January 27, 2026
In a proactive effort to combat reckless driving behavior around school buses, Prince George County Public Schools has partnered with Prince George County Police Department and BusPatrol to launch a new school bus safety enforcement program to tackle the pervasive issue of illegal school bus passings and protect students.
The program will begin with a 30-day warning period and public awareness campaign starting the week of Monday, January 26, 2026, during which motorists will receive warning letters with no monetary penalty. Official ticketing will begin on Thursday, February 26, 2026, 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.
“The safety of our students is our highest priority, from when they step out to wait for one of our school buses to bring them to school, all the way until they are brought home safely at the end of the day,” Division Superintendent Dr. Wayne Lyle said. “Through our partnership with BusPatrol, we are taking proactive steps to reduce illegal school bus passing and make our roads safer. With the full support of the Prince George County School Board and in partnership with the Prince George County Police Department, we remain committed to protecting our students every day as they travel to and from school and school-related activities.”
Through the program, the district’s fleet of 10 buses will be equipped with cutting-edge safety technology. This includes stop-arm cameras powered by artificial intelligence (AI) 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 the Prince George County Police Department for review before a notice of violation is sent to the registered vehicle owner.
“We’re proud to partner with Prince George County Public Schools and the Prince George Police Department to tackle reckless motorist behavior around school buses,” Justin Meyers, President and Chief Innovation Officer at BusPatrol, said. “This partnership is a win-win for student safety and is proven to significantly reduce the rate of violations, with over 90% of first-time offenders changing their behavior. After getting a ticket, they don’t illegally pass a bus again.”
Nationally, data indicates that there are nearly 40 million violations each year in the United States, putting children’s safety at risk.
As stated by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), 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. You should bring your vehicle to a complete stop and remain stopped until everyone is clear, and the bus moves again. If a school bus is on the opposite side of a median or barrier, motorists aren't required to stop. The penalty for failing to stop is $250 with no license points.
For more information, please visit http://www.pgs.k12.va.us/bussafety.