Onslow County Sheriff's Office urges caution around school buses; notes cameras and enforcement

Sergeant JJ Johnson of the Onslow County Sheriff's Office spoke on Onslow County Today about school-bus safety as the semester continues. He reviewed how motorists should respond to stopped school buses and described the department’s enforcement tools.

"If you're on a two lane road, no turn lane, just stop," Johnson said, noting that both directions must stop on two‑lane roads when a bus deploys its stop arm. He explained that multi‑lane roads with medians or turn lanes can be more confusing and illustrated how drivers should behave in those configurations; when in doubt he urged drivers to stop, saying "stopping is not gonna hurt anything."

Johnson said bus drivers typically activate amber lights about 200 feet before stopping and that the stop arm remains extended until children are seated and the bus is moving. He added that the county's school buses are equipped with multiple cameras (Johnson referenced seven cameras, interior and exterior) and that footage is used to document violations. He warned that passing a stopped school bus "is a crime" and said enforcement can include criminal charges in cases involving endangered children.

The sheriff's office framed the message as a safety reminder rather than a change in policy; Johnson advised drivers to prioritize child safety and to allow extra time around bus routes and school zones.