Ocean City, Maryland (June 4, 2025): Have you noticed Ocean City police officers following or stationed near school buses lately? That’s no coincidence. Many of you have seen our officers accompanying school buses as part of a targeted safety initiative, and for good reason.
The Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) is proud to announce it received a High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) grant earlier this year for $29,931.22 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to help reduce illegal passing of stopped school buses and enhance student safety throughout our community.
This grant is part of the Illegal Passing of Stopped School Buses – High Visibility Enforcement Pilot Project. It supports proactive enforcement of Maryland school bus laws and a broader public education campaign aimed at preventing dangerous driving behavior.
While school buses provide safe transportation for many students, the greatest risk occurs when children get on or off the bus. Maryland’s stop-arm laws are in place to protect children, but these laws only work when drivers obey them.
Thanks to this grant funding, OCPD has been able to take meaningful action. From January through May 26, 2025, our officers have reported:
- Total Traffic Stops: 246
- Stops for School Bus Violations: 100
- Stops for Other Violations: 146
- Total Citations Issued: 240
- For School Bus Violations: 24
- Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device: 52
- Failure to Stop to Stop Sign: 7
- Other Violations: 158
- Total Overtime Hours Worked: 331
With Worcester County Public Schools in session until Tuesday, June 17, 2025, and summer academy buses operating June 30 through July 31, enforcement efforts will continue. We urge all drivers to remain alert and comply with school bus safety laws.
Know the Law: Maryland School Bus Stop Requirements
- STOP when a school bus has flashing red lights and its stop arm extended.
- On divided highways with a physical median, such as Coastal Highway, only traffic behind the bus must stop.
- On roads without a median, all lanes of traffic in both directions must stop.
Whether you’re a resident, here on vacation, or just passing through, remember: School’s (Not) Out for Everyone! Let’s all do our part to keep Ocean City’s roads safe for students, families, and each other.
The Ocean City Police Department extends its sincere thanks to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for supporting our mission to keep the Town of Ocean City a safe destination and Somewhere to Smile About.
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