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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Red means stop.
Police eye drivers passing school buses
JOHN VALENTI
[email protected]
March 27, 2007, 9:15 AM EDT
Red means stop.
Simple premise, police said. But one that, apparently, a lot of drivers don't understand -- or, simply chose to ignore -- when it comes to school buses and their flashing red lights.
Starting Tuesday, however, the message "red means stop" will be reinforced by police in Nassau and Suffolk in a way that should make motorists remember that "passing a stopped school bus is both dangerous and illegal." Called "Operation Safe Stop," the initiative fostered by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, will crack down on drivers who passed stopped school buses.
Drivers will get hit where it hurts most: their wallets.
The first offense for passing a stopped school bus under New York state law is $250 and five points on your license. A second conviction within three years results in a minimum fine of $600. A third offense within a three-year period carries a maximum fine of $1,000 and a mandatory license revocation for at least six months.
Police in both counties will have additional patrols aimed at enforcing the law.
Police said that while some drivers simply chose to ignore the law when it comes to stopped school buses, many drivers do not understand all the rules and regulations.
Most notable among those regulations, according to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Driver's Manual, is that the law even applies to a school bus stopped on the "opposite side of a divided highway." That means if a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing on the southbound side of Route 110, drivers on the northbound side must stop. The same is true with all major divided roads in the state.
Under the law, a driver also must stop at least 20 feet away from a stopped school bus. A driver is not allowed to proceed until the flashing red lights are turned off or until the bus driver or traffic officer waves cars by.
Police advise that drivers also watch for school children who have exited the bus. Most school-bus related deaths and injuries occur while kids are crossing the street after leaving the bus or while heading onto a stopped bus, according the the driver's manual.
But, police said, the most basic aspect of the rule is the one all drivers should know: Red means stop.
Again, this is not rocket science. But I've been very satisfied to watch the Long Beach police pulling people over for this very thing - and people speeding past the buses - over the last couple of months.
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Posted 3/27/07 1:55 PM  |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Red means stop.
I remember that from when I lived in LB- they were always pulling people over for that- on park ave-
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| Posted 3/27/07 2:01 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: Red means stop.
WOW -- 5 points is a lot!
I agree that people probably don't know about the divided highway rule - I just learned that recently.
I hope there's an awareness campaign that goes along with the amped up patrolling. It would be better to educate people and protect the kids rather then wait for drivers to do something wrong or god forbid hurt someone. Most people take their road test when they are teenagers and then never need to re-read the DMV manual.
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| Posted 3/27/07 2:02 PM |
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Phyl
R.I.P. Sweet Mia ♥
Member since 5/06 28918 total posts
Name:
The Mystical Azzhorse! ™
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Re: Red means stop.
Were aren't allowed top pass a School Bus at all. You must stop when they have their stop sign sticking out fron the bus no matter what side of the road you are on.
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| Posted 3/27/07 2:11 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Red means stop.
Here's the thing. All of this information is clearly stated when you take the drivers test. I think some people just forget. 
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| Posted 3/27/07 2:12 PM |
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diva7531
My Peanut
Member since 2/07 5199 total posts
Name:
Ryan 3 boys EDD 11/6!
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Re: Red means stop.
People think oh, I'm on the other side! Yeah, I swerve if someone tries to pass me if I'm stopped for a school bus!
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| Posted 3/27/07 2:15 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Red means stop.
I'm one of those (annoying) people in the minority who think it's the driver's responsibility to know the rules of the road. No excuses.
I also think people should be retested periodically throughout their lifetime. But that will never happen, unfortunately!
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| Posted 3/27/07 2:15 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Red means stop.
Posted by greenfreak
I'm one of those (annoying) people in the minority who think it's the driver's responsibility to know the rules of the road. No excuses.
I also think people should be retested periodically throughout their lifetime. But that will never happen, unfortunately!
I agree on both counts 
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| Posted 3/27/07 2:25 PM |
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DandS
We are so blessed!!
Member since 1/07 1951 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: Red means stop.
Posted by greenfreak
I also think people should be retested periodically throughout their lifetime. But that will never happen, unfortunately!
I agree, but like you said I don't see that happening.
As far as stopping for the school bus I think that is great if they really do start cracking down on this. The red lights mean that children are entering or exiting a school bus and are most likely not looking to see if a care is coming because they know that they should be safe. I think when children are involved the law should strictly be enforced! JMO
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| Posted 3/27/07 3:01 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Red means stop.
Posted by greenfreak
I'm one of those (annoying) people in the minority who think it's the driver's responsibility to know the rules of the road. No excuses.
I also think people should be retested periodically throughout their lifetime. But that will never happen, unfortunately!
ITA! I wish we did like California. Random re-tests. That way it cannot be construed as age discrimination.
I also think the driver should be responsible for knowing the "rules of the road." I ranted about this the other day. I drive a rather large pick-up truck. I cannot tell you how many times I almost squish a small car trying to pass me on the right....HELLO I CANNOT SEE YOU. No really, we learned it in driver's ed....this is not news folks Then they honk & flip me the bird.  I wasn't trying to squish you...honest......
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| Posted 3/27/07 3:35 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Red means stop.
I didn't know California did random re-tests. That's cool! I'd never think NY would do it because of the money involved.
You notice that CA and NY are more concerned with cars and driving? We were the first states to mandate vehicle emissions standards. Maybe NY will follow their lead with driver re-testing. Or maybe not. 
Defensive driving can also be seen as a "refresher" course, if it's done right. Although a lot of people who find themselves in those classes are there because they already have points on their license.
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| Posted 3/27/07 3:41 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Red means stop.
ITA. We did a DD course offered through my job & we got the 10% off insurance. It was funny b/c the instructor made a point of going over "Things people forget." The school bus thing was one of them, as was the don't pass a truck on the left. The instructor also had to go over which emergency/government vehicles have the right of way.
I'd love to see NY follow CAs lead. I was talking to DH, who is a mechanic, and he said a lot of the car companies are considering to make all new vehichles sold in the US to California Emissions b/c it is the strictest. Not sure what that means for them in terms of $$$, but it would be interesting to see.....
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| Posted 3/27/07 3:45 PM |
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