The Owego Apalachin Central School District (OACSD) is joining the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) and the New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) to promote Operation Safe Stop, an education and enforcement program designed to raise awareness about the extreme dangers and illegality of passing stopped school buses.
This year's Operation Safe Stop Education and Enforcement Day will take place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. OACSD encourages all community members to be acutely aware of bus stop safety as part of this statewide effort. There will be Tioga County Sheriffs’ vehicles following some of our buses as part of the statewide initiative.
State data indicates that over 50,000 motorists illegally pass stopped school buses each school day in New York State, putting students at grave risk.
“The safety of our students is our absolute top priority,” said Ken Francisco, OACSD Transportation Director. “When the red lights on a school bus are flashing, it means children are getting on or off, and traffic must stop. We are asking every driver in the Owego Apalachin community to treat this law with the seriousness it demands.”
The Law and Penalties You Must Know
It is illegal and very dangerous to pass a stopped school bus when the large red lights located on top of the bus are flashing. Flashing lights mean the bus is picking up or discharging students.
You must stop whether you are approaching the school bus from the front or overtaking it from the rear.
You must always stop for flashing red lights, even on divided and multilane highways and on school grounds.
New York State law enforces strict penalties for violations:
Conviction | Minimum Fine | Maximum Fine | Possible Imprisonment |
First Conviction | $250.00 | $400.00 | Up to 30 days |
Second Conviction (within 3 years) | $600.00 | $750.00 | Up to 180 days |
Third or Subsequent Convictions (within 3 years) | $750.00 | $1,000.00 | Up to 180 days |
A first-time conviction also carries a penalty of 5 points on your license.
On Operation Safe Stop Day and every day, law enforcement will be on high alert to identify and ticket drivers who break this life-saving law.
For more information and resources on school bus safety, please visit the NYAPT Operation Safe Stop Tool Kit at www.nyapt/safestop.