MD - Police ensure drivers ‘Stop for the Children’ as school

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Police ensure drivers ‘Stop for the Children’ as schools open
Friday, Aug. 25, 2006

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by Steve Earley

Staff Writer






Anne Arundel and Howard police are each planning traffic enforcement programs aimed at ensuring children’s safe passage to and from school.

Pupils in both counties begin the new school year Monday.

Anne Arundel officers in marked and unmarked vehicles will follow school buses on their routes, police said.

The initiative, ‘‘Stop for the Children,” targets motorists who fail to stop for buses’ flashing red lights. Violators are subject to a $555 fine and three points off their licenses.

Howard police will patrol roadways near schools for the first two weeks of the school year as part of its program, Helping Arriving Students Through Enforcement (H.A.S.T.E.)

Officers will use radar and a speed camera to identify speeders.

‘‘We hope that police presence around the schools will send a message to drivers to slow down,” acting police Chief William McMahon said in a statement.

Howard police also plan to check passengers for proper seat belt and child safety seat use.