Hello Stafford,
This is Officer Earl Middleton of the Stafford Police Department and I’m currently assigned to the Stafford Public Schools as the School Resource Officer (SRO). I just want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the official start of the school year, in Stafford, is August 28 th 2023. Give yourself plenty of time during your commute because traffic will be heavier, children will be out and school buses will be on the roads. Please be patient and obey all traffic laws. As a friendly reminder, passing a standing school bus when they are loading and unloading students can place students in grave danger.
In Connecticut, drivers must stop at least 10 feet away from a school bus and cannot proceed until the bus has retracted the stop-arm and deactivated the red flashing lights. It’s illegal to pass a stopped school bus that is loading and unloading children. When a bus activates its yellow lights, drivers should slow down and be prepared to stop. Once the red flashing lights are activated and the stop-arm comes out, traffic on either side of the roadway must stop.
Currently, the penalties for passing a School Bus is $475.00!
Let’s keep our children safe during this school year!
Respectfully,
Officer Earl Middleton, SRO
Stafford PD & Stafford Public Schools