cameras start recording," she said.
That footage will go straight to Portsmouth police.
Drivers have a 30-day warning period starting Monday. After that, police will hand out $250 fines for drivers who don’t stop starting on May 6.
“Our kids should feel confident when they’re entering the bus or exiting the bus that they’re going to be safe when they’re going to school," Washington said.
Washington said the entire fleet of school buses should have cameras by next school year.