The Upper Allen Police Department is pleased to announce its partnership with the Mechanicsburg Area School District (MASD) and BusPatrol to implement a new school bus safety program aimed at protecting students. This initiative aligns with Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code § 3345 concerning school bus stopping laws.
Program Launch Date: Monday, May 5, 2025
What This Means for Our Community:
Starting May 5th, all school buses serving the Mechanicsburg Area School District will be equipped with advanced safety technology, including stop-arm photo enforcement cameras. These automated cameras are designed to capture images of vehicles that illegally pass a stopped school bus when its red lights are flashing.
How It Works:
- Detection: Cameras automatically detect vehicles passing stopped school buses illegally.
- Review: Footage of potential violations is securely transmitted to the Upper Allen Police Department for review.
- Verification: Our officers will carefully review the evidence to determine if a violation occurred according to state law.
- Notification: If a violation is confirmed, BusPatrol will mail a notice of violation to the registered owner of the vehicle involved.
Why This Program is Important:
Student safety is a shared top priority for the Upper Allen Police Department and the Mechanicsburg Area School District. Illegally passing a stopped school bus puts children at serious risk. Data, including reports from Pennsylvania’s Operation Safe Stop, indicates that illegal passing incidents occur frequently across the state, and our local community is no exception. This program utilizes technology to enforce critical safety laws and deter dangerous driving behavior around school buses, ultimately making the journey to and from school safer for all students.
Learn More:
- Pennsylvania School Bus Stopping Law: For detailed information on driver responsibilities and penalties, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) website: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/school-bus-drivers/school-bus-safety.html. You can also view an informational graphic from PennDOT here: https://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/DVSPubsForms/BDL/BDL%20Publications/Pub%2097.pdf
- MASD Program Details: More information about this specific initiative will be available on the MASD Transportation Department website: https://www.mbgsd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=838760&type=d&pREC_ID=2665518
The Upper Allen Police Department is committed to working with our community partners to ensure the safety of our youngest residents. We urge all drivers to remain vigilant, be aware of school buses, and always stop when required. Thank you for helping us keep our children safe.