News Flash

Operation Safe Stop is a proactive approach to educate the motoring public that passing a stopped school bus, when children are loading or unloading, is both dangerous and illegal.

Law enforcement agencies, school transportation providers, pupil transportation associations, and PennDOT have combined their efforts to raise public awareness about the potential consequences of these traffic violations and reduce the occurrence of illegal school bus passes. Shaler Township Police Officers will be monitoring school bus stops throughout the day during the morning pickups, and evening drop offs. Violators will be cited.

As a reminder anytime you see someone pass a school bus loading or unloading children. You can write down the School Bus stop location, driver description, and vehicle information. This information can be reported the Shaler Township Police at (412) 492-2222. A Shaler Township Police Officer will follow up on this complaint.

PA MVC 3345. Meeting or overtaking school bus.

(a) Duty of approaching driver when red signals are flashing.-- The driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking any school bus stopped on a highway or trafficway shall stop at least ten feet before reaching the school bus when the red signal lights on the school bus are flashing and the side stop signal arms are activated under section 4552(b.1) (relating to general requirements for school buses). The driver shall not proceed until the flashing red signal lights are no longer actuated. In no event shall a driver of a vehicle resume motion of the vehicle until the school children who may have alighted from the school bus have reached a place of safety. The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection at which a school bus is stopped shall stop his vehicle at that intersection until the flashing red signal lights are no longer actuated.

Penalties: 

A person who violates this subsection commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $250.00, and will receive a 60-day driver’s license suspension, and 5 points on your driving record.