With the start of the school year approaching, Maryland officials are reminding drivers about state laws requiring them to stop for school buses and the significant penalties for violations.

State law requires all drivers to stop when they encounter a stopped school bus, but enforcement data shows many motorists continue to ignore this safety requirement.

Last school year, Maryland issued 20,000 automatic citations for drivers who illegally passed school buses.

However, officials believe the actual number of violations may be much higher since only nine out of Maryland's 24 school districts have automatic enforcement cameras on their buses.

Costly consequences for violations

Drivers who pass stopped school buses face substantial financial penalties. Those caught by cameras receive a $

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