Canandaigua police are warning drivers to stop for school buses as the 2026-27 school year begins, saying officers will increase enforcement around bus routes, stops and schools starting today.
The department said officers will follow school buses on their routes and also remain near bus stops and school buildings to watch for motorists who fail to stop when a bus has its red lights flashing and stop sign extended.
Police said passing a stopped school bus is a recurring violation and reminded drivers that New York law requires motorists to stop regardless of which direction they are traveling.
That includes divided highways such as South Main Street, according to the department. Drivers in every lane are required to stop before reaching the school bus, even when traveling on the opposite side of the roadway, and must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion.
Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1174, a first offense for passing a stopped school bus can carry a fine of $250 to $400 and add eight points to a driver’s license, according to the department.
Police said repeat violations within a three-year period can result in increasingly severe fines and possible jail time.
The department said the enforcement push is aimed at protecting children while they enter and exit buses, citing a rise in incidents nationwide in which students have reportedly been injured during those moments.
Canandaigua police said officers will maintain a strict enforcement policy around school bus violations as the school year gets underway.
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