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Gaithersburg, MD – During the first week of the 2026-2027 school year, the Montgomery County Department of Police issued 269 citations to drivers who illegally passed stopped school buses.
While the number of school bus stop-arm violations decreased during the previous school year, thousands of drivers continue to pass stopped school buses and put children at risk.
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During the 2025-2026 school year, 40,854 citations were issued to drivers for illegally passing stopped school buses, an average of 0.19 citations per bus per day. The total represents a 19.1% decrease in citations mailed compared to the previous school year.
The three locations with the most violations during the 2025-2026 school year were:
- 5100 block of River Road in Bethesda
- 8800 block of Colesville Road in Silver Spring
- 7100 block of Arlington Road in Bethesda
Montgomery County Police officers are proactively patrolling school zones throughout the county, watching for drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses, speed, drive distracted or engage in other dangerous driving behaviors around schools.
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Passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended can result in a $250 citation when the violation is captured by an automated school bus camera. If you’re stopped by a police officer, you could face a fine of up to $570 and three points on your driving record.
Read the original article at mcgov
