OCEAN CITY, Md. – Police in Ocean City are stepping up efforts to protect students boarding and exiting school buses through a targeted enforcement program funded by a federal grant. The Ocean City Police Department received nearly $30,000 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to support the Illegal Passing of Stopped School Buses – High Visibility Enforcement Pilot Project.
This funding helps officers focus on preventing drivers from illegally passing stopped school buses and reinforces public education about Maryland’s school bus laws.
Since January, officers have conducted 246 traffic stops, including 100 for school bus-related violations. Citations issued total 240, with 24 specifically for illegal passing of stopped school buses. Other common violations include failure to obey traffic control devices and failure to stop at stop signs. Officers have worked 331 overtime hours to support these enforcement efforts. Maryland’s laws require drivers to stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and extends its stop arm.
On roads with a physical median, only traffic behind the bus must stop, but on roads without medians, traffic in both directions must stop. Worcester County Public Schools remain in session until June 17, with summer academy bus routes running through July. Police encourage drivers to stay alert and obey school bus safety rules to protect students. The Ocean City Police Department thanks the NHTSA for the grant, which supports the ongoing goal to keep the community safe for residents and visitors alike.
