A serious concern has emerged in the Watkins Glen school district through the first two months of the school year.
The district’s transportation department reports it has recorded 13 red light violations of stopped school buses this year. Nine of the violations happened in September and the other four have occurred this month. The department said the violations put Watkins Glen students at risk.
The transportation department asks motorists to always be vigilant when driving near school buses and always be on the lookout for flashing red lights and stop signs. It is illegal to pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing.
According to the State DMV, the fine when you pass a stopped school bus ranges from a minimum of $250 for a first violation to a maximum of $1,000 for three violations in three years. If you are convicted of three of these violations in three years, your driver’s license will be revoked for a minimum of six months.
