City of Dearborn announces state’s first school bus safety program targeting illegal passing
Published Dec. 16, 2025
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud joined school district, city, and state officials to announce a new school bus safety enforcement program to tackle the pervasive issue of illegal school bus passings and protect students.
Partnering with BusPatrol, Dearborn Public School District’s fleet of more than 100 buses will be equipped with cutting-edge safety technology including stop-arm cameras powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to detect when motorists fail to stop for a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop-arm deployed.
The evidence will be shared with the Dearborn Police Department for review before a citation is sent to the registered vehicle owner. Dearborn is the first community in the state to incorporate this district-wide bus safety program.
Mayor Hammoud stated, “Our goal is simple: prevent dangerous driving and make our roads safer. This program is about changing behavior and sending a clear message: In Dearborn, we stop for school buses—every time.”
The program will begin with a warning period and public awareness campaign starting Dec. 15, 2025, during which motorists will receive warning letters with no monetary penalty. Official ticketing will begin on Jan. 19, 2026 and drivers who fail to stop for a bus with its red lights flashing will face a $250 fine for a first offense, and $500 for any subsequent offenses within a 1-year period.
"We consider the school bus an extension of our school grounds, and it deserves the same level of care, oversight, and protection,” said Dearborn Schools Interim Superintendent Lamis Srour. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to protecting students not only in the classroom but everywhere their school day takes them."
As stated by Michigan state law, drivers must stop at least 20 feet away from a stopped school bus when its red lights are flashing. Drivers must remain stopped until the school bus resumes motion, or the visual signals are no longer activated.
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Sahin stated, “Our families deserve to know their children are safe walking to and from buses. This program is about changing driver behavior and keeping our kids safer.”
The program comes at no cost to the city, district or residents, and will be funded through violations.
"This partnership with the City of Dearborn is a Michigan-first for student safety," said Justin Meyers, BusPatrol President and Chief Innovation Officer. “Illegally passing a stopped school bus endangers children. By collaborating with the City and Dearborn Public Schools, we ensure every Dearborn student gets home safely, changing driver behavior and making roads safer.”
According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, over 2,200 motorists illegally pass stopped school buses each in the state of Michigan – equivalent to over 400,000 violations each year. Every one of those incidents puts children at risk.
Watch the full announcement press conference at the official City of Dearborn YouTube channel.
About BusPatrol
BusPatrol is the nation’s most trusted school bus stop-arm safety technology provider, partnering with more than 400 school districts to protect nearly 2 million students across 40,000 school buses nationwide. Purpose-built for public safety, BusPatrol combines AI-powered analytics, machine learning, and telematics to help communities address the persistent problem of illegal school bus passings. With more than 39 million stop-arm violations occurring each year in the United States, BusPatrol’s all-in-one, turnkey safety program equips school districts and local governments with the tools and evidence needed to improve driver behavior and make roads safer for every child.