Westbrook Police Have Had Enough With Drivers Passing Stopped School Buses

This is one of those stories that make you say in your out loud voice, "What is wrong with people?!?" It's dumb drivers like this that make me very angry, and I'm not the only one.

School Buses Aren't What They Used to Be

If you grew up in the '70s and '80s like me, you rode the bus to school every day. I took bus 24 to the Mildred M. Fox School in South Paris. Today it's been turned into housing.

Back then there were just flashing red lights. No yellows, no stop sign swinging out, no strobes flashing. Even the seats weren't the high backs that they are these days. It was a different time, but today there are plenty of safety features.

Flashing Red Means Stop

Some drivers sometimes just don't care when they pass a school bus with flashing red lights. They're in a hurry and nothing is going to stop them. If a driver is caught by police driving past a school bus with flashing red lights on In Maine, it's a Class E comes with a minimum fine of $250 for a first offense, and a 30-day license suspension for a second offense within three years. I think that's far too lenient.

Westbrook Police Are Taking Action

In a Facebook post, the Westbrook Police say that they have been receiving reports of drivers "treating these signs (and lights) like a suggestion." They'll be stepping up their game and will be out looking for violators who pass stopped school buses that are loading or unloading students. Tickets will be given out and will cost the driver at least $250.

I'll say it one more time. "What is wrong with people?!?"