Kingston, NY – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein is pleased to announce Ulster County’s School Bus Driver of the Year award winner is Raffeala Policastro. The runner up for the Bus Driver of the Year is Phyllis Cutler. The award is issued in conjunction with “Operation Safe STOP.” “Operation Safe Stop” is a cooperative project in New York State that seeks to promote school bus safety through education and enforcement efforts.
“I appreciate `Operation Safe STOP’s´ continued efforts to educate the public and raise awareness of the dangers of illegally passing school buses,” said County Executive Hein. The County Executive continued, “I want to congratulate the award winners and thank them for their experience, skill, and dedication to safely transport our children safely to and from school every day, as well as the approximately 700 Ulster County school bus drivers they represent. I also want to recognize our law enforcement community for their continued efforts enforcing the stopped-school bus laws protecting thousands of children and educating the public about the hazards of passing stopped school buses.”
A ceremony was held today at the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center Rotunda at 11 AM to honor those who are committed to delivering our children to school safely each day. Ulster County Deputy Executive Robert Sudlow and Ulster County Traffic Safety Coordinator Diane Beitl presented awards to the following winners:
· Raffeala Policastro received the annual School Bus Driver of the Year Award, receiving a plaque and dinner certificates to Ruby Tuesday. She was nominated by the New Paltz Central School District.
· Phyllis Cutler received the runner up award for School Bus Driver of the Year, receiving a certificate. She was nominated by Arthur F. Mulligan, Inc. and Onteora Central School District.
· New Paltz Police Chief Joseph Snyder received the Charles Schaller Award recognizing his service and dedication to Ulster County and traffic safety.
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NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law provides: · It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus when the large red lights located on top of the bus are flashing. Flashing lights mean the bus is picking up or discharging students. · You must stop whether you are approaching the school bus from the front or overtaking it from the rear. · You must always stop for flashing red lights, even on divided and multilane highways and on school grounds. · 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.
Penalties for passing a stopped school bus include:
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Operation Safe Stop is a cooperative project supported by the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, New York State Education Department, New York Association for Pupil Transportation, New York State School Bus Contractors Association, student transportation industry and state, county, city and local law enforcement agencies.
