It's going to get more difficult for drivers to illegally pass school buses in Montgomery County without facing consequences.
The County Council Tuesday unanimously passed a bill to allow the installation of cameras on buses. The cameras will catch drivers who ignore the flashing stop signs on school buses that are picking up or dropping off students.
"We are fortunate that we passed this bill today without the need to name it after a child who has been killed by someone who believes that speeding past a stopped school bus is more important than protecting our county's school children," bill sponsor Council member Valerie Ervin said after she and her colleages approved the measure in a 9-0 vote.
Recent reports and video show a number of people breaking the law by overtaking school buses in Maryland. Police said they will start by targeting bus routes where the crime seems to happen most frequently.
Violators face fines of up to $250 if their cars are caught by cameras. It could be a fine of up to $1,000 and a misdemeanor charge for people whom bus drivers can identify.
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