Chesterfield County Public Schools -

In a proactive effort to combat reckless driving behavior around school buses, Chesterfield County Public Schools in partnership with the Chesterfield County Police Department and BusPatrol will launch a new school bus safety enforcement program to tackle the pervasive issue of illegal school bus passings.

The program will begin on Sept. 15 with a 30-day warning period and public awareness campaign. During this time, motorists who illegally pass buses will receive warning letters with no monetary penalty. Ticketing will begin on Oct. 15, and drivers who fail to stop for a bus with its red lights flashing will face a $250 fine in accordance with Virginia state law.

"Passing a stopped school bus is not only against the law, but it also places the lives of children in danger. Unfortunately, this reckless behavior occurs far too often. By equipping every school bus in Chesterfield County with cameras, we are taking decisive action to safeguard our students and hold drivers accountable for violating the law. The safety of our children will always be a top priority of CCPD, and we will not tolerate actions that put Chesterfield County students at risk," said Chesterfield Chief of Police Col. Frank Carpenter. 

Through the program, the school division’s entire fleet of almost 700 buses will be equipped with cutting-edge safety technology over the coming weeks. This includes stop-arm cameras powered by artificial intelligence to detect when motorists fail to stop for a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop-arm deployed. The evidence is shared with Chesterfield Police Department before a notice of violation is sent to the registered vehicle owner.

“Nothing matters more than the safety of our students. School buses are extensions of our classrooms, and families trust us to keep their children safe every step of the way. This program strengthens that commitment, providing another tool to help ensure students travel to and from school safely and without disruption,” said Chesterfield County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John Murray.

On March 26, 2025, Chesterfield County Public Schools participated in the annual National Illegal Passing Survey conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services. In just one day, bus drivers reported 384 violations of motorists illegally passing stopped school buses in Chesterfield County. Nationally, nearly 40 million violations occur each year, putting children’s safety at risk. According to Virginia law, vehicles traveling in both directions must stop for a stopped school bus when its red lights are flashing and the stop sign is extended, or whenever the bus is loading or unloading passengers. Vehicles must come to a complete stop and remain stopped until all passengers are clear and the bus begins moving again. The penalty for failing to stop is $250 with no license points. When a school bus is on the opposite side of a median or barrier, motorists are not required to stop.