Chesterfield County Public Schools, in partnership with the Chesterfield County Police Department and BusPatrol, has launched a new school bus safety program. Beginning Oct. 15, 2025, motorists who fail to stop when a bus’s stop-arm is extended and red lights are flashing will receive a $250 civil penalty.
Over the past month, a 30-day warning period allowed vehicle owners who violated the law to receive a letter without a fine. With the grace period now over, enforcement is active on Chesterfield County school buses equipped with stop-arm safety cameras.
The stop-arm cameras automatically capture any vehicle that drives past a stopped bus with flashing red lights. Each incident is reviewed by trained county staff before a notice is issued. The fine does not add points to a driver’s license but serves as an important deterrent to help protect students at bus stops.
In Virginia, all drivers must stop when a school bus’s stop-arm is extended unless they are traveling in the opposite direction on a divided roadway separated by a median or barrier.
Passing a stopped school bus is among the most dangerous driving violations. During the warning period in Chesterfield County, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 8, 2025, more than 1,400 violations were recorded.
The stop-arm camera enforcement program is designed to reduce these violations and help keep children safe as they travel to and from school. For more information about the use of stop-arm cameras on Chesterfield County school buses, visit the Chesterfield County government website.