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Sunday, April 28, 2013
A Letter To The Editor: School Bus Violations
Around 6am on my way home from work yesterday I was stopped by a cop that appeared out of no where on route 13 headed north (next to The super 8 and best value inn hotels). He said that I drove past a school bus with It's flashing lights on. This incident resulted in a $570 ticket. I told him I didn't see the bus and I was in the center lane. It didn't matter, all lanes have to stop. Today when I got off work I saw the cop hiding behind the bushes waiting for passing cars to drive past the stopped bus. Sure enough he pulled over two more people the exact same way. I noticed one car hesitated as if they didn't know whether to stop or go and The other two lanes drove on as normal. Sure, I'm really upset about the outrageous ticket and I'm going to have to go to court but I feel there needs to be more awareness of bus laws on a highway. Everyone I've talked to didn't realize the center and far lanes had to stop when a bus picks up a student on the highway. Not to mention the cop told me that they're working overtime to catch people and he's handed out over 15 tickets.
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22 comments:
Who doesn't know this??? Bus stops, all traffic stops. You deserved that ticket.
what do they say? ignorance of the law is no excuse?
On a divided highway, opposing traffic does not stop, but yes, all lanes on the bus side must stop when his lights are activated. Pay up.
joe -
another little law enforcement tidbit. on northwood dr (heading from naylor mill rd to 13), the cops have permanent radar set up on a telephone/light pole.
after you pass the 50 bypass exit, therell be a handful of trees. after those trees you will see a device used to count cars and record speeds (i cant say with 100% certainty, but it looks like the device can also take pictures as well).
this is supposed to be used for "research purposes only", but you and i know that will only be temporary until they can sneak in another spying bill.
i encourage you to check it out.
unless its a divided highway
All lanes heading north would have to stop. Heading south should be clear but I wouldn't doubt they will add that in the near future for added revenue. Of course it will be for the "safety of the children".
Cop was looking for easy cash but you were in the wrong. Ya both stink.
One of the basic test questions of getting your driver's license is all about when you have to stop for a school bus with its flashing lights engaged.
You have no sympathy from me.
Pay up.
Sounds like you need to go back to drivers education!
Officers and the agencies they work for make exactly $0 off the citations they write. Kudos to them for enforcing the law.
Good. Sorry for your loss of money but there needs to be more awareness about simple, common sense, rules of the road. As was evident from my letter about an intersection, many did not know the proper procedural about right of way, entering and turning an intersection.
Now, they need to do the same thing with ambulances and other emergency vehicles. As one mentioned, these are basic questions that were on tests for driver licenses.
Did they raise the number of questions you are allowed to get wrong and still pass the test?
BTW, that does sound like an excessive amount, unless your record is really bad. Take it to court, I'm sure you can get it reduced.
P.S. maybe if you stopped, others would have too?
1:19. The epitomy of being disingenuous.
Heard that 2:52, whatta they do with the money, give it to charity?
What a clown.
The money goes into the State fund. It doesn't not go to the local agencies that write the citations.
Check the law, $570 is the fine for everyone...no matter what your driving record.
Anonymous said...
The money goes into the State fund. It doesn't not go to the local agencies that write the citations.
Check the law, $570 is the fine for everyone...no matter what your driving record.
April 25, 2013 at 7:39 PM
Here, smart ass. It says it one forgo's a trial the fine is 570. (forgo means they don't take the ticket to court.) The reference to driving record was in regard to chances to get it lowered. We all know money goes into the general fund, and then it is doled out to whoever has their hand sticking out, which includes the different police agencies, in some form. Where to the court costs go, school lunches? How many times does that lame excuse have to get slapped down before you mental midgets stop trying to use it? About the other thing worse than a cop trying to be a lawyer is to run out of toilet paper. And I'm not too sure about that. Go back to your t.v. shows and learn something new.
Violations of the school bus passing law carry some of the heaviest penalties among Maryland driving laws that don't require the defendant to appear in court, A motorist who receives such a ticket and elects to forgo a trial must pay a fine of $570. The offense carries 3 points if a driver fails to stop at all; the penalty is 2 points of the drivers stops but then passes before the bus driver has turned off the flashing lights and retracted the sign.
@920am
i saw that device you were referring to on my way to work today. it looks like its attached to the lighting on the corner of marvel and northwood dr. unreal!
Here's a thought: If you are following the laws of driving- You have nothing to worry about!!! It doesn't matter if the Cops are hiding or there are cameras and etc. If you are doing the speed limit and obeying the laws, then you are not guilty!! Quit this stupid crying - You just want someone to feel sorry for you and we are not! So BE RESPONSIBLE for yourself and quit trying to blame others!! You must be a LIBERAL!!!
Money goes into the state fund for highway/road construction. Court costs pay for court personel/public defenders. Go back pretending to be a tv lawyer.
Anonymous said...
Money goes into the state fund for highway/road construction. Court costs pay for court personel/public defenders. Go back pretending to be a tv lawyer.
April 28, 2013 at 9:19 AM
You just repeated everything I had said with the exception of police getting money from the state too. (of course you did)
You even use the same t.v. reference. Is this how you do your school work too?
I am a Wicomico County School bus driver.It is a scary thing to let a child off or on the bus.I worry when they are walking across the road. People are so unpredictable and impatient.So you will get no sympathy from me. You were wrong and deserved that ticket. Just be thankful you didn't hit or kill a child by being stupid. Bet you wouldn't be writing Joe about that.
I almost got ran over twice Saturday, in Land of the Fruits, by people speeding, trying to pass while I was making a left turn, making another left turn at an INTERSECTION, both in residential areas on Camden.
Sunday, turn into hospital and someone coming at me going the wrong way, on a one way entrance.
You definitely have to watch others. Used to be you had to drive for the other guy. Now, you have to drive for several 'other guys'.
They need to repeal the seat belt law, maybe that herd could be thinned out some.
You need to pay up and deal. They need to give more tickets out like this and maybe people would think twice. I was recently in a car accident... Stopping for a school bus. I was stopped on the opposite side of the road and the moron behind me was not paying attention and slammed in to my car and totaled it. I had my son in the back. The child getting off the bus was directly in front of my car. I thank god i was there because that child would most likely have been dead at the rate of speed he was going.When it happened the child's mother was standing there crying holding her child because it was such a close call. So yes i'm glad they are doing this so now people will learn to slow down and STOP!!!!
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