Mary Jo Neil, a former Howard County PTA president, takes the issue of school bus safety so seriously that she tracked the number of drivers passing her children?s buses in western Howard County regularly throughout an entire school year.
So Neil said she was pleased to hear about Carroll County?s recent crackdown on motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses.
“I think there are some counties that are recognizing there?s a problem and they?re making a big effort,” she said.
“In other counties, they have their focus elsewhere.”
Carroll County sheriff?s deputies recently announced they had increased the amount of citations given to motorists who illegally passed school buses by nearly sevenfold ? from six citations in the 2004-05 school year to 38 during the 2005-06 school year.
Keeping children who exit school buses safe is an “important issue for us,” said Carroll County Chief Deputy Sheriff Col. Robert L. Keefer.
“Any time we can enhance the safety of children, we?re going to do it,” he said.
Capt. Vince Mass, of the Carroll County Sheriff?s Department, said one deputy, Conrad Dill, was particularly importantto the department?s increased citations.
“He?s the father of five children ? so it?s very important to him,” Mass said.
Mary Jo Neil, who in 2004 discovered through her tracking that more than 55 percent of the time her children?s buses were passed illegally on Route 32 in western Howard County, said the education of motorists is the best way to deal with the problem.
“The real issue is the education of drivers, police officers and judges,” she said. “The law enforcement officers can write all the tickets they way, but if the judges don?t support them, all their work really means nothing.”
At a glance
» The School Bus Safety Enforcement Fund, which is administered by the Maryland State Police, provides $550,000 in annual grants to local law enforcement. The amount covers overtime costs so officers can watch out for school bus violators.
» The Carroll County Sheriff?s Office received $10,000 for the 2005-06 school year.
» Law enforcement officers from the Harford County Sheriff?s Office and police departments in Baltimore and Howard counties said their agencies also accept grant money for extra patrols behind school buses.
» Anne Arundel County police said they have no special program to deal with school bus violators.
