LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim April 15, 2010, as Operation Safe Stop Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, Parents and schools entrust school bus drivers and other school
transportation personnel with the lives and well-being of young chil-
dren; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorial-
ize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 15, 2010, as Operation
Safe Stop Day in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Suffolk County is beginning this special event at Longwood
High School in Middle Island; and
WHEREAS, Each year the school transportation industry collaborates
with State and local law enforcement agencies to sponsor this special
day which focuses on the dangers of illegal passing of school buses by
motorists; and
WHEREAS, Operation Safe Stop seeks to promote school bus safety
through education and enforcement efforts; it is a cooperative project
supported by the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, the
New York State Education Department, the New York Association for Pupil
Transportation, the New York State School Bus Contractors Association,
the student transportation industry and state, county, city and local
law enforcement agencies; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 50,000 motor vehicles illegally pass New York
State school buses every day; between the years 2002 through 2004, there
were 69 students injured and one killed by motorists who passed stopped
school buses; and
WHEREAS, It is illegal and very dangerous to pass a stopped school bus
when the large red lights located on top of the bus are flashing; flash-
ing lights mean the bus is picking up or discharging students; and
WHEREAS, Motorists must stop whether you are approaching the school
bus from the front or overtaking it from the rear and a stop is required
for flashing red lights, even on divided and multilane highways and on
school grounds; and
WHEREAS, The first-time fine for illegally passing a school bus is a
$250 to $400 fine, 5 points on your license, and/or possibly 30 days in
jail; and
WHEREAS, The women and men who are responsible for maintaining the
safety of school buses, for training and developing competent school bus
drivers, for routing and dispatching school buses on a daily basis, and
for the actual driving of school buses, are faced with an awesome task
each day; and
WHEREAS, New York's safety record, which is one of the best in the
Nation, is completely reliant on the talents, energies and personal and
professional commitment of both school bus drivers and the motorists of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 15, 2010, as
Operation Safe Stop Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York, and to Gale Winsper, Coordinator, Suffolk County Operation Safe
Stop.